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Chapter Fifty-Six: That's My Man
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Trick Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Biggest Trick of All
TrickIf anyone had told me three years ago I would be where I am right now, I would've laughed, called them names, and probably punched them in the face. Now? I'm just thankful that I can call this woman who sits on my right my wife and the little girl who's going to come onstage very soon, my daughter. Giving my attention to the woman up front, I pay attention as she speaks."It's my privilege to introduce to you some of our students who have moved up an age bracket this year to the eight to twelve-year-old group. Many of them started with me when they were four, and I've been incredibly lucky to see them grow. They've become amazing pianists, every day I'm constantly amazed by what I learn from them, and what I witness them do. Up first for the eight to twelve-year-olds is Riley Tennyson."I'm not going to lie, every time I hear someone say her last name is Tennyson, it gets me in the chest. Not long after we were married, the adoption went through and we officially became a f
Trick Chapter 1: You're His Last Hope
Hadley"You're his last hope."Rebecca, the director of The Companion Program lays it on thick, and I'm doing my best to be open-minded, but what she's told me is has me doubting my decisions. "He's a felon?" I rub my forehead with the heel of my hand, hoping to relieve some of the pressure that's built behind my eyes. This is a big decision."He was a felon," she clarifies. "This charge was elevated because of his past, but I assure you – he is a changed man."Am I crazy for even considering this? On the one hand, I think so. But on the other, I try to see the best in everyone and I know it's possible to change. Look at what I've done for myself in the past two years. Who am I to judge? "What did he do?""It's a vandalism charge. That's all I'm allowed to say, but if he can't be matched with a child to perform his community service hours, he's going to go to jail. Given his previous charges, the jail time will be exacerbated." She stops, eyeing me critically. "Patrick has do
Trick Chapter Two: Her Name is Riley
Trick"How is this one going to be different than the rest?"I kick my long legs out in front of me, trying not to make too much noise as the steel-toes of my boots meet the metal of the desk in front of me. Regardless of what other people think about me, I would prefer to blend into the background. I don't really want to make a spectacle of myself. I've been told the way I carry myself doesn't allow me to blend into the background, but I am who I am and I refuse to let people screw me around.Matthew, my probation officer, God bless his soul is flipping through some paperwork trying to find me a match. I think he wants to keep me out of jail as much I don't want to go back there. "They swear this woman isn't interested in finding a man, and it seems the little girl needs someone who can help her. The name's Riley.""What's wrong with her?" I lean forward, keeping my arms tucked tightly across my chest, hands in my armpits. As a kid, I had a bad habit of talking with my hands.
Trick Chapter Three: Curls and TuTu's
HadleyMy heart is breaking and my hope is dwindling as the seconds tick by, turning into minutes. The man is late, and I don't want to be the person who tells my daughter she's been abandoned again. She'd been more excited about today than I'd seen her in months, as we'd left the house. She hadn't been able to sit still as she'd twirled around the living room, her curls and the ruffles of her tutu spinning in circles with her."Mom," she turned to face me as I locked the door on our apartment. "Do you think he'll like my outfit?"She'd picked it out so painstakingly – it was her favorite. A plain white t-shirt, a black ruffled tutu that I'd made with the help of some Pinterest board, and her pink Converse. Her curls, always too big for her head, were held out of her face by the clip I'd barely been able to close, and the glasses she wore made her appear more studious than her years. My heart clenched as I thought of all the moments her dad was missing out on.With the biggest
Trick Chapter Four: Don't Make Promises You Can't Keep
TrickI run my hand through my hair, trying to tame it. The top seriously needs a cut, and I know I look like I just rolled out of bed. They probably think I tied one on and left a woman asleep on my pillow. Fuck. As I bring my hand down, I see smudges of grease still in the corners of my fingernails. So much for making a great first impression."Any tips you want to give me?" I look over at the mom, hoping she responds to my question. I've always liked kids, but haven't really been around them before. She shakes her head, her blonde hair falling in her face. "Sorry, I can't make this easier on you. It's her you've got to impress, not me."So it's like that? I admit to myself I would have judged her had she not been such a mama bear to her daughter. "I can respect that."The pointed look directed my way lets me know I better respect it.The door to the room opens and I turn around. There are moments in your life no one can prepare you for. Snippets of time that make or bre
Trick Chapter Five: A Coloring Book?
TrickSweat drips from my forehead, trailing down to my eyes. Right as I know it's going to slip in and sting like a son of a bitch, I use my forearm to wipe it away. A happy sigh releases the tension from my shoulders and I glance around. This is my happy place, my shop is everything. From the oil-stained concrete floors to the walls holding the tools that allow me to do the job at hand. It's small, barely big enough for me, sometimes a helper, and ten bikes, but it's mine. Free and clear is something I never thought I would say, but it's true. This place is mine and nobody is going to take that away from me.Unless I end up having to serve time.Most days I can keep that thought at bay, other days it's at the forefront of my mind. I've been there before - serving time - and I don't want to go back. I can't go back after I've had this taste of freedom.In my jeans pocket, my phone vibrates. Forgetting I have grease all over my hands, I reach in, pulling the device out. Fuck
Trick Chapter Six: Sprite
Hadley"What do you wanna wear today?" I take a huge drink of the iced coffee I made myself first thing this morning. Some mornings I need the jolt of caffeine worse than others; and today I really need it."My pink shoes," she claps her hands.I can't help the smile spreading across my face. We got those pink Converse at Goodwill brand new with tags, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to afford them at the time. It was before I realized I had a gift for what I've turned into my side business. When there had been no extra money for anything, I figured out how creative and motivated I am."Pink shoes we got," I hold them up. "But what else?"She thinks for a moment, her expression pensive. "Jeans like yours."I look down seeing my jeans with the hole in the knee. I guess I should thank my lucky stars that deconstructed jeans are now a thing. These are just so old they're falling apart, but everyone thinks I spent a hundred bucks on them. "Okay girlfriend, go grab them,"
Trick Chapter Seven: How Old Are You?
TrickPretend she's not there? I'd have to be blind to even attempt it. She ogled my dick like she was a starving woman in a desert earlier but she made no move toward me, and I appreciate the restraint. I still feel the same pull she had on me yesterday, but I've promised myself this is about the hours I need to serve and the child I'm going to help. That doesn't mean I don't notice what a beautiful woman she is and I can ignore the obvious interest that sparks when she thinks I'm not looking.I pull out the chair for Riley to have seat. She climbs on, sitting up on her knees so she can easily see over the edge of the table. "Which page do you want to color?" I grab the box of crayons. They're small in my big hands, and it reminds me I need to be careful with this little girl. People like me can easily break others if we aren't mindful."You do this one," she tears out a page, putting in front of me. "I'll do this one."She pulls her lip in between her teeth and looks back
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Trick Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Biggest Trick of All
TrickIf anyone had told me three years ago I would be where I am right now, I would've laughed, called them names, and probably punched them in the face. Now? I'm just thankful that I can call this woman who sits on my right my wife and the little girl who's going to come onstage very soon, my daughter. Giving my attention to the woman up front, I pay attention as she speaks."It's my privilege to introduce to you some of our students who have moved up an age bracket this year to the eight to twelve-year-old group. Many of them started with me when they were four, and I've been incredibly lucky to see them grow. They've become amazing pianists, every day I'm constantly amazed by what I learn from them, and what I witness them do. Up first for the eight to twelve-year-olds is Riley Tennyson."I'm not going to lie, every time I hear someone say her last name is Tennyson, it gets me in the chest. Not long after we were married, the adoption went through and we officially became a f
Trick Chapter Fifty-Six: That's My Man
HadleyAlmost Three Years LaterI glance down at my phone, shifting in my seat as I cross my legs, and take a deep breath. Trick should have been here twenty minutes ago, and would have been if I wasn't so damn forgetful. He'll never forgive himself if he misses this, and it will be completely my fault. There's ten more minutes before the lights go down and the rest of the recital starts. Pursing my lips, I wonder if I should text him, but if he's driving, he won't answer the phone anyway. Not to mention for the past six months, I've already been a hell of a distraction. People are milling about, and I happen to be looking at the auditorium doors when they open and in steps my husband. I lift my hand up so he can see where I'm sitting, waving him over. "You made it," I smile over at him as he slides into the seat next to me, carrying the flowers I'd forgotten. "I was worried I wouldn't, traffic is crazy out there with it being close to Christmas and all. Did I miss her?"
Trick Chapter Fifty-Five: Will You Have Me?
HadleyI check the clock on my phone, before I turn back to my computer. I took the day off work to get caught up with my Etsy orders. If it keeps up the way it is, I'm going to be doing the Etsy thing full-time. Trick and I have been talking about it a lot lately. Trick and Riley should be here soon, I just hope he hasn't forgotten he had to go pick her up at school after he ran his errands.It's stupid I'm even thinking this way, because if there's one thing about Trick, it's that he'll never forget his Sprite. The thought warms my heart. Just as I pick up my phone to call him, I hear their footsteps on the stairs leading up to the apartment. Next month though, we'll have an inside entrance. The loan for the building next door went through, and we're working on expanding our apartment. I can't wait."Babe!""Mom!"I hear their voices as they come through the door. "I'm right here," I whisper from the kitchen table. Tux and I aren't a full ten feet from the door.They laug
Trick Chapter Fifty-Four: The Pink One
TrickFive Months LaterNervous doesn't even begin to cover how I'm feeling right now. I've never checked Riley out of school, but today I'm doing it. "Just sign here, Mr. Tennyson," the secretary tells me, after they've checked my license against the sign out sheet for Riley. "She'll be here in a few minutes, if you wanna have a seat."It's been a long time since I've been in a school office. I glance around, layout still looks the same, even if everything else is a bit more technologically advanced. These chairs aren't made for someone with my height, and I check my cell phone, seeing how much longer I'm going to have to wait for Sprite. I adjust in the chair, right as the door opens, and in she walks."Trick!" She runs over to me, as I stand and grab her in my arms. We just saw each other this morning before Hadley took her to school, but Sprite and I, we have a bond. "Hey Sprite," I set her down, grabbing her hand. "You ready to blow this popsicle stand?"She giggle
Trick Chapter Fifty-Three: Some Serious Kissin' Going On
Trick"Mom, are you sure it's okay for us to break tradition?" Riley asks, her eyes wide as she gazes at the Christmas tree box sitting in my apartment."What's normal tradition?" I ask, opening the box up with my knife.Hadley smiles at her daughter. "Normally we wait until December 10th, we put on A Christmas Story,and we decorate while watching the movie play over and over again." "It's only a few days before the tenth," I look at my phone. "Today's the fifth, and if you want to watch the movie, I'm sure it's on Netflix. Why don't you go look, Sprite."Riley scampers off to find the remote so she can check on the movie situation. "Thank you for this," Hadley leans in, circling her arms around my neck. Sitting down, it's easier for her to give me a hug while she stands over me."We've had a hell of a day. I can't think of anything better to top it off than what we're about to do right now. Besides," I turn so I can see her. "In all the years I've lived here, I've never
Trick Chapter Fifty-Two: She Lives In Her Converse
HadleyWe've been sitting in this mediation room for almost an hour, waiting for Phillip and his attorney to appear. The magistrate checks his watch. "We'll give them a few more minutes."I don't want to give them a few more minutes. They knew as well as we did, the time they were supposed to be here. This is completely typical of him. Expecting everyone to wait while he takes his time, doing whatever it is he feels is more important than what's right in front of him. I know without out a doubt, this is how he'll treat Riley if he gets custody of her. I hope it makes an impression on everyone sitting in the room.Just as we're about to get up to leave, the door opens and in walks my ex-husband. He's aged years since the last time I saw him, he looks weak and maybe a little frail. For a few seconds I wonder if he's sick, and the reason he wants to have contact with Riley now is because he's dying. Then I realize men like him don't die slowly. They go out in a blaze of glory, shock
Trick Chapter Fifty-One: Touch Yourself
TrickI know exactly what Hadley wants and I feel like a son of a bitch because I'm going to give it to her. In a way, it feels like I'm using her, because I'll be getting pleasure out of what we're about to do too, but I can't deny her. She's hurting, I'm hurting, and if we can make each other feel better, why shouldn't we?Taking the towel completely off, I push the covers back, revealing her body to me. She's wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts. "Take the shorts off," I whisper, lifting the tank top over her head.Tonight, I'm not feeling that crazy rush I usually feel with her. I'm almost lazy in my perusal of her body, not anxious to move this along. I watch as she kicks the shorts down her legs, pushing them off the edge of the bed. She lays naked before me and I realize how lucky I am that she chose me. Hadley had her pick of any man if she'd just allowed herself to put her guard down, and I'm the one who got lucky enough to be let in."Let me take your mind off ever
Trick Chapter Fifty: Make Me Forget
Hadley"I'm honestly not worried about Patrick's past," Sally mumbles as she looks over the paperwork I received. "It's more about someone's character in these cases than what they did to get them in the situations they were in, and from what I can tell you had pretty reliable character witnesses at your last hearing," she gives Trick a glance. "I'm going to need them all to write a statement. The more character witnesses I can get, the better off for the case. I truly think he's posturing, but we won't know for sure until we get before the magistrate.""My probation officer, and I'm sure the director of the Companion Program would vouch if I needed her to," he grips my hand tighter."You're a business owner?" She asks as she makes some notes in her computer. "Do you own the building?""I am, and I do, outright. I made the last payment three months ago. I'm looking into buying the building next to it," he admits, and I glance over, my mouth agape. "I have a meeting with the ban
Trick Chapter Forty-Nine: I Love You, Too
TrickI listen as Hadley explains what's happened to the woman on the other end of the phone. As I hear her words, feel the tension in her body, and see the emotions across her face, I get angrier. I wonder how in a time where I'm the happiest I've ever been, I'm also more scared than I've ever been. The emotions switched in the blink of an eye to polar opposites. There's a gnawing in my gut that's forcing me to look at myself and realize a few major truths. Hadley would be better off without me; she could fight this easier if I weren't in her corner. I have to give her the out she needs if she wants it, even though I told her I'd be here no matter what. I don't want to be the reason she loses her child. There's no way I could live with myself or face Riley's sweet face if I were the cause of such pain. When she gets off the phone, her face is red, but she seems more together."We need to head to her office; she's going to file a motion for discovery. She wants to know why, a
