Page 144 of Meraux Mafia: No Ordinary Love

“I know, but I want to come back again.”

“You’re always welcome here,” Mack’s deep voice joined the conversation as he rounded the corner.

“Mack said I can come back, mommy!” Cam turned to me, smiling brightly as my eyes narrowed on him. I loved the genuine care he showed Camdyn, but sometimes I had to remind him he wasn’t a genie in a bottle. If she asked for the moon out of the sky, he’d try to book a space shuttle to make it happen.

“If mom says it’s okay,” he added, reading my expression. Camdyn was disappointed at the monkey wrench he’d thrown into her wish. “Can I sit next to mommy?”

“Sure, I’m going to get a snack. Mrs. Mia got me cookies.” I didn’t even bother to object as she sprinted out of the room. Mack made himself comfortable resting his head on my chest.

“Spoiling children is a family business, I see.”

“You can’t spoil children,” Mack disagreed.

“You have to stop doing that.”

“I’ll work on it, Sky.”

“You’re just telling me that, so I’ll stop fussing.”

“Then you might as well stop fussing,” he mumbled, snuggling closer. “Why is your heart beating so fast? What’s going through that head of yours?”

“Stuff you’ll just fuss at me about if I tell you.”

“Sounds like a bunch of shit that doesn’t matter.”

“It matters, Macklen. You have my daughter and me here at your parent’s house. I can’t help but wonder.”

“You’re my lady. Why wouldn’t you and Cam be here.”

“Since when am I your lady? We didn’t talk about that.”

“Since the first time I slid in that pussy,” he flirted, wearing a mischievous grin. “I hope you didn’t think I was prepping you for the next nigga?”

“That sounds very manipulative.”

“No manipulation. That would mean I did that shit for personal gain.”

“Then why did you do it?” I challenged, curious about what he would come up with next.

“Because nobody else taught you what a real man is supposed to do. I did that for your gain.” He had a way of making the ugliest things beautiful. His positivity was infectious and even changed the way I viewed my circumstances. “Don’t worry, though. I’m getting started on Cam Cam early. A lame ass nigga won’t stand a chance with shawty.”

“Sounds like you plan on sticking around for a while.”

“Duh, Sky.”

“Don’t duh me,” I playfully nudged him, and he smiled. “How does your family feel about that?”

“There you go again, worrying about shit that ain’t your business.” I barely parted my lips before he cut me off. “It’s not,” he replied firmly, then his expression softened as he pecked my lips. “How is your family going to feel about me?”

Family? I chuckled at his question. “Cam adores you, so you’re safe.”

“What about everybody else?”

“My dad has been in and out of prison my whole life. My mother and I don’t have a good relationship, and I can only tolerate Tamia in doses so there is no family. Just Cam.”

“Why don’t you get along with your mom?” he asked, and I wished he didn’t. I didn’t like to talk about Adria. I could see why he was curious about my family dynamic considering Mack was close with his family.

“She wasn’t a bad mom or anything. Adria worked hard to take care of us, and I respect her for that. It’s not easy being a single parent, but we’re oil and water. Mother or not, some people don’t mix. She’s not a nice person. Nobody I’d choose to be around if she wasn’t my mother. I didn’t have a choice growing up, but now I do,” I shrugged because I was over the days of wishing our relationship could be different. Or I was even overlooking specific behavior because I wanted her in my life.

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