Page 182 of Meraux Mafia: No Ordinary Love

I had never experienced a love so pure and genuine. Macklen thought so highly of me that it made me feel the same about myself. In his eyes, I was perfect; even my flaws made me who I was.

“Tell me anything. Where’s Cam?”

“She didn’t want to wait on you to go see MiMi. I dropped her off,” Mack informed me, using the nickname Cam and Mia had come up with.

“I thought you were bad. Cam has your parents wrapped around her finger.” Everett was just as bad. It was exhausting being the only enforcer among the three of them.

“She lets Cam get away with shit she’d never let me do.”

“Marcus called,” I don’t know why I was expecting a reaction. It was the same song and dance whenever I brought Marcus up. I’d speak, and Mack would look at me the way he was doing now.

Marcus had been on his best behavior. Even when he wanted to curse me out, he bit back and swallowed it. I don’t know what Mack did or said, but it lived rent-free in Marcus’s head.

“He asked if he could have Cam for Christmas,” I shared since he wasn’t going to ask. He didn’t deserve to spend Christmas with her, but he was trying, so I tried not to get in the way, regardless of how I felt.

Finally, Mack gave me something. It wasn’t worded, but he chuckled at Marcus’s request.

“Can you please say something?”

“I only speak when I have something to say or interest in the conversation. I don’t have either for this.”

“I thought you’d always be interested where Camdyn is concerned.”

“Don’t even play with me like that,” Mack’s expression grew serious as I challenged him. He’d do anything for Cam, even go to war with me when he felt I was too hard on her. “You want me to decide because you don’t want to admit you don’t want her to go.”

“Neither do you.”

“No, I don’t, but it’s not my call to make.” DNA couldn’t make Camdyn more his. He loved her without a doubt but also respected that he wasn’t her father. It wasn’t easy, like right now. Mack wanted to say fuck Marcus, but as long as he wasn’t coming at me sideways or putting Cam in danger, Mack respected him as her father.

“Maybe I should ask Cam what she wants to do,” I considered out loud, “What am I saying? She’s a child. Why am I asking her anything?”

“It affects her, so maybe you should,” Mack kissed my cheek before leaving the kitchen, likely because he didn’t want to discuss the topic anymore.

Putting Marcus and his sudden urge to be a father behind me, I decided to nap before tonight’s festivities. Everybody was meeting here before we split and went our separate ways for a night out.

Camdyn called my phone and woke me up from my nap. She wanted to show me the new toy MiMi got her from the store; all I could do was shake my head. I was so happy that she now had a village of people who showed up for her, but unfortunately, they created a monster.

I quickly did a soft natural glam before getting dressed tonight. The girls at Paradise’s Dream taught me a thing or two. Mack wasn’t a fan of the dress I picked, but I looked good, and he thought so too; otherwise, he wouldn’t be staring me down from across the room.

“Here’s to a fun night out!” Solana raved, pouring shots for the girls as we gathered in the kitchen.

“Lord knows, I need one.” Kyerra quickly tossed her shot back.

“Don’t talk about my baby like that,” Solana frowned.

“I love Bryson, but being a mom is exhausting,”

“I’ll drink to that,” I added, taking the tequila to the head.

“You’re not drinking tonight, Lo?” Solana asked, noticing she was the last person left who hadn’t.

“I’m letting my food digest first. The last thing I need is to be hungover,” Hailo replied.

“You sure that’s why?” Kyerra asked, wearing a smug grin.

“That’s what I said, didn’t I?” I could tell from how Hailo rolled her neck that it would be one long-ass night.

“I just thought you had something to share,” Kyerra snipped, with a shoulder shrug catching me off guard. She usually ignored Hailo’s attitude but not tonight. The gloves had come off, and I wasn’t sure she’d win that fight.

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