Distinction: The Distraction Trilogy #3 (6 page)

When Rod, my old classmate, called to say he was in town I could hardly refuse to meet with him. I knew there was a chance that we’d bump into Elle and a major part of me really didn’t want that to happen. I was worried she’d think the worst and assume I was behaving the same way I used to.

Fortunately, she just seemed surprised to see me and nothing else, though her body language told me that she didn’t want me in her bubble with her friends. That hurt. She didn’t even say hello.

I can’t blame her.

I’m glad to have seen her though. She looks beautiful as always, but these past four years have really done her justice. Unlike me. Four years have only added more lines to my face and grey to my hair.

My eyes keep drifting to her as Rod fills me in on the world of accounting. It’s a boring subject but he’s a charismatic man so he somehow makes me want to learn about tax rebates.

“That young lady who you spoke to is coming over,” Rod suddenly says and smiles charmingly at the person over my shoulder.

I swing around far too eagerly and clock Elle squeezing between two chairs. My mouth waters at the sight of her. She’s wearing a thick, beige sweater dress. It hugs her body from beneath her chin to mid-thigh. I’ve never seen her legs look so long and shapely. It looks like I’m not the only one who has been working out in the past four years.

“Hi,” she says, pushing her dark red braid over one shoulder.

“Hi.” Rod stands, much like Tyler did with me when I joined them at their table. He smiles endearingly and takes her hand between his. “I’m Rodney, but everyone calls me Rod.”

“Eloise.” She smiles just as endearingly back and a flash of jealousy courses through me. I push it down and offer her the seat beside me. She declines with a wave of her hand and a shake of her head. “We’re leaving now and I didn’t want to just go without saying goodbye.”

“Are you sure we can’t entice you to join us?” Rod pushes.

“I wish I could, but…” She removes her hand from between his and turns to me. “What time shall I be at yours in the morning?”

“I’ll come and pick you up at nine thirty.”

She hesitates and I know she wants to argue with me about driving arrangements. I’m grateful when she doesn’t. “Sure. I’ll be ready.” I want to pull her into my arms and hold her for a while. I want to inhale deeply and burn that sweet, rhubarb scent onto my brain. Instead I allow her to say her goodbyes before turning and joining her friends at the exit. Hayley scowls at me from across the room and I barely stifle my wince.

That’s the problem with girls. If you hurt one, you have to win back the favour of her entire posse.

“Who on Earth was that magnificent creature?” Rod asks, looking dazed after their meeting.

I can’t help the swell of pride in my chest. It outweighs the annoyance I feel at him ogling her. “That ‘creature’ is my wife.”

He laughs a little. “You’re shitting me?”

“Nope.”

“Nice… you don’t seem very close for a married couple, though. No offence.”

“We’re separated.” I reluctantly admit, hoping this doesn’t make him feel like he has a free pass to try and bed her. I won’t be responsible for my actions if that is the case.

“Christ, man. That’s really unfortunate.” I’m shocked at the sincerity in his eyes. “What happened?”

“I happened.” And for the first time since the divorce I share it all with somebody who I haven’t seen since college. Maybe I finally, for the first time in forever, have a friend I can trust.

I mentally raise my glass and think, ‘here’s hoping.’

I pull up at the end of the driveway and climb from the car. Eloise already knows that I’m here but I’m not going to act like I shouldn’t be here. I have nothing to hide.

Strolling casually to the door, I raise my hand to knock when it flies open and I come face to face with the man I hate.

He glares at me.

I glare at him.

Then I see a flash of brown and Eloise’s mum peeks around her husband.

She grins like she’s genuinely happy to see me, though we both know it isn’t true. “She’s just finding her shoes, Isaac. Would you like to come in?”

“No.” Darren states firmly and his wife rolls her eyes.

“I’m okay; thank you though.” I contemplate walking back to the car, purely so I don’t burst out laughing over the fact Darren is still staring at me, trying to intimidate me.

“Guys,” I hear Elle say, her tone one of exasperation. “I’d like to get to the door now… if you don’t mind?”

Her mum shoves Darren to the side and Eloise finally comes into view. She steps outside and slams the door behind her, right in her father’s face. I want to high five her but she doesn’t look like she’s in the mood to joke right now.

“Rough morning?”

