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“I know life isn’t fair, and we’re forced to do things we don’t want to do. Preserving our family is our way of paying it forward, Macklen. We have a purpose bigger than ourselves, and sometimes that requires sacrifice, son.” My father was sympathetic. “I wish there were another way, but it’s not.”
People didn’t think we’d be going to the moon and driving electric cars, but here we are. There was a way it just hadn’t been discovered yet. I dropped into the kitchen to hug my mom before I left to have dinner with Sky and Cam.
I stopped to pick up flowers and realized I needed to grab Cam some too. Halfway to her house, I glanced at them, wondering if Sky liked flowers. She was different from the other women I’d dated. Sky was driving me crazy, causing me to overthink simple gestures like grabbing flowers for the woman I liked.
It was too late to turn back now, so I pulled into the parking spot and grabbed the flowers making the trip to her apartment. I knocked and could hear Camdyn on the other side rushing Skylar to open it. When she did, Cam’s eyes grew three sizes at the flowers in my hand.
“These are for you, princess.”
“I love them! They’re so pretty!” She jumped up and down, accepting my gesture, while I handed the other to Skylar. Her mouth wanted to remind me I didn’t have to do that, but she was learning and decided to keep it to herself.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I leaned in to kiss her cheek despite wanting to put my lips in other places, but Camdyn watched us like a hawk. “What’s for dinner, Cam?”
“My favorite, spisghetti!”
“Why am I not surprised?” I was quickly learning that Cam loved all things pasta. It didn’t matter the type of noodle or sauce.
“I should be done in a minute,” Sky volunteered.
“I got time,”
“Come on, Mack!” Cam grabbed my hand and dragged me to the living room, where she forced me to watch cartoons until Skylar finished cooking.
The three of us sat around the table, where Camdyn monopolized the conversation. I wasn’t complaining; neither was Skylar because it made it easier to navigate the unknown. She told me about her new daycare and all the new friends she had made since starting.
After dinner, Skylar excused herself to wash Cam up because she’d made a mess with her spisghetti. She returned smelling like lavender in Minnie Mouse pajamas. She was disappointed she couldn’t hang out in the living room with us, but Skylar compromised and allowed her to watch Sing 2 in her bed.
Once she got situated, Sky returned, sitting next to me. “Sorry about that. She always makes a mess with spaghetti.”
“Stop apologizing for being a mother.”
“So, do you have any colors in mind for this event?”
“Nope. It’s your world. Whatever you decide is cool. It’s not that deep.”
“If it’s not that deep, why do I have to come?”
“I don’t have to like it, but duty calls. If I’m going to be bored as fuck all night, at least I can have something pretty to look at.”
“You’re such a fuckin’ flirt,” Skylar blushed, shaking her head.
“I’m honest.”
“Are you sure your mom is okay keeping Cam?”
“Positive. Any excuse to get out of going, and she will take it.”
“So that’s where you get it from,” Sky pointed out, connecting the dots.
“I guess you could say that.”
“What did you tell her about us?”
“I told her I like you, but you keep being mean to me and shit. She told me to tell you to stop by the way.”
“Macklen.” Sky sulked, biting the corner of her mouth.
