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

Walking 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.


Chapter Forty-Two: Wild Ride