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?

Chapter Twenty-Three

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.