Her features soften as she falls into step beside me. “Something like that. Sorry about my dad. You know what he’s like.”

“I do.” If only
she
knew what he is really like. “Are you hungry? My dad… he insisted on cooking for us.”

She quirks a brow. “Beans on toast?”

I laugh loudly. “No, he took a cooking class last year. His skills have actually improved. I think he’s looking forward to showing them off to somebody other than me.”

“This should be interesting.” She stops when I pull open the door for her. Her eyes look suddenly troubled. “He does want to see me, right? You aren’t just… this isn’t…”

I don’t know what comes over me but I can’t help myself. I run my fingers over her cheek before cupping it with my palm. She startles but doesn’t push me away. “Trust me.”

Her eyes slice through me and I watch as her entire demeanour changes. “I don’t.”

Never have words gutted me so badly. I deserve them. I earned them. They fucking hurt though.

She climbs into the car before I can respond. I don’t know what to say to that. I want to apologise and beg for her forgiveness, but what would be the point?

Instead, I close the door and make my way to the driver’s seat.

Isaac is friendly enough during the drive to his dad’s house but I can’t muster more than a few grunts and agreements to whatever he’s saying. I don’t mean to be difficult and disinterested, I just didn’t sleep well last night and I woke up feeling like crap.

My head is pounding. I feel drained emotionally and mentally.

Not to mention my nerves are shot. After Isaac’s dad went crazy on me the last time, breaking my heart from pieces to dust, I’m sceptical about how he’s going to act today.

I was hurt after what happened. I hadn’t done anything wrong. I’d tried to be there but Isaac pushed me away. I was young and naïve; I didn’t know how to handle it, so when John threw me away like I was nothing, of course I was bound to get upset. I didn’t just lose Isaac, I lost my family.

Maybe I’m not worried how he’s going to act. Maybe I’m worried how I’m going to act.

Taking a few calming breaths, I relax my mind and body and listen to the radio. Isaac seems to be stuck trying to make conversation and I don’t blame him. I’m not being the most sociable person right now.

Feeling guilty, I turn slightly in my seat and glance at his profile. I open my mouth but nothing comes to mind, therefore no words come out.

“This was the street where I saved your idiotic arse,” he points out.

I look through the windows of the car and smile. He’s right. “I forgot about that. That was the first time we met.”

“I was disappointed.”

“Huh?”

He clears his throat and slows as the traffic lights in the distance begin to change. He seems to have done that at every light we’ve come across. It’s almost as if he’s trying to drag this car ride out. “When I saw you in my class when term began, I was disappointed.”

“Why?”

“When I first saved you I’d only come down to visit and make a decision on whether or not to stay.”

“You’ve never told me this before.”

“There are a lot of things I never told you.” He seems truly regretful over this admission. “I hate myself for that.”

“What’s done is done,” I say, a little more harshly than intended. I don’t want him to continue. I don’t want to hear his confessions now when they’re useless. I should have heard them years ago. “It’s pointless going over it.”

He blows out a breath. “I guess so.”

We arrive at his parent’s house and my nerves skyrocket again. I don’t even realise that Isaac is out of the car until he pulls open my door and holds a hand out to me. He must think I’ve become so stuck up. This isn’t the case; I was just so spaced out I wasn’t paying attention.

I take his hand whilst worrying my lip with my teeth. My eyes remain on the home that is so familiar to me.

“Are you okay?” Isaac’s fingers press the underside of my chin and guide me until my eyes are focusing on his. “Do you need a minute?”

If I did, it’s a little bit late now.

I shake my head and step around him, hating how his close proximity reminds me of so many things I don’t need to be thinking about.

“Let’s go and see John.” I’m brave enough to take the first step towards the house.

John opens the door only seconds later. He looks so happy to see me but that quickly vanishes and in its place I see nervousness. It breaks my heart a little at the same time as it makes me feel light and airy. He must be getting lonely here now Isaac has moved out of town.

“Hey,” I grin as I make my way to him with a box full of pastries and treats in my hands that we picked up on the way. I shift it to one arm and hug him in the doorway before he leads me inside. “I brought your old favourites.”

“Thank you, Eloise.” He takes them and leads me into the room.

We sit awkwardly, both of us not sure what to say. On one hand I’m happy to see him; it’s a huge weight off my shoulders. On the other hand, I’m still hurt by the things he said.

