Greatest Distraction (Distracted #1) by Juli Valenti Read Free Book Online Page A

as the sound of Jorge karate chopping her back floated toward me.
    “No, I’m not going to call her.”
    “Ryen,” she started, but I cut her off.
    “No. That woman is not my momma. She used to be, but now, I don’t even recognize her. Let someone else bail her out of trouble. It’s not my fault Daddy died. It’s not my fault she’d found a younger man and left him. Jesus, they were divorced for almost four years before the accident. I’m sick as shit of having to deal with her. Can you divorce your parents?”
    It took me a second to realize that Gustaf had stopped massaging me as my voice rose. I sat up a little to look at him, my eyebrows raised, before I plopped back down. He got the message and started back up, having to work out the tension he’d already released once. Thankfully, Elle dropped the subject and I was able to enjoy the rest of my massage.
    Unfortunately, her silence only kept until we got situated in the bath chairs, our plush provided robes tightly wrapped, and our feet in the warm water.
    “I’m sorry for ruining your massage,” Elle said. My face snapped up to find hers downcast and her expression unreadable.
    “You didn’t … just … I imagine I feel like she did when we were fifteen and snuck out to go to that senior party with those guys, remember? For the life of me I can’t remember their names.” I shook my head, deciding it didn’t matter though I knew it was going to drive me insane. “Anyway, I just, I can’t take care of her anymore. For once, I want to do something for myself.”
    “And this trip is just that … for you,” Elle finished my thought process, knowing me well. “For what it’s worth? I think it’s about damned time you stopped bailing your mom out every time she calls. She is not your responsibility.”
    I’d never admit it out loud, but her support in me meant a lot. I couldn’t help but feel guilty ; I mean, she’d given birth to me for godsakes, but there comes a time when you have to do what’s best for you. This was it for me.
    “Oh, and it was Jake and Dennis,” she added, and I snapped my fingers in approval.
    “That’s them! Man, they were hot.”
    Elle’s snort of laughter broke the seriousness of the mood. She sounded like freaking Babe laughing like that, and I just stared at her, crooked smile in place. Why was she laughing? They were … weren’t they? Damn, just like their names, I could barely remember their faces. I did, however, remember the experience. We’d gotten into so much trouble, but it had been worth it. We’d dressed well beyond our age, painted our faces within an inch of doll-like, and lived it up that night. I think we’d even had a couple beers.
    “What is so funny ?!” I asked her, incredulous, squinting like it would help me see them better in my mind. It didn’t, but I couldn’t help but try.
    “Please. Please,” she panted, out of breath, making me feel stupid. “Dennis was built like a football and Jake was square … literally. He was shaped like a freaking square.”
    “Huh. Maybe you’re right, I can’t remember. Quite literally, I can’t remember their faces at all. Or anything about them, really. I do remember how much trouble we got in trying to sneak back into the house, though.”
    “I don’t think it was the ‘sneaking’ so much as the fact that you broke the damned window. Your dad, man, he was mad,” she said, still chuckling.
    “Not my fault! I was trying to lift the stupid thing … You’re supposed to press upward when opening a window! Not my fault it busted completely,” I grumbled, hiding my grin. Dad had grounded me for a week. Ironically, he’d also grounded Elle … who didn’t even live there. He’d even done the finger wag at me. God I missed him. What I wouldn’t give to hear that “my rules, my house, my way” lecture again. I’d take every long, drawn-out talking to he wanted to dish out as long as I could run and jump into his arms and have him hug