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“She was doing it down here,” Zoe concedes. “I banished her to her bedroom.”
“Just let her sing if that’s what she wants to do,” I snicker.
Flint eyes me, horrified. “Maybe we should rethink the structure of her trust fund,” he jokes. “She might take all that money and run to Nashville or something.”
“If that’s what she wants to do with her inheritance, it’s her choice,” I answer.
And that’s the truth. None of us have any say in what Lily does with her inherited money once she turns eighteen, the funds tucked securely away for her use only.
“My God,” Flint groans. “I don’t understand this generation.”
I wink at him. “Just like your parents probably didn’t understand ours,” I answer lightly. “Aren’t you glad you folded the New York office now and work from here full time? No escape at all.”
He grins at me and kisses my lips as Ryan retreats back to his apartment, and Zoe makes herself scarce.
“Buying out Allister and coming here permanently is the best move I ever made,” he answers huskily, brushing my new bangs away from my forehead. “I wish I’d done it years ago. Of course, I didn’t have you years ago to kick me in the pants.”
He gives me another kiss but parts as voices reach our ears, Caden and Lily joining us in the kitchen.
“Mama Aspen, Papa Caden doesn’t think I should post my video,” she grumbles, thrusting her tablet toward me. I wipe my hands on a nearby dishrag and eye Caden, who glowers slightly.
“She’s too young to be posting on the internet,” he protests, hazel eyes flashing. “Do you know how many weirdoes are online?”
“What the hell is going on out here?” Pike growls, completing our family gathering, his cerulean eyes hooded and dark. He folds his arms over his chest and scowls at us. “I thought we were getting robbed.”
“What a cheery bunch you are,” I mock them lightly, taking Lily’s tablet and turning the volume down before watching the hysterical video of her cawing to a popular song.
“Looks good, honey bunny. I think you can post it,” I say, giving the device back to her. Caden gawks at me, and I hold up a finger. “But before you do, Lily, I want you to tell Papa Caden all the rules of posting and being online.”
She sighs dramatically, and I wonder again if she’s not sixteen instead of six.
“I don’t post personal information,” she begins, listing them on her fingers. “I don’t talk to strangers, and if strangers ever talk to me, I bring the chats to you…”
Caden’s look of defiance melts slightly.
“No posting in bathing suits, and always get Mama Aspen’s approval before posting.”
“You forgot one,” I remind her.
“And only post on Rippy Zippy,” she sighs. “I want my own YouTube channel.”
“We can talk about that when you’re sixteen,” I tell her again.
She gives me her infamous pout, and I give her an even look, which she understands immediately. If she wants to post, even on the child-safe platform, she best keep her behavior in check.
“Okay, Papa Caden?” I ask Caden. “Is that acceptable?”
Caden looks at Flint, who raises his shoulders as if to say he’s not getting involved. Caden exhales and relents.
“If Mama Aspen approved it, I guess so,” he grunts.
“Thank you, Papa Caden!” Lily throws herself at him, and he can’t resist her sweetness.
“You should thank your mother, not me,” Caden mutters. I flush at the title, even after all this time. I never tire of being called Lily’s mother.
“Thank you, Mama Aspen.”
“You should go upload that thing before he changes his mind,” I warn teasingly. Her eyes widen as if she’s worried he might, and she dashes away, her tablet in hand.
