Page 83 of Meraux Mafia: No Ordinary Love

The room remained silent as it hit me that Hailo believed me when I told her it would get better. She didn’t believe in many people enough to trust them. Hailo trusted my word as the father of her child and now her man, regardless if it wasn’t real.

“How’s that looking, by the way? Falling in love with me?”

“You’re doing aite,” Hailo replied, but we both knew it was more than that. I didn’t admit it to Mack, but his advice changed the trajectory of our relationship. I just hoped it stayed this way.

“Damn, just aite?”

“Yeah, my hot chips earned you a few points today.”

“You’re a tough critic.”

“I don’t know everything, but I know when Gianni wants something, he won’t stop until he gets it. If this is what you want, you’ll find a way.”

“You can’t be calling me Gianni while you’re speaking life into me like that,” I joked to lighten the mood of our heavy conversation.

“Hmm, you better find a way. You can be miserable all you want but Chauncy and I will not.”

“Who the fuck is Chauncy?”

“The landscaper we’ll hire will do more than maintain the yard. While you’re at work, he’ll be tending to something else.”

“I told you I would never hurt you. That shit doesn’t apply to Chauncy or any other nigga you’re thinking about fucking with.”

“You’re mighty possessive for this to be a fluke. Maybe it’s you falling in love.”

“I gave you something, so tell me why you said Trent was dead?” I asked, changing the subject to something on my mind.

“We’ve always had a rocky relationship because he was more loyal to his marriage than his responsibility. When you cheat on your wife with a sixteen-year-old, it’s hard to include that child in the family you already have. Trent tried to be a part of my life, but I could never be a part of his,” Hailo revealed.

“At first, he would show up for school plays and holidays, but the older I got, the more I felt like a secret. It was always early on Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas. I have siblings that I’ve never met. I got tired of not feeling like I was enough to be a part of their family, and my mom supported that. It was easier to say he’s dead because he is to me.”

“You don’t have to worry about Trent.”

Kissing her forehead, I laced my fingers inside hers. It was too early to tell, but I could see myself falling. This version of Hailo was like a breath of fresh air that made me forget all the shit that was on my plate daily. This version had me pulling out my gun on a nigga I didn’t know for mishandling her. She was dangerous in that way, so I had no choice but to make her want, need, and love me. I damn sure wasn’t going to be the only one.

Toying with my phone, I tried to talk myself out of calling Sky. When Gi mentioned she had shit going on, the urge to solve it was hard to control. My mind was preoccupied with the image of Sky working the bar stressed a few weeks ago.

It’s not my business.

That’s what I kept telling myself, but I couldn’t get her face out of my head. Now I understood what Gi meant when he said Hailo was dangerous. I didn’t fully understand at the time because Gi was so out of character that night. How could somebody you barely know make common sense flee your mind that way? I was currently experiencing the same thing with Skylar.

Don’t bother that woman. She’s got enough shit going on for you to call her stammering over your words like a clown.

Unlocking my phone, I almost tapped her contact until I realized I didn’t know what to say. How would I explain my reason for calling? We’d spoken here and there since exchanging numbers but not enough to dial her at this hour.

Pick up the phone and stop being a pussy. Shit, at least you know her better than Gi knew Lo Diddy.

It wasn’t shit pussy about me, so I tapped my screen, but ringing in my ear made me regret it. Unfortunately, it was too late.

“Hey Mack,” Skylar answered with an urgency that screamed stress. I was stuck ruminating on hurting whoever ruined her day, “Mack? Hello.”

“Wassup.”

“Nothing,” she replied, wondering why I was calling because it was out of the ordinary. Then it hit me.

“Are you busy?”

“No, not really. Is everything okay?”

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