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

me.
    I hadn’t realized silence filled the room, affecting everyone around. Elle was fidgeting with her nails, while both mine and her pedicurist stopped their work, looking between us. I took a breath, ready to fill the void with anything possible, except Elle beat me to it.
    “Anyway, you never answered me. What all do you have left to do before your trip?”
    “Tell my boss and pack,” I told her, more grateful to her than she’d know for changing the subject. The subject of my mom was just depressing and disappointing; my dad, on the other hand? That was also depressing, but for different reasons. I wasn’t really the ‘let’s-talk-about-it’ kind of girl. I’d accepted the losses of both of my parents, to different things, but accepting it didn’t mean it was my favorite thing to talk about.
    “What about Chris?”
    “Oh! I almost forgot to tell you! I broke up with him.”
    “ What?! When? How could you just forget to tell me something like that? Especially when I’ve been practically begging forever for you to leave him?” Elle’s head had snapped over to me, her eyes narrowed in equal parts accusation and happiness.
    “Yesterday, over the phone.” She opened her mouth to speak but I held up a hand, stopping her. When her mouth snapped closed, I continued, “I know, I know, I should have done it in person. As it was, it still took me two hours to get him to accept it. If we’d been face to face? I shudder to think what a debacle that would’ve been.”
    “Two hours? Wow. I’m assuming it didn’t go well since it took so long. He beg?”
    “Yep. Worse than a dog wanting the female in heat just outside his glass door,” I told her, pursing my lips together. Elle snickered, which soon turned into full-blown laughter, and I smiled, grasping my champagne glass tightly to my chest before sipping it. She stopped so abruptly I almost dropped my glass, turning to stare at her.
    “What?” I asked, concerned. Elle was thinking something, and chances were I wouldn’t like it. Sure enough.
    “You’re single! Oh. My. God, Ryen!! You’re single!”
    “Um … duh.” Geez, could she be saying that any louder? I’m pretty sure that even Gustaf’s next client could hear her, and he was behind a closed door with relaxation music on. “Shout that a little louder, friend. I’m pretty sure the old biddy under the hair dryer didn’t hear you.”
    “No! You’re going to be single in Manhattan! The Big City! The City of Dreams!” Her eyes were bright, excited, but I still wasn’t getting it. Yes, I was going to New York City … we’d already determined that. What did it matter if I was going single?
    “So?” I caved when she continued looking at me with her eyes wide. There were days we were completely in sync and we could finish each others’ sentences. Then there were days like today, days where I was pretty sure our brains lived in different worlds.
    “How can you not know what this means! You’re going to find love! Hell, you’ll probably fall head over heels in love! Your dreams will come true.”
    “I think having kids has completely eroded your mind. I’m more than happy for you, that you found your Mr. Right and that he’s an all-around amazing guy. I know how important he is to you, how important the girls are to you, but my dream? My dream is not to find Prince Charming and go frolicking into the sunset. I don’t believe in ‘endings’ like that. Dreams are dreams for a reason.”
    “You’re so cynical. You didn’t used to be, woman. And you just wait. You’re going to meet someone, trip over your own feet, and realize it is you r dream after all,” Elle said, shaking her head sadly though her eyes still gleamed with happiness.
    Cynical? Me? Why, just because I didn’t believe in fairy tales anymore? Hmm … maybe she’s on to something, but still. I don’t think I’m anything – I’m just me. Okay, perhaps the ‘ me’ is a little cynical. Just don’t tell anyone I