Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Finally, she stands and takes the robe. “I’ll be back. Let me get some clothes.” Not waiting to see the look on her face—I don’t need to—I can feel her disappointment.
I rush up the stairs. This is the right thing to do. Rachel may be a bitch, but she doesn’t need to see me with Raven.
I frown, kicking my door open and grabbing my sweatpants and a T-shirt. Christ, when did I become a hypocrite? I don’t give a fuck if anyone sees me fucking. But it’s different with Raven. The need to share her is not there. In fact, it’s the opposite, if I’m honest. I’ve developed an almost animalistic rage at the thought of anyone touching her besides me.
Control, Jett.
Get these urges contained.
Rachel is your fiancée, and Raven… you shouldn’t even be thinking about anything more than having pizza and watching TV with her.
This is what you want, I keep telling myself as I walk down the stairs.
This life, my job, everything that I’ve worked so hard for. No worries, no feelings, no drama.
Order.
So why do I feel robbed that I can’t go skinny-dipping in my pool with Raven?
RAVEN
I turn over and open my eyes. Something woke me. Blinking again, I try to clear away the cobwebs from the wine and get my mind to focus.
Something’s wrong. I sleep like the dead. Sighing, I prop myself up on my elbows. My mind replays last night. Jett and I made love. He was mine, connected, kissing me, loving me. I probably didn’t need to be so transparent about my feelings for him, but whatever. I’m sick of lying. I’m crazy in love with him, and he needed to know.
“Why are you smiling?” Someone sitting in the corner chair leans forward.
Bolting up, I grab the sheet.
“What the fuck, Mom?” My heart and head pound. “Seriously, what are you doing in my room?” My voice is getting louder. What the hell?
“Your room?” She stands and walks over to the window. This is creepy, even for her. Like this is a whole ’nother level of crazy.
“Yes. My room.” I toss off the covers, only to remember I’m naked as my skin pebbles with uncomfortable goose bumps.
She looks like she hasn’t gone to bed yet. Her makeup is a mess; her perfect clothes are wrinkled. God, how long has she been sitting here, watching me?
“This is not your room.” She slants me a look.
I try to rationalize things and calm my terror. Surely Jett will save me if I scream.
“Whatever.” I straighten my shoulders back.
She turns to full-on look at me, as though she’s just now taking me in.
“I have no idea what’s going on, but get out.” I spin around, moving to my dresser for a bra and panties.
“You stupid, delusional girl.” Her voice is low. She lights up a cigarette.
Wow, she’s got to be plastered. Jett hates smoking, and my mom knows it. She never lights up in the house.
I take a deep breath, my eyes shifting to the door. When did this room get so big? It feels like that door is miles away. I can still yell…
Stop it.
She’s your mother. She’s not going to hurt you. Pull yourself together, Raven, I repeat over and over. Biting my bottom lip, I slip my panties on.
“You come into my house and try to steal my man? Oh, sweetheart, I think we need to have a mother-daughter talk.” She blows smoke up at the ceiling, and my heart thuds. This is bad.
“Excuse me?” I say slowly, grabbing the first shirt I see in my drawer. Screw the bra.
“Oh, save the innocent act for Jett.” She snorts. “I knew you were seducing him for a while, you little traitorous cunt,” she screams. Her red lips look bizarre, like she has four balls injected in them, two on top and two on the bottom. Jesus, she reeks of booze.
“You’re drunk, so I’ll pretend this didn’t happen, okay?” I snap back while pulling out some black yoga leggings. I just want to get clothes on, some kind of barrier from her madness.
“Oh, I don’t think so. You need to go. Here.” She tosses what looks like an American Express Black Card on my bed. “Take the card and get out. You don’t need to bother showing up for the wedding.” She takes another drag.
Ugly words, hurtful words.
She’s got to be the worst person alive. To be honest, I don’t think she ever loved me, but this, buying me off, it’s almost laughable. My heart skips. If she is this desperate to get rid of me, that must mean she thinks I’m special to Jett.
I take a breath. “Mom, I’m not doing anything with Mr. Powers besides going to work with him. I have no idea what this is all about.”
She takes a step closer to me, and I despise being short, or as my father lovingly says, petite…whatever that is. Though I try to move away from her, she reaches for me with that claw of a hand.