Page 6 of Finding Closure

“At the castle?” I hedged, glancing between them.

No, not there. It was all over their faces, and Izzy’s eyes were full of worry.

“Iz, you fight constantly to make me focus on what I need and so no one pushes me into things I’m not comfortable with. I would never, noteverdo anything but the same. So just tell me, boo, and I promise I’ll be cool with it.”

She nodded, letting out a slow breath. “I want to stay here in this house. Take over the master suite that was Mel’s. For Claudia and me.”

“I’m totally fine with that, but this—”

“There’s more,” she cut in, probably knowing where my head was. “We want more of a role in Freya’s life.”

I wasnotready for her to have said that. “I’m not the one you should talk to about that, Izzy. Darby’s her guardian and—”

“We know. We’re not asking for your permission on that,” Claudia clarified. “And we’re not even asking legally like to adopt her or become her guardians.”

“We were hoping official aunts and we could…” Izzy cleared her throat.

“I hadn’t realized you’d become so close with Freya?” I asked? It was more a statement but with a question under it.

“I realized that, and that’s why I wanted to talk to you,” Izzy said with a sigh. “Claudia pointed out that when I’m not at school for the night, you probably think we go to her place. We don’t. We come here, and part of that is Freya.”

“We enjoy having breakfast with her, or at least I do, and Izzy helps feed her before joining you for breakfast. That’s why you wouldn’t have noticed and—”

“You run a whole world, Tams. I can’t keep track of everything you do, and there’s no way you could know everything about us.” She hurried on when I opened my mouth. “I could have told you. You ask how I am, how school is. It was an oversight and not—I feel bad like I’ve been hiding how attached I am to Freya.”

“There’s no reason for you to feel bad.” I cleared my throat. “But I feel uncomfortable having this discussion without Darby.” I sighed when they both flinched. “I’m sorry, but this is—he should be here.”

“We didn’t mean anything like that or to overstep,” Izzy whispered, seeming a bit hurt. “I’m talking to you as my best friend about where my head is and some ideas. I’m not trying to take his sister from him, Tams.”

“That’s not what she meant, and I see her point, darling,” Claudia said to Izzy. “Think about someone talking to her about our relationship and we weren’t there. You know she wouldn’t allow that either, right?”

“That’s where my head is,” I promised. “I will support whatever you want. I’m always on your side, but Darby is too. He adores you as a friend and part of this family we’ve made. I’m fine with the house. Whatever you want. Let’s just call him about the rest. Please? Even if we’re just talking ideas and where you are.”

Especially because I didn’t think he knew they had become so attached to Freya. I was out of my depth here, and… Darby should be there.

Izzy nodded, apologizing for getting upset when I put it like that. She clearly had thought it was more separate and wasn’t so much with me in the middle. I was shocked Claudia hadn’t seen it that way, but then I saw in her eyes that she had.

And she’d done what Izzy had wanted. Fair enough.

Darby was a bit surprised since I’d told the guys it was a roommate night, but when I said there were enchiladas, he was in. Seriously, Izzy and Darby had bonded over their love for the damn dish. It would be fine.

I hoped it would be fine and there wasn’t some issue between my best friend and mate.

That wasseriouslythe last thing I needed.

He was a bit hesitant when he arrived, but he didn’t seem all that curious as if maybe having a clue what this was about?

Maybe?

Izzy repeated what she’d said to me and looked even more uncomfortable.

“I was actually thinking of asking you to become Freya’s guardian with me so you could make decisions if there’s an emergency,” Darby said to Izzy, shocking the shit out of me. He gave Claudia a hesitant look. “You know I hope things work out with Izzy. I’m your guy’s biggest supporter but—”

“But in case we don’t, you don’t want your sister in the middle of something that can become ugly,” she finished for him.

“No, no, I don’t,” he confirmed.

Which was awkward because she was his superior at his internship—his job. Yikes.

---