McKenzie leaned back slightly, her posture loosening now that the initial weight of the conversation had settled into something more manageable. One arm rested against the desk, the other hanging loosely at her side as she looked down at Greg.
“This really is for the best,” she said, her tone softer now, more grounded than before. “You’ve got the home base here with me, and we can actually start figuring things out. Not just day-to-day stuff, but… long-term.”
She paused briefly, like she was testing how it sounded out loud.
“Because I’m not just your daughter anymore,” she added. “I’m going to be your guardian full-time eventually.”
There was no pride in it. No ego.
Just acceptance.
“It’s going to make some things complicated,” she admitted, her expression shifting slightly, “but… I know this is right.”
Greg watched her carefully.
He could see the conviction in it. The way she had already settled into the idea, even if she didn’t have every piece figured out yet. This wasn’t impulsive. This was something she had already decided.
And part of him felt that same pull again—that quiet sense that this could work.
But the other part of him…
“McKenzie… about your mom,” Greg said, easing into it carefully.
He already knew this wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have.
McKenzie didn’t even hesitate.
“Dad,” she said, letting out a small breath, the shift immediate. “I’ll make sure Madison doesn’t go crazy with her. I know that matters to you.”
She leaned forward slightly, resting her forearms on the desk again, her tone steady but clearly drawing a line.
“But as far as I’m concerned, Mom is Madison’s Little,” she continued. “And I don’t really want to be involved any more than I have to be.”
There was no anger in it now.
Just distance.
“I don’t want her hurt,” she added, more quietly. “I still care about her.”
That part was true.
Greg could hear it.
“But we’ve been separate for a long time,” she went on. “Way before Smallara. Before any of this.” She shook her head slightly. “That didn’t just start now.”
Greg nodded faintly.
He knew that.
“I just hate that it had to happen to you,” McKenzie said, looking at him more directly now. “You’re the one that holds everything together.”
That one landed.
Greg felt it settle in his chest, heavier than he expected.
Because it was true.
And because it wasn’t something he could keep doing the same way anymore.
He took a small breath.
“Then can’t you try?” he asked, gently but firmly. “Just a little. For me.”
McKenzie’s expression shifted immediately.
Not angry.
But resistant.
“I’m not asking you to forgive her,” Greg added quickly. “I’m not asking you to be best friends. Just… something. Throw her a bone.”
McKenzie leaned back again, dragging a hand lightly across her face.
“Ugh,” she let out, the sound breaking through the composure she’d been holding. For a second, she was just a teenager again.
“I didn’t even want her at dinner with my coach,” she admitted. “I’m sorry. That’s why I didn’t invite you. I didn’t want it to be… weird.”
Greg blinked slightly at that.
That explained more than he expected.
McKenzie glanced back at him.
“But like…” she started, her tone shifting into something more reluctant, “we can maybe… watch a show together or something. Sometimes. For you.”
It wasn’t enthusiasm.
It wasn’t reconciliation.
But it wasn’t nothing.
Greg smiled faintly.
“Maybe we bring back family game night,” he suggested.
The reaction was immediate.
“Definitely not,” McKenzie said, almost reflexively, a small shake of her head following. “The only one who liked that was you.”
Greg let out a quiet chuckle at that.
And just like that, for a brief moment, something about the room felt lighter.
Not fixed.
Not resolved.
But… familiar.
I have to say! Greg is a fucking legend! He needs to be applauded! Cindy needs to get down on her knees and thank him!
Asuka! I loved this chapter! The en and flow work McKenzie and Greg and both of them can become parent and child and guardian and little with no effort! It shows how much she cares for him! Great chapter
I agree, fun & not to depressive. I think since the house and all its expenses are paid by corporate, Madison can use it as a permanent home and go to college from there and Kenz can always maintain a room so the house is a family home base. Greg can FaceTime Cindy and Madison and see them at holidays like everybody else does.
Yeah they have alot of options and it’s awhile till they graduate. Like years so a lot can change.
Glad it’s going over so well. After yesterdays chapter the opinions were flowing which was fun to read as well
Greg is the fucking man. I don’t know if I could do what he’s doing if I were in his position, but I give him all the credit in the world for trying to keep this family together. It’s also great to see how much McKenzie cares for him.