As if sensing my thoughts, he leans forward. “I was awful to you.”

I shrug, but it’s not forgiveness. He really was awful to me. “It’s done.”

“It was none of my business. I shouldn’t have gotten involved and I certainly shouldn’t have taken sides. You deserved more from me than that.”

“It was a difficult situation.”

“I’m sorry, Eloise.” He says sincerely. “From the bottom of my heart.”

I exhale and reach forward to pat his hand. Again, it isn’t forgiveness but I’d like to try and mend things. I immediately notice the chessboard folded away underneath the table between the couch and the armchair. Nothing about this house so far has changed.

I grin, wanting to change the subject, so I reach under the table and snag the board. “Just like old times?”

“Exactly.” He fixes me with a warm grin, relief swimming in his familiar blue eyes.

“You’re not going to win.” I state mischievously and kick my shoes off so I can tuck my legs beneath me.

“Coffee?” Isaac’s voice comes from the doorway.

I move my first pawn and John moves his. We both stare at the board, plotting movements, though it’s a little bit tough to do at this point because only the pawns or the knights can be moved.

“Would you like coffee?” Isaac asks again.

I shake my head. “I quit coffee a couple of months ago.”

“Why?”

Shrug. “It stopped working for me; seemed like a waste of calories.”

Isaac lets out a bark of laughter. “You’re watching your calories now?”

My eyes narrow as I tense. How does he get to me so easily? “I’m not eighteen anymore. The weight doesn’t fall off and stay off like it used to.”

“Thank god,” he mutters suggestively, his eyes on my legs.

I roll mine back to the board and wait for John to make his next move. “But I’d love a water if you have any.”

Isaac leaves the room and returns moments later with a bottle for me. I take it, open it and have a sip before returning to my game.

“How much are we betting this time?” Isaac asks his dad as he claims the seat beside me on the couch and rests his elbows on his knees.

“Your odds?”

Isaac leans closer to get a better look at my next move. “Fifty says she wins.”

“You’re on.” John agrees.

Neither of them notice how badly my mood just dropped. I want to turn and shake Isaac. Is he crazy? He had a gambling addiction and here he is betting on stuff. Even if it is just for fun, he shouldn’t be participating.

What if he isn’t over his addiction? Panic lances through me but I stamp it down. It’s not my business. It certainly isn’t my problem.

“How is university?” John asks kindly.

“Great. Hopefully I’m graduating top of my class.”

“You’re talented and clever. It doesn’t surprise me.” John says at exactly the same time Isaac says, “That’s amazing, Eloise. I’m so proud of you.”

I flush and let my hair fall as a barrier between us as I collect myself. After a moment I turn towards him. “What about you? You’re teaching in Boston now?”

He nods. “I love it.”

Of course he does. “I’m sorry I ever took it away from you.”

He visibly cringes and opens his mouth to speak, probably to agree.

John cuts him off and my eyes shoot to my board. “Check.”

“You cheated,” I cry. “Your rook wasn’t there last move!”

“It ruddy well was.” He says indignantly and puffs his chest out. “That was my last move.”

“You are full of it Jonathan Price… full… of… it. You moved your knight last turn.”

Isaac watches our exchange with amusement. I hate the pang of nostalgia that I feel.

John wins this time. Isaac loses fifty but he doesn’t seem to mind too much. It’s his own fault for gambling.

Time flies and I find it’s too easy to slip back into our routine. We sit, we eat delicious food cooked by John and we laugh and joke as if a day hasn’t gone by since we last saw each other. The only person missing from it all is Isaac’s mum, Judith. We haven’t spoken about her much beyond bringing up a few memories of her past. I had hoped to see her before I went but time is getting on.

“I have to leave soon,” I say, checking the time. It’s just after two. “Long drive back.”

“You should stay the night,” John suggests and Isaac shifts in his seat. I’m surprisingly tempted to stay, purely so I don’t lose this happiness that I’m feeling, but I have to refuse.

“I’ll drive us to mum’s.” Isaac interrupts my excuses. “We should see her before you leave, Elle.”

I nod, quietly relieved that he’s taking me to see her. There’s no way I’m going without saying hello to Judith first, even if she doesn’t recognise me.