Teen Mom’s Maci Bookout’s husband Taylor McKinney calls her ex Ryan Edwards ‘a black cloud that hangs over us’

Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star Maci Bookout gets along better with her troubled ex Ryan Edwards to the chagrin of her husband Taylor McKinney.

On the latest edition of the MTV series, the mother-of-three, 31, was talking to her husband about how Edwards, 35, had turned a corner regarding co-parenting their son Bentley, 14.

“You probably won’t believe me when I tell you, but Ryan and I really communicate and get along,” the Chattanooga, Tennessee native said on the MTV show.

The Bulletproof author said she had renewed hope for cordial relations with Edwards – who was recently incarcerated – and said collectively they’ve come a long way from the days when they couldn’t co-parent “without a hitch.”

“Since the reunion, when we got things out, we’ve both made an effort,” Bookout said of himself and Edwards.

McKinney, 34 – who is father to daughter Jayde, eight, and son Maverick, seven, with Bookout – did not share her optimism, explicitly stating that he felt Edwards “wasn’t a good father” and “has let Bentley down and let you down so many times.”

“I won’t say I’m happy with this whole co-parenting thing,” McKinney told his wife, describing her ex as “a black cloud hanging over us.”

Booking the episode allowed Edwards to take their son for dinner, marking their first visit in a while.

Edwards spoke to his parents before dinner, while his father Larry praised him for taking a new direction.

In a separate scene, McKinney expressed to a friend his reluctance for Bookout to let Edwards visit with Bentley in the future.

He said he would need “some kind of permanence” from Edwards to pledge his full support, but he wouldn’t be “the one to hold it up.”

McKinney shared how his opposition to Edwards being in the photo strained his relationship with Bookout.

“I told Maci I don’t have high hopes or expectations” for Edwards, he said. “She knows I’ll support her, but I’ve seen how he’s talked to her and treated her in the past and I know he’s hurt Bentley several times.”

Bookout juggled mixed feelings about letting Edwards into their lives on the show

The Bulletproof author said she had renewed hopes for a cordial relationship with Edwards, saying they’ve come a long way together since the days when they couldn’t co-parent “without a hitch.”

McKinney reluctantly supported his wife and stepson amid the strained family situation

Bookout said that “there will always be a connection” between Edwards and Bentley

McKinney said he was willing to put his personal feelings aside in favor of Bentley.

“I don’t like it, it’s hard to swallow, but I will do anything for him,” he said.

Bookout told a friend in the episode how she understood her husband was “frustrated” by Edwards’ last chance to make amends with Bentley.

“I think mostly because he says, ‘Why does this guy keep getting chances?'” Bookout said. “Bentley and I are actually walking into a danger zone. Everyone knows it’s a danger zone and he can’t do anything, so he feels helpless.”

Bookout said that “there will always be a connection” between Edwards and Bentley.

After Bentley met Edwards – McKinney dropped him off – the teen said he had a good time; and that Bookout’s improved relationship with Edwards paved the way for the visit.

“I think the difference is we can now work through it as a team to do better,” Bookout said. “But we’re human, so we’re definitely going to have to figure this out and fix things. Sometimes it gets difficult again.’

“To be the mom I want to be, I have to make sure I show up as the supportive person.”