Well it is his wife which I think helps. I mean as an outsider i would have told her to F off awhile ago.
But i know for my own wife i often will go the extra mile. Which is what Greg is doing for Cindy.
Cindy’s job is to not fuck this up. I really hope Greg goes to her and tells her to never bring up the madison stuff their treatment with Kenzie and to just try to take an interest in her from here on out. that’s the best thing she can do for herself. Otherwise Cindy will just blow it again and Kenzie will be less willing to do this again for Greg. Seriously, if Cindy really loves Kenzie, she needs to make this all about listening and being involved in Kenzies life as a supporter, not a governor.
That is a hard job for Cindy who excels at messing up.
She definitely needs to approach it as mckenzies mom and just being there for her daughter. Bringing up other drama will just ruin things or atleast the opportunity Greg created for her.
I really wish they would address the elephant in the room that is that Mackenzie and Greg are choosing to separate Greg and Cindy. Greg is going to leave his wife and honestly only seems kinda bothered by it. At least he mentioned her a bit, but I don’t know how else he would be so okay with leaving her unless he didn’t really love her anymore anyway, which is also a very real possibility. But Kenzie is straight up not even worried about choosing to split her parents up it seems. Idk, maybe it’ll be dealt with later, but just stands out to me right now. Like, dude is okay being alone in this and getting to “visit” his freaking wife sometimes as long as he ends up in a better position.
I also don’t know why he would be scared of being honest with Mackenzie about how he feels about Cindy’s treatment. Does he think she would hurt him? Why would he think that if she is supposed to be the nice one?
Idk, dude is just wishy washy and just seems to be unwilling to be honest out of fear of losing his place as #1 slave. Either that, or he just wants to be separated from his wife because he doesn’t love her and sees this as a prime opportunity, which I would understand more, but is still weasely as shit.
Alright good job Greg you had me a little worried there yesterday but you reminded me not to doubt you and how you are the goat
Cindy I prey you use this opportunity well and I’m positive she won’t waste it and honestly I say give Greg a hug …. Or a good f$%k later when you get the chance for being this goated
And maybe Mads will fine her own thing with Cindy that special to them like sports talk is for Greg and her since clearly they’ll be together for the foreseeable future and might want to find ways to connect
Either way I glad things are looking for the better in some ways small but very good
1) “I’m going to be your guardian full-time eventually.” There was no pride in it. No ego.Just acceptance.” – Definitely easier to accept than the alternative
2) ““McKenzie… about your mom,” – “Dad, I’ll make sure Madison doesn’t go crazy with her. I know that matters to you.” Greg protecting his wife is good, and McKenzie protecting her mom solely for her dad is a bittersweet compromise.
3) “But as far as I’m concerned, Mom is Madison’s Little, And I don’t really want to be involved any more than I have to be.” Can’t really blame McKenzie for writing Cindy off
4) “But we’ve been separate for a long time, Way before Smallara. Before any of this. That didn’t just start now.” Their rift isn’t new, that much is clear
5) “I just hate that it had to happen to you, you’re the one who holds everything together.” Heavy burden for the Little Dad
6) “we can maybe… watch a show together or something. Sometimes. For you.” OK, but probably not LLS, I feel like Madison wouldn’t like that.
1) Greg has a “safe” place now, it will give him an opportunity to decompress from Madison when he needs it.
2) Kudos to him for pushing ahead advocating for Cindy. He needs to go slow (which he seems to be doing).
3) I’m still unclear as to just how McKenzie sees Greg. Is he a Little first and then her dad, or is it the other way around?
4) Looks like McKenzie’s long plan is that Greg and Cindy will separate. I assume Greg’s plan now is to see that that does not happen. (At this point I assume Greg still loves Cindy and wants to stay together).
5) McKenzie sees Greg as the glue of the family, does Madison?
6) At what point does McKenzie consider “going crazy”, where will she draw the line?
7) “I didn’t even want her at dinner with my coach,” she admitted. “I’m sorry. That’s why I didn’t invite you. I didn’t want it to be… weird.” — That would have been weird, but it would have been fun to see 😁
8) If they watch TV together will it be with or without Madison?
9) Greg is going to have fun explaining this to Cindy, or is Madison going to explain it?