Community Service. Two words I should be thankful for, but I’m not. I resent the hours it’s away from building my business. 

When they push the little girl into the room, her crazy curls barely held back by the barrette in her hair, and studious glasses on her face, I can tell she’s scared. Something inside of me breaks, and I want this girl to feel wanted again. 

What I’m unprepared for is meeting her mom. The second our hands touch, there are fireworks, bright lights, and a picture of the future I could one day have. The future I’ve never allowed myself to wish for. 

Community service becomes more than a chore. In the months that follow, I realize they’re just like me: they’ve been abandoned, left behind by the world, forgotten by those who should love them. 

Thanks to the one last hope in both our lives - we found the light in the darkness we’d been searching for.

Trick is created by Laramie Briscoe, an eGlobal Creative Publishing author.

Trick

“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.”


Chapter Thirty-Five: He's Not Gonna Bite