Page 52 of Twisted Love

There’s only one woman in this room capable of making my blood run hot, but still … this opens interesting possibilities. A quick glance flickers between Raven and me. I look away back to Annabelle and smile slowly. Instantly, I sense a tremor of tension pass through Raven even though her face remains composed. Then Raven shifts slightly, her shoulders squaring as she feels the competition drawing closer.

The teachers as if on cue walk away.

A spike of adrenaline rushes through my veins as Annabelle arrives in front of us. Her perfume is light and floral, wafting into the space between us. Raven stands just a little taller, as if bracing for a blow. I feel the subtle shift in her demeanor, the tension coiling beneath her composed facade. It almost amuses me how easily Annabelle’s presence can tilt the balance of Raven’s carefully held calm.

Annabelle’s painted lips bestow a graceful smile on us. