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“Well, Pike got himself tanked this afternoon,” he explains as I grimace. “So Aspen and I were dealing with that before anyone could see him make an ass out of himself.”
“Pike?”
Caden shrugs. “I know. It seems he’s really stressed about this adoption hearing.”
My heart sinks at the mention. “Where is he now?”
“Sleeping it off. I’m setting him up with a banana bag. He’ll be good as new in a couple of hours.”
“Banana bag?” I repeat.
“Never mind. Let’s get through this party, and then it’s time we have a family sit-down,” Caden says. “Aspen insists on it.”
I wave my head back and forth. “My brother’s here?—”
“Your brother can’t wait to leave. I’m surprised he stayed this long,” Caden interjects. “No excuses, Flint.” He hesitates. “Aspen’s on the edge, too.”
I tense. “What do you mean?”
“This is exactly why we need a family meeting. And it’s happening tonight.”
A door upstairs opens, and we step back from one another as Aspen appears at the top of the west stairs, peering down at us.
“Is the party over?” she asks worriedly.
“Almost,” I tell her. “You can still hand out goodie bags if you hurry.”
She nods and heads down the stairs. “Did you get that medicine for Pike?” she asks, making it to the foyer where we stand.
“He’ll be right as rain when he opens his eyes,” Caden promises.
“I’m going back out there, then I think we should all have a talk.” Aspen looks meaningfully at me, and I stifle a sigh.
“I was just telling Flint.”
“Fine, but my brother is here,” I remind her.
“Get rid of him,” Aspen says bluntly. “This has gone on long enough.”
Caden and I exchange a look, and I’m sure we’re sharing the same thoughts.
“Let’s see how Pike is doing.”
“No excuses,” Aspen insists firmly. “We’re doing this as soon as Lily goes to bed. I’m not putting it off a moment longer.”
* * *
As Caden predicted, Allister can’t wait to get out of our house. He’s never been comfortable with the living arrangements or with the fact that the three of us have guardianship of Lily.
Wait until he figures out what’s really going on with Aspen, I muse, seeing him off with the other guests.
“Are you coming back to New York this week?” my brother asks hopefully.
“No. You can handle things yourself for a few days,” I tell him. He balks at the suggestion and whines, but I shuffle him off, ignoring his complaints.
“How long are you going to continue working like that?” Caden asks, overhearing our conversation. “You can’t function this way.”
“Maybe we can bring it up at the family meeting,” I retort caustically.
