HadleyMy shoulders are tight and my eyes sting when I close them. My fingers curve into my palms as I resist the urge to rub them. I've been told it's the worst thing I can do, but God it feels so good. I need some of those liquid tears, or whatever, the eye doctor keeps telling me about. I'm pretty sure those things are made out of unicorn tears, though, because of how much my copay is for them. When they told me the price, I said forget it, but damn my eyes hurt. Maybe after the sale I'm having for Halloween I'll be able to afford them, but until then I'm stuck with pushing through. Story of my life for the past few years.Making the planner pages and the stickers all require me to be on the computer for a while. Add that to the time I'm on the computer at my day job and my eyes constantly hurt. Data entry is a freakin' bore, but it pays the majority of the bills right now. Maybe one day I'll be able to work from home full-time, but for right now, I'll have to remember to go
TrickEarly isn't something I strive to be for anything. It was never ingrained into me as a teenager, not even be on time for an appointment. It's a skill I learned once I'd already gotten in trouble and realized no one gave a shit if I were taught right from wrong as a child. The ones who taught me the concept of not making others wait on me was my first parole officer, the public defender who gave me the time of day, and the bosses who were willing to give me a shot, even when they probably shouldn't have.So for me to be here today, on a Saturday, fifteen minutes early for my meeting with Riley, is a feat in and of itself. It's cool this morning, the hot grip of summer is finally loosening, and I can see the trees around the local park are starting to turn. It's not quite cold enough to see your breath in the morning, but it was enough for me to put my jacket and a beanie on.Luckily, I was early enough to score a table that's been set up, not too far from the festivities. I
Hadley"I had fun with him today, Mom."I don't have to ask who Riley's talking about. She's done nothing but talk about Trick since we left the downtown carnival. He left an impression on her, and if I'm honest, he left one on me, too. Not many men are nice to other people's children, at least not in my experience, and he never once got irritated with her or lost his temper. And when I looked down and saw Riley with her hand in his, it took everything I had not to cry.Her dad never did that. I can't even recall the last time he held either one of our hands, and Trick probably has no idea what he's done. He put a smile on her face I haven't seen in so long, I almost forgot what it looked like. Walking around with him today, I finally felt like I wasn't alone. To put that feeling into words isn't possible. He gave us something back today – whether he knows it or not."I did, too," I admit. It's hard because he's supposed to be there for her, not me, but his presence is helping
TrickThis day has gone to hell in a handbasket. Like with the quickness of a gangbanger at a drive by shooting. I'm trying to leave to go meet Riley and Hadley when G shows up."What the fuck, Trick?" he screams as he hops out of someone's car. I'm not sure who he got to drive him, and frankly I don't care. Right now I don't have time to mess with him and his attitude. "I don't have time to mess with you right now, G. Come back tomorrow." "No, you son of a bitch, I wanna know why you took the starter off my bike. I can't get anywhere now."He runs up like he's going to get in my face, but I square my shoulders, making myself as big as I can. That backs him up real quick."Obviously you can get somewhere, because you're here, jawing in my face. As for the starter. You owe me for a job I did. You haven't paid, I took my property back. I warned you there were consequences to your actions."A look sweeps over G's face and it gives me a bit of pause. It's cold. "You're g
HadleyYou 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
TrickI want to know where Hadley went when I asked how she wanted her hamburger cooked. Her eyes had become unfocused, her breathing erratic, and the look on her face was one of anger, regret, and maybe a little disgust. One day she'll trust me enough to tell me. I'll make her trust me enough to tell me."It's done, ladies."A few months ago, I put a picnic table out here after I got sick of eating inside by myself. As I've cooked, Hadley has taken it upon herself to set the table, turning us into a team. It's nice to be a part of a team. I've never had that feeling before. Setting the burgers and hot dogs on the table, I watch as they come over from where they've been checking out the flowers the old owners of this place planted. They come over, and I pick Riley up since I'm unsure if she can comfortably navigate the table. With a hand to her back, I watch as she gets comfortable. "Want another?" I eye the almost empty Corona Hadley's set in front of her. "Better not. It'
TrickHadley's smiling at me, the sweetest, sexiest smile, I've ever seen in my life, as she sits on the edge of my bed. Her blonde hair is curly, hanging over the front of her shoulder. Using the towel I'd been drying off with after getting out of the shower, I quickly move to cover myself; I don't want to make her nervous."How'd you get in here? When'd you come back? Where's Riley?"She giggles, a throaty little sound that makes me tent the front of the towel I've just used to cover my nakedness. "You didn't lock the door, which is totally not safe at all. I can't believe you don't lock your door. Riley's with my next door neighbor. I decided to come back because I couldn't go to sleep tonight without at least having a taste of you."Hadley's much more forward than I imagined she would be. It's the most arousing thing I think I've seen in my life. "Funny," I grin down at her. "I was thinking the same thing when I watched your car leave.""We have tonight," she whispers to
HadleyI'm nervous heading to Trick's shop, but it's different than it was the first time I went. Our night changed things. I can't put my finger on it, but I feel different as I make my way across the bridge. Today I've grabbed a change of clothes and something to put my hair up with.Shaking my head, I grin, thinking I've never seen anyone's office as bad as Trick's. It's part of his appeal – the 'no fucks given' attitude he shoves in the face of everyone is like a shield against the world. I'm convinced now, more than ever, that there's a deeper side to Trick, a side he doesn't show to many. Tapping my fingers against the steering wheel, I wonder what it takes to see that side. "What are you doing, Hadley?"It's a question I've asked myself a lot since last night. After leaving his apartment, I went through his Facebook. It's mostly about his job, more motorcycles and things of that nature than anything. But hidden deep, I found what I think are a couple of friends. There we