Distinction: The Distraction Trilogy #3 (2 page)

I pull up outside of my old home where I lived with Eloise. The door opens and the man who now resides there steps out with a large manila envelope in his hands. I haven’t received mail here in years so part of me is curious as to what it is. This is why instead of going straight to my dad’s for breakfast first thing on a Saturday morning, I’ve come straight here. Maybe a long lost relative has passed away leaving me a small fortune.

Yeah… right.

“It came a few days ago.” He states as I walk down the driveway. “I left a message.”

“I was in Boston.”

“It’s fine.” He hands it to me and turns and closes the door without even a goodbye. I remember him being this rude when I first met him. It’s one of the reasons I rented the house to him and his family. He didn’t make small talk and I liked that.

This seems to be above and beyond the average level of rude though. Not even a hello or a goodbye.

Why do I even care?

I look at the large envelope as I climb back into my car. It’s definitely addressed to me.

Ripping it open, I let the few sheets spill onto my lap and read them carefully.

My heart stops.

My heart fucking stops.

I throw the papers onto the passenger seat and grip the steering wheel tightly in my hands. I can’t believe this is happening. Part of me realises I shouldn’t be surprised; we haven’t seen or spoken to each other in years.

I guess I thought that when she decided to divorce me she’d at least visit, or at the very least call me first.

Why would she? Clearly she’s moved on. Is she getting remarried? Is that why she’s suddenly pushing this on me?

I punch the steering wheel with the side of my fist before putting the car into gear. Pulling out onto the road, I put my foot on the gas and go, no doubt leaving tire marks in my stead.

What started out as a relaxed day suddenly isn’t any longer.

Why am I so bothered by this?

Why is there a pain inside that I can’t shake?

It’s been over for such a long time that this shouldn’t bother me at all.

I flick through the papers again and again when I arrive at my dad’s. I check her information and mine, reading over and over again what she wants and the events that will come when I return this form just so I’m fully understanding them.

She didn’t even give a number. It hasn’t been disclosed.

I have her old number, though I’m not sure whether or not I should call. What will I even say?

Before temptation wins, I recklessly delete the number from my phone and slam it onto the side. Before my recklessness ends, I take a lighter to the papers and drop them into the sink. I watch them flame and burn long after the fire alarm starts to ring. My mind is too numb to get worked up over a noise right now.

Fuck her and fuck her divorce. I’m not interested. If she wants this to end, she can come and ask me herself. I know we ended less than amicably, but I deserve that much at the very least.

But then, as I stare at the bottom of my glass of whiskey, I wonder whether or not she’s doing the right thing by getting it over with without contact. If this has caused me this amount of stress just thinking about it, how am I going to feel if she says it to my face?

“Where the hell is the fire?” My dad yells as he enters the house through the front door.

I quickly switch on the taps to wash away all evidence of the divorce papers.

“No fire,” I assure him and open the back door. “It’s under control.”

And it is… I think.

I hope.

I stare out over the small garden surrounded by six-foot-high fences that separate us from the neighbours. I’ve always been closed off. I’ve never really opened up, a lot like this stupid garden.

I told myself four years ago when Eloise left that she deserved better than me. She still deserves better than me.

I should have just signed it and sent it back so we could move onto phase two of the divorce proceedings.

Rubbing my eyes doesn’t help, though I do it anyway. All hopes I had of an answer appearing before me are lost when I open them and see nothing but my parent’s small, closed off yard. I’m not even sure what I was hoping would appear.

Maybe Elle…

I giggle and roll onto my back as Silas digs his fingers into my sides and bites at my neck. I was trying to work but that’s no longer an option. When Silas wants my attention, he gets it and, if he doesn’t get it, he tickles it out of me.

I hate being tickled. I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who enjoys it, if I am totally honest. Luckily he never takes it too far and stops after a moment.

Tickling seems to be the beginning of foreplay today because his biting becomes sucking and soon my laughter turns into moaning.

