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Chapter Forty-Six: Try Harder
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Trick Chapter Forty-Seven: Peppermint Hot Chocolate
TrickThursday is seriously my favorite day of the week. It should be my most frustrating because I get very little work done, but the reason I get very little work done is also what makes it my favorite. From the moment Riley and Hadley leave in the morning, I'm watching the clock, waiting for when Hadley gets off work, and then sneaking glimpses to see when she makes it to the shop. My work schedule revolves around it, and I've even said no to jobs if it's going to cut into time with her.I tell myself it's not crazy to want to spend time with her like this. Our moments alone are limited to when Riley's in bed or at school, and when she's at school, we can act like adults. We don't have to worry she may hear us, we can speak candidly and behave inappropriately. These few hours are my most treasured of the week, besides the times Riley asks for me specifically. I would never give up Riley in Hadley's life; I'm aware they come as a packaged deal, but I do appreciate the time alone
Trick Chapter Forty-Eight: Happiness?
HadleyHappiness has a way of sneaking up on us. I don't realize how much I've been smiling, how I laugh more easily, I say yes without even thinking of no, because negativity is a thing of my past.Someone I work with told me today that I look younger than I have in years. I look like I'm enjoying life, and whatever's been holding me back for the last little bit, she hopes it's gone, because I act like a completely different person.She's right. I didn't realize how much I was holding in to keep myself together. Now that I have someone to share in my thoughts, my hopes, my fears, my desires, and my dreams, it's made things easier. There's no longer a burden I feel I carry on my own.The happiness almost bursts from me as I hear my cell phone ring, and I see Trick's name. "Hey!" I answer with a smile, because he's the major positive force, he's the one putting forth all the good things. He's made me change for the better. I've almost stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop.
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
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 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-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-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-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
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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
