Chapter Eighteen: Masculinity

Hadley

You know when people tell you there are decisions in your life that have lasting repercussions? This is one of those decisions; I can feel the implications already weighing on my tired shoulders. Is what I'm doing right? Am I setting both myself and Riley up for a heartbreak that won't ever heal? I've done it once before, I can live through it again. But I wonder - can she? Glancing back in my rearview mirror, I see my daughter with a huge smile on her face. She's excited and looking forward to hanging out with Trick. I am too, and maybe that's the scariest part of this whole situation.

I follow close behind, not only with my car, but with eyes, as I watch him navigate traffic. There's an air of authority about him. He doesn't slouch like some guys who ride motorcycles. He sits up tall, resting a hand on his thigh when we come to a stop light. His feet plant fully on the ground and there's a masculinity to the way he sits astride the seat; like he owns it. He could own me ju