HadleyI'm almost positive these two have picked the three biggest pumpkins they could find to bring home and carve. "Are we even sure these will fit in the car?" I joke as we make our way to where I've parked. For a few minutes I can almost believe we're a real family. I'm pulling a wagon, and Riley's perched in Trick's arms, jabbering away about carving these pumpkins. On my way over to meet them, I stopped at the grocery and picked up stuff to make us dinner, and Trick's mentioned s'mores again. Maybe one day, this really can be my family. I stop at my trunk, opening it, while Trick walks Riley over to the backseat. "I'll get those," he yells, so I can hear him, as he buckles her in. Another thing I'm not used to, someone helping me with all the heavy lifting. It's a lot harder for me to get used to than I ever thought it would be. I fought hard for my independence, and it's hard letting someone help me. Which, I'm aware, is completely insane. Trick finishes up with
Trick"I have a little bit of work I need to finish. It shouldn't take me any longer than you cooking," I tell Hadley when we get back to the apartment. "The guy is picking his bike up tomorrow," the tone of my voice is apologetic, and I hate I have to do this to her, but spending all the time with her yesterday cut into my work day."That's cool," she doesn't even seem pissed. "This'll take about an hour from start to finish. We can eat, carve pumpkins, and then head on home.""Or you can stay and watch a movie," I blurt out before I can stop myself. I want to convince her to stay. Having her here last night was the highlight of my week. Hell, the highlight of my month, maybe even my year."Sounds good to me," she looks over at Riley. "What do you say?""As long as I get to play with Tux, I don't care." We both laugh. Decisions are so easy when you're six years old. "Then I guess we're staying," she answers, washing her hands in the sink."Alright, I'm gonna go get what
HadleyThe door to the apartment opens and in spills Trick, the cat, and Riley. "Damn, it smells good in here," Trick moans as he herds Riley towards the bathroom. "Is it almost done?" "Just have to get the tortillas out of the oven, then it'll be ready. Y'all have perfect timing.""We need to wash our hands, and then we'll be ready to eat, right Riley?""I've got a man-size hunger," she tells me, rubbing her stomach. "He worked you hard huh?" I hear the timer go off, signaling my tortillas are done. "She earned her keep today," Trick grins. "But right now I feel like I could eat all those tacos on my own. Let's go get cleaned up, Sprite."The way she follows him, doesn't question what he says to her, and the way she looks up to him fills me with pride. She's such a good kid, and all she's ever wanted is someone to love her. That's all either of us have ever wanted. I dread what's going to happen when we run out of hours, and we don't have Trick anymore.Unexpecte
TrickI hadn't meant to spring this on Hadley, hadn't even planned on talking to her about any of it tonight, but it felt right. I'm beginning to trust my instincts when it comes to her. So far, they've not steered me wrong. "She's out," Hadley whispers as she looks at Riley.The cat and girl are curled up in the chair. "Don't wake her up. You're both welcome to stay here," I whisper back. "The couch folds out. I'll sleep out here, and you two can take my bed. It's not a problem."I walk down the hallway, grabbing the extra set of sheets and the pillows I keep there. It's not often people stay with me. Every once in a while, I have a buddy who comes through town on a bike and will crash with me if it rains, or it gets cold, or they need to have some work done. It's probably been at least six months since anyone's slept on it, and I know tomorrow my back is going to kill, but to have these ladies with me for a little longer is worth it all.Hadley helps me fold the bed out, a
Hadley"We can shut the door, but let's not lock it, in case she needs something," I nervously tell him as I run my hand through my hair."Hadley," he tugs on my arms, pulling me over to the bed. He has a seat so he's eye-level with me, and forces me to look at him. "I have no expectations for whatever this," he motions between the two of us, "is.""I don't either," I have to be honest. "But God, when I left this morning, I admitted to myself, I wanted to know what it would have been like to be with you, and when I picked up food to make for dinner, I got condoms."My face is burning, I mean positively on fire as I tilt my head to where they are on the bedside table. I don't think I've ever wanted anything more than I do at this moment. I want him to take charge and make me stop being a fumbling idiot. "But if this isn't what you want…" I let my voice trail off, giving him an out. "I can go sleep on the couch with Riley and we can head home in the morning.""Shit no," his voi
TrickGoddamn, Hadley's hot and wet, and so fucking ready for me, I think I could get her off by just letting her thrust against my fingers. Letting her though, would be so empty. Removing my fingers, I use the wetness to coat my cock, before bracing myself against the mattress and taking her in one thrust."Trick," she moans loudly, grabbing on to my shoulders, her nails biting into the straining muscles. "Son of a bitch, Hadley."She's everything I expected her to be. Tight. Warm. Fucking Heaven. Her hands move down my back, fingernails denting my ass as she wraps her legs around my waist, holding on tight. I've got to move, I've got to feel the way she releases me and pulls me back in. Gritting my teeth, I make the withdrawal, closing my eyes and dropping my head to her collarbone, panting against the heated flesh."Feels so good, Trick," she pants along with me, thrusting up against me as I push back in. Words aren't needed as we start the push and pull, the thrust an
TrickInhaling deeply on the cigarette clenched between my lips, I sigh as I let the nicotine wash over me. I'm doing my best not to be high strung, to have this conversation as level-headed as possible, but there's no denying I'm pissed. Squinting against the bright sun, I keep my gaze trained on the exit of the neighborhood gym. A part of me had wanted to go inside and confront him, but I'm old enough to know he may have friends inside that I don't want to tangle with.Leaning against the brick, my feet crossed, I keep watch. Thirty minutes after I take up my stake out, I see G walking outside, head bent down as he texts something on his cell phone. Walking across the street, I'm beside him before he notices me. Putting my arm around his shoulders, I lean in. "You and I are gonna have a little talk. The diner up there okay with you?" I point my phone to an all-night diner a half a block up.He cuts his eyes at me, I can tell he's trying to figure out what my play is here. "Your
HadleyI can't believe what I just said to him. Nobody has ever smacked my ass the way he did. It caused a reaction in me, one I hadn't been prepared for. Sure I've heard people at work, girlfriends I had, talk about their boyfriends doing it to them. I always smiled and nodded, but I never really got it. Not until his palm made contact with my jean-covered flesh. I'd let him take me over his knee any day of the fucking week if it gave me a jolt like that innocent touch had.Shaking my head, I try to get myself out of the lust-induced fog this man puts me in every time I'm in his presence. Never before, not even with my ex, have I been so attuned to a man, so conscious of how he makes me feel. If it were anyone but Trick, I think it would be completely disconcerting. With him, I'm willing to give a piece of myself up, let him help me figure out who's hiding under everything she's tried to cover up for so long.Paper after paper goes into the trash bag that I'm going to run by the
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
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?"
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
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"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
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
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
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
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