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Chapter Thirty-Eight: Face My Fear
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Trick Chapter Thirty-Nine: You're Stuck With Us
Trick"Jesus Christ," I huff as I pound my feet up the stairs. "I didn't realize how much stuff you would be bringing. I may have revoked my offer if I did," I turn around to grin at Hadley. She shoots me a scowl as she stands at the end of the stairs, trying to figure out how to bring up four bags at once. "I told you," she huffs herself as she starts. "We come with a lot of stuff, and I have to work."Once I get to the top, I take a breather, watching as she hoofs it up the stairs. When she stands beside me, I lean in. "I'm joking, you know that, right? I asked you to be here because I want you here. You and your five thousand loads of stuff," I laugh, groaning when she knocks me in the stomach."Riley, can you open the door for us?" She gives me a glare over her shoulder as she enters the apartment before me.It looks like Riley's made herself comfortable with Tux. That's right, I've given up calling my cat by his given name. He never responded to it, but he does respond
Trick Chapter Forty: Don't Be A Brat
Hadley"What do you mean you can't come?" I'm starting to panic as I look at my husband, seeing the unbending emotion in his face."Hadley, I told you when we had her, there would be times I couldn't participate, times I couldn't act like other fathers do."He cuts me down with sharp words, giving me a bored look as he continues putting his cufflinks in his button-down shirt. It infuriates me when he gives me this look. "You don't act like most husbands do, either," I'm pissed and he's going to see the fury, he's going to experience the full wrath of my disappointment."Don't be a brat," he grabs his suit jacket, putting it over the shirt."What kind of a man schedules a business dinner on the day of his daughter's ballet recital, but then doesn't even think about the fact his wife can't come? And can I add she does fucking ballet because it's what you want her to do, even though she expressed interest in piano? Yet you've never seen her do it?""She's three, Hadley, and do
Trick Chapter Forty-One: I Love Trick
Hadley"Will you be here when I get back?" I ask Trick as I finish doing Riley's hair. It's more elaborate curls than we normally send her off to school with, but for her costume tonight, it's a must. We won't have time to make it work when she gets home from school."I don't know, I have to run and get a part, then I have a friend of mine who called and wants me to go look at this bike he's fixing to buy. It depends on how traffic is and if he and I shoot the shit too long," he grins.Something tells me Trick does things on his own timetable and when he wants to shoot the shit, they talk all day. I wonder how I'm going to get in the apartment, but I don't want to come right out and ask. It seems forward, and I don't want to scare him off. "What does shooting the shit mean?" Riley pipes up from where she's sitting in front of me. "How can you put poo in a gun?"Trick and I look at each other, both trying to contain our laughter. Apparently we both forget when little ears are
Trick Chapter Forty-Two: Wild Ride
TrickWalking up the stairs to my apartment, I try to tell myself to keep this slow. Don't go in there like a fucking caveman and haul her to the bedroom. I should be nice and seduce her, I haven't done that yet. Who the hell am I kidding, I've never, not once in my life, seduced anyone, and I'm not even sure I'd be able to do it. For Hadley, though, I'd try. I know that without a shadow of a doubt. For her I would give anything a try.Love. The four-letter word Riley asked me about earlier comes to my mind. Does the willingness to try anything mean I love Hadley? The thought stops me right in the middle of the stairs. Loving Hadley is much messier than loving Riley and I'm not completely sure I want to admit how my heart feels or what my mind is pushing me towards. All I'm ready to admit is how much I physically want her, and how much my arms ache to hold her when she's not around. Right now, it's all I can give. Her or myself.When I enter my apartment, I have to grin because s
Trick Chapter Forty-Three: Just Enjoy It
HadleyI wasn't exactly prepared for what Trick had in mind when he said it was going to be a bumpy ride. There were many things that ran through my head when I heard those words. What didn't run through my head was him lifting me completely over his shoulders with my back against the wall, spreading my legs with his shoulders, and connecting his mouth to my core."Oh Holy Jesus," I gasp, reaching for something, anything to hang onto. There isn't anything and I do my best not to think about how high up in the air I am. I'm short, he's taller than I ever thought about being, and the only thing holding me here are his hands pressing against my thighs and his mouth against my pussy. If I die, it'll be a hell of a way to go.He pulls his mouth back, grinning up at me. "Relax Hadley, I got this."I've trusted him with a lot of things so far, and he's managed to pass every test. Why not trust him here? Even if I do feel like I'm on display for the whole world to see. "Okay," I tilt m
Trick Chapter Forty-Four: Good Luck, Trick
TrickTo say I'm nervous is an understatement. No matter if I've done something wrong or not, knowing I have to explain myself to what amounts to a group of judgmental assholes is never a fun thing to do. My foot taps uncontrollably on the floor, and I pull my phone out of my pocket, gazing at the picture me, Hadley, and Riley took on Halloween. It's the only thing that calms me down some days, and I feel like I have a fucking target on my back, especially at places like this."Relax," Matt, clamps his hand on my knee. "You have nothing to be worried about. This is a technicality.""One that could send me back to prison if someone deems fit to," I argue. The thought's crossed my mind a ton this week, so much that tonight's the first night Riley and Hadley are staying at their own apartment since Halloween. I've kept them as close as I can, and the only reason they went back tonight is because Hadley has to do laundry. I don't have my own washer and dryer yet, but you can bet your
Trick Chapter Forty-Five: Tuck Me In?
Hadley"Can Trick help me with my homework tonight?"My kid, she surprises me all the time. In the past few weeks we've been at Trick's apartment, she's become even more attached, but she's never asked him to help with schoolwork."You'll have to ask him," I glance over my shoulder from where I'm doing the dishes. Funny how when I was with my ex-husband housework seemed just that – work. Here, with Trick, I enjoy it. I like the way his dark eyes light up when I've done something he didn't expect me to do. The first night we were here, I changed the sheets on his bed. You would think I gave him a gold coin and told him it was worth a million dollars. He appreciates everything I do, and it means everything to me. "Trick," she kicks her feet where she's sitting at the kitchen table. "Will you help me with my spelling words?"I can tell by the set of his shoulders my big man is trying to get his emotions under control. Riley tears him apart with the simplest of requests, and I k
Trick Chapter Forty-Six: Try Harder
Trick"You sick of us yet?" Hadley asks as she starts turning down the sheets, and fluffing the pillows.I swear I think she has magic hands when she does this; there has never been a time I've slept better than when she turns down the sheets and fluffs the pillows. The only thing not letting me enjoy it are the words she's just spoken."Sick of you? Are you insane? Have I given you any reason to think I'm sick of you?"Now I'm panicking, because I know damn good and well, I've told her a few times how much my life has changed, how much better it is with the two of them here."No," she shakes her head. "But I wonder if you sometimes don't miss your old life, without all of us and all of our stuff crowding yours." My eyes follow where she's pointing to the chair in my bedroom. Before it had been completely bare, now it holds a few hoodies and more bras than it's ever seen in the years I've lived here. "While I'm willing to admit it's a little more cramped than I thought
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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