My phone rings as his lips touch mine. We both groan, annoyed by the interruption. Today is the first day in five weeks that we’ve both had the same day off together. Our schedules are always busy, juggling school, jobs and then our newest project. Until school is done with, we prioritise our romance last. That’s actually one of the reasons I chose to take things further with Silas. He’s like me in the sense that he doesn’t want his love life to sabotage his career.

“Leave it,” he whispers against my neck but I refuse. It might be the builders.

It isn’t; it’s my solicitor… finally! It has been six weeks since she posted the papers to Isaac. Maybe she finally has a response. I told her not to call until she does, purely because she charges me otherwise.

A feeling of dread overcomes me that I can’t place. “Hello?”

“Miss Blackburn.” Karen Browning’s high pitched voice sounds through the speaker. Surprisingly she has the voice of a child, yet it doesn’t detract from her poise and formality. It takes a bit of getting used to, though.

“What’s the news?”

“There isn’t any.” She pauses, leaving me to question what the hell she means. “I’ve sent the forms to all three addresses we have for him. I’ve sent the last two as signed for.”

“Okay. So… what’s the issue?”

“He is ignoring them.”

I blink. “Which means?”

“Exactly what I just said. This complicates things.”

“But he’s definitely receiving them?”

“Definitely.”

“He’s just… ignoring them?”

“Like I said.”

I blow out a breath. “Why? I don’t understand.”

“Nor do I.” I hear the tell-tale sign of her fingers tapping away on the keyboard to her computer.

“Is it the terms? Doesn’t he agree?”

“Until I speak with him, I won’t know. He doesn’t have any representation for me to converse with either.”

I bite on my lip and sit upright. Silas follows, his concerned eyes on me. “So what do I do now?”

“Two choices. One will cost you and one won’t.”

I don’t even have to ask her what those two choices are. I was hoping to avoid any kind of confrontation with Isaac. I’m not sure why; it just feels like this will be easier if I don’t have to communicate with him personally.

“Thank you, Karen.” I hang up after a swift goodbye and turn to Silas. “Fuck.”

“Is that an offer or a curse?” He jokes, trying to lighten the mood. No doubt he heard everything that was said.

I run my fingers along his smooth cheek before following it with a kiss and standing. “I should go.”

“Seriously? We haven’t had a moment like this together in forever.”

He’s right, I know it, but this has to be done. “I’ve got two days off. I need to make use of them.”

Silas, forever the understanding partner, nods his head and stands with me. “Do you want me to come with you?”

I let out a tired sigh, wishing I could just curl back up on his sofa and forget my troubles. “No, you’ve got enough to do already.”

He doesn’t push it and again I’m thankful for him and the calming energy he puts out into the world. I soak it up when he wraps his arms around me. “I’ll go into work today and change my day off.”

“Don’t be silly; there’s that shooting game you wanted to play. Hole yourself up in your room and have a day to yourself.”

He grins and kisses my nose, though now that Isaac is in my mind all it does is remind me of the way he used to do that. I hate Isaac for tainting something so sweet.

But then again, I hate Isaac for a lot of things. Four years just isn’t long enough of a gap between our meetings.

Silas walks me to the door, his lips on mine, and I see nothing but trust in his eyes when he lets me go.

Isaac would have insisted on coming with me. He’d have followed me to my ex and marked his territory the entire time. It’s shocking how different they both are. This was all I wanted from Isaac. Trust.

I mentally punch myself.

Why am I suddenly comparing them?

Damon
:
Are you free for dinner at mine?

Damon and I are still tight and are still friends. We’re living proof that men and women can be platonic.

Eloise
:
No can do. I have a ton of stuff to do today.

Damon
:
Tomorrow?

Eloise
:
My solicitor called. I’ve got to get in touch with you know who to discuss the divorce. I might have to take a trip home.

Damon
:
I’m coming over. This sounds good.

Eloise
:
I just said I’m busy!

He doesn’t respond. No doubt he’s getting into his car right now. I’m not about to tell him that I’m half an hour from home and stuck in traffic. If he’s that interested in seeing me, he can wait.

I drive back to my apartment, the same apartment that I lived in with Jordan. He moved out two years ago once he graduated. We keep in touch, though infrequently. It’s a shame but it is life.

“I did buy you ice-cream but I ate it,” Kira announces the second I step into my apartment. She fortunately took up residence in Jordan’s old room when he moved out. If she hadn’t, I would have had to look for another room mate.

So far it’s been turbulent. Kira and I get on well but sometimes we grate on each other and that’s fine. We’ve learned when to turn and leave the room in order to save our friendship.

Unfortunately for her she never did score Damon, although she did score Jordan for a few nights. She still swoons over him.

“What’s going on then?” Kira asks, running her fingers through her short, layered bob.

“She’s going to see Isaac,” Damon responds for me as I pad into my room and begin packing my overnight bag.

“Why?”

Eye roll. “You’re both so nosy.”

“This is juicy gossip. Why do you need to see Isaac?” Kira jumps onto my bed, effectively messing up my neat bedding. I frown. “I thought you paid for that snotty solicitor to deal with this for you?”

“I did.” Blowing my fringe from my face, I check the list in my mind and then check my bag.

“So… what went wrong?” Damon leans against the door jamb with a tub of ice cream in one hand and a spoon in the other.

“I thought you’d eaten it all?” I give Kira an accusatory stare as Damon dips the spoon into the tub and stuffs more than he can manage into his mouth.

She ignores me. “What’s the plan of action? Why do you have to see him? Can’t you just call him?”

I blow out a breath. “No.” Giving them both a pointed look, I snatch the ice cream and spoon from Damon. “It’ll be more effective if I go to him myself. I have a feeling he won’t be partial to a phone call from me.”

“Start at the beginning.”

Eye roll. “There isn’t a beginning. He’s ignoring the forms so I’m going to demand he sign and post.”

“Does he actually have them though? Maybe they got lost in the post?”

“Karen assures me he signed for the last two packages.” I fill my mouth with the chocolate flavoured frozen treat and close my eyes for a moment. That’s so good. “I’ll be back.”

“What if this is what he wants, though?” Kira points out, running her fingers through her short black hair. “What if this is all a trick to get you to go back to him?”

They both stare at me expectantly and Damon snatches the ice-cream back before I can stop him. Both of them are clearly eager to hear my answer.

“Stop it; stop with the drama. It’s not a big deal.” It really isn’t. I don’t feel a thing for him anymore. I was just a kid when I was in love with him. It was stupid. It also hurt me so badly that I repressed a lot of it. It’s probably not a healthy coping mechanism, but it helped at the time.

I hate him for what he did but I don’t dwell on it. It’s not my every waking or sleeping thought anymore. In fact it’s rare that I think of him or what happened at all.

“I just can’t believe you’re going to see him for the first time in…” Kira’s eyes glaze over as she calculates the length of time in her mind. “A hella long time.” How she’s graduating this year I have no idea. “Should I come?”

I grab my bag and carry it into the bathroom. They both follow like ducklings to their mother. Crazies. “I’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to seeing my parents too.” I shove a few toiletries in the bag as well as a spare toothbrush.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Damon asks, concern etched onto his features.

I laugh a little. “Yes I’m sure. There isn’t much point in us staying married is there? Especially not now I’m with Silas.”

“I like Silas. He’s a good guy.” Damon speaks softly and checks his watch. “When are you leaving?”

“As soon as I’m ready, which is why I need you both to leave me to it so I can pack my shit in peace.”

Kira groans but nods and shuffles into the living room. Damon lingers for a moment longer, his concerned eyes scanning over me for any signs of distress. He finds none and follows Kira. Thankfully that’s over with.

“Wait…” Kira suddenly blurts and I realise that I spoke too soon. “What happens if he refuses?”

“Then I call my solicitor.”

“You sure you aren’t going to call ahead?”

“No, I’m not giving him the chance to make an excuse to not give me what I need.”

Damon grins over the back of the couch. “That’s my girl!”

I wink at him and pull out my phone. “I’ve got a shit tonne of stuff to figure out.” I’m not even sure where he’ll be so I have some calls to make. “I’ll catch you both later. Kira, if you’re feeling generous I could really do with a sandwich or something.”