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Caden bucks his teeth and makes a face.
“But my overzealous friend is right: we give her an inch, she will undoubtedly take a mile,” Flint concedes. “Get her to stop with the threats.”
“She’s not threatening you, not really. She’s Lily’s family and has a right to visit her cousin,” Julian sighs. “I’ve already told you this.”
“First cousin, once removed,” Caden quips.
“Caden!” Flint growls, and the doctor shrugs and winks at me.
But I’m not charmed today, my insides vibrating with the news.
“But she can’t have any legal standing. That would make her Ryker’s first cousin. You said she wants to take Lily?”
Again, all the men look at one another, and Flint releases a sigh.
“She hasn’t come outright and said it, but each of her letters is more aggressive, hinting that she’s ‘owed’ something and that ‘family comes first.’ She’s leading up to something, and we know that’s what’s coming. Lily’s inheritance will bring all the bloodthirsty vultures, Raya the least of them. We need to ensure we nip this in the bud before it goes too far.”
I eye them blankly, not understanding what exactly they have in mind.
“Lily needs to be formally adopted,” Julian lays out. “I’ve explained this before to Flint. It will protect her from anyone swooping in and claiming rights to guardianship—or her inheritance.”
I gawk at them. “She hasn’t been?”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds,” Pike mutters. “The red tape and paperwork…”
I wait, expecting more, but Pike trails off as Caden finishes. “No one is going to allow the adoption of a little girl to three single men in this living situation.”
Ah. Yes. That makes more sense.
“This is where we need your help, Aspen,” Flint tells her.
I swallow, uneasiness overcoming me.
“What can I do?” I mumble. “I just got here.”
Flint flashes me one of his placating grins. “It’s nothing bad, and nothing you’re not already doing. We just need you to be a source of constant stability for Lily.”
“And to testify that nothing untoward is going on around here,” Caden adds.
A breath draws into my lungs, and I shoot a look at Caden and Pike, who both sit up tensely now.
“I-I just got here,” I remind them. “I can only testify to so much.”
“Then lie,” Caden says flatly. “You need to make us look good.”
“I going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Julian says.
I shift in my chair.
“Do you think we’re doing anything untoward?” Pike fires out at me.
“No! Of course not! I wouldn’t be here if I did!”
“That’s all you need to say,” Pike responds.
I draw in a breath, my fingers working nervously in my lap. “Are all three of you going to adopt her?” I ask, unsure of how the laws work in that regard.
“I wish,” Caden mutters angrily, flopping back in his chair.
