Page 63 of Trick

The rare smile he gives me is worth everything, and I want to make it my mission to have him smile. “Try to have fun.”

He kisses the top of his daughter’s head, and I feel as if we are the two most important things in his entire world before he steps away, leaving the room. Before he disappears through the door towards Howler’s office, he gives us a final look.

When I pull my gaze from where he disappeared, I realise everyone in the room is looking at me. I want to crawl into a hole and hide, but I’m not ashamed of my actions. Trick and I are both consenting adults, and what we’re doing is not wrong. Though I wish he had given me some notice before outing us in public.

Forcing a smile on my lips, I shift Sophia in my arms and wander over to the girls. There is certainly tension as I approach, but it’s not the negative attention I was expecting. Instead, I feel like a teenager caught in my bedroom with a boy.

It’s Pia who speaks first, breaking through the awkwardness. “You and Trick.”

“Me and Trick,” I confirm. Do I sound defensive?

“Okay, we’re going to need all the dirty details,” Ophelia says, eating one of the cupcakes instead of displaying it on the stand.

“There are no dirty details,” I protest.

“Woman, he kissed you as if you were his lifeblood.” This comes from Wren. I glance around at the women, uncertain what I should say.

“You don’t feel the same?” Elyse asks, grabbing Max as he rushes past her, almost knocking into the table.

“Of course, I do.”

I expect judgement, but that is not what I get. The relief I feel knowing no one is seeing me as the bad guy here is overwhelming.

Skye watches me, and I wonder what she’s thinking. It’s no secret she does not like Trick, and while I understand, I wish she would give him a chance to show her who he truly is. But that’s not what today is about, so I force a smile onto my face and let go of everything but helping Hope and Skye celebrate the babies they’re about to welcome into the world.

There is a hint of sadness that beats inside me during the shower. I try to keep it at bay, focusing instead on the moment and not the hurt and pain I feel knowing what happened to my child. There are games, far too much food, and despite everything, I have a good time. The old ladies ensure I’m made to feel part of everything, and I appreciate that.

Full of cake and far too many carbs, I help the others to clean up after the shower is done. Skye and Hope seem happy, a sure sign that today has been a success.

I carry some of the dirty dishes to the small kitchen behind the common room. I load the dishwasher and head back to the room. Before I enter, I hear a snippet of a conversation that stops me in my tracks.

“I had no idea they were together,” Wren says.

“Me neither, though I have noticed they were getting closer.” Elyse says this and my stomach twists.

“It was bound to happen. They’re living in the same house, raising Sophia together. It brings you closer having a kid.”

“It’s not their kid, though,” Skye says. “I mean, Sophia’s his, not Heidi’s. Surely, that creates a different dynamic.”

Those words are a knife to the gut. I’m well aware that Sophia isn’t mine, and I know everyone in the club thinks my agenda is to become her mother, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not trying to replace Mara.

“My kids aren’t Hawk’s, but we still parent together because he lives with us and he takes care of them every damn day.” Wren’s words are snippy.

“I’m not trying to offend,” Skye says, her tone placating. “I was just curious about their situation.”

“They were both suffering,” Pia says, “but they found something in each other that makes them happy. Who are we to judge that?”

Go, Pia. I wish I could hug the woman right now.

“And you can’t help who you fall in love with.” This comes from Ophelia. “Madden and I shouldn’t have worked on paper, but I love him. He’s my world.”

“Pia’s right,” Hope says. “It’s not our business to judge what two consenting adults do.”

“It’s been almost a year and a half since Mara died,” Pia says. “Over three—maybe four—years since Crow. How long are they meant to stay alone for?”

“I don’t know,” Skye admits.

“If anything happened to me, I would want Howler to eventually find happiness again,” Pia says. “I can’t bear the thought of him being sad and lonely.”

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