Free Distraction: The Distraction Trilogy #1 by A. E. Murphy

for me as I leave.
    “So, I was thinking… I mean they say…”
    “Who say?” I interject.
    “People in general say there’s no smoke without fire.” Her eyes become round with hope.
    Hope for what?
    “Your point being…?” I urge her to continue, my eyes going to the clock on the wall. Only ten minutes until the bell rings.
    “Well, maybe we are kind of dating? Maybe we could… I don’t know, possibly date outside of our lunch hour?”
    How is it that I didn’t notice that coming? “I don’t date my colleagues. It makes things awkward when things go wrong.”
    Her brows hit her hairline and her lips part slightly. “I… yeah, I get that. But what if it doesn’t go wrong?”
    “It always goes wrong,” I mutter so she can’t hear, but then I speak words that she can. “Thank you, but right now, with the constant mood I’m in, it will definitely go wrong.” I leave her in the staffroom and make a beeline for my room. So much work to do and there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
     
    When the lunch bell rings, I drive straight to the hospital, only stopping to pick up a decent lunch from Crystal’s coffee shop for my mum. It seems my dad has the same idea, as he’s already here when I arrive and a tray of food and fresh orange is spread along the table that hovers over my mum’s lap.
    “My boys spoil me,” Mum says, her voice raspy as she taps my cheek. “I bet Isaac remembered my brownie.”
    “I was in a rush,” Dad grumbles, his lips twitching with a smile, but that soon disappears when I reveal the sandwiches and the brownies. “Well… you’re not totally useless.”
    Mum slaps his arm, but we both know he’s kidding with only a slight amount of bitterness.
    “So according to school gossip, our Isaac has a new love interest.”
    Not him too!
    “Who?” My mum’s face brightens as mine darkens.
    “Katherine Hart.”
    “Really?” I scoff. “You’re going to believe the words of a bunch of bored school kids?”
    My mum lets out a breath of relief. “I can’t stand that woman. Too materialistic.”
    “This I agree with.” My dad nods slowly, seeming to think on it for a moment. “It could be worse. He could be dating Shauna Sharp.”
    Who?
    “Oh god no. She’s vile.” The tone in Mum’s voice is definitely one of disgust. So full of disgust, I’m surprised she hasn’t mimicked being sick with her fingers in her mouth. “You’ll find a nice lady when the time is right. Until then, stay away from my book club ladies.”
    Book club? “Duly noted.” She’s in a book club?
     
    Time passes and eventually I leave to finish up my day of work. I’m hoping above all else that mum is released tomorrow. She has no visible marks, but her eyes hold a glassy gaze that shows her dizziness and slight disorientation. What she needs now is rest in her own home.
    It’s shocking how much a person can change in just a few years. My dad has gotten heavier, yet my mum has become visibly frailer.
    I’m poring over the text books spread out across my desk when I hear a knock at the door.
    I really need to install a peep hole. I hate not knowing who’s on the other side.
    When I open the door, I’m shocked to see the young, red haired Eloise Blackburn standing with a large basket in her arms. I notice the black bow tied to the handle as my eyes scan her from head to toe.
    What the fuck is she doing here? Is she trying to get me put under investigation?
    “I’m really sorry to bother you.” She doesn’t look nervous. The way she’s holding herself certainly shows her confidence, but her voice betrays her by trembling slightly towards the end. “My dad evicted your neighbour today. He wanted to give you this himself.” She shakes the large hamper slightly, causing the clear plastic that shields it to crackle. “But you weren’t home. Mum was supposed to bring it but she’s always doing something at the moment.” A shadow flickers across her eyes, showing an emotion I don’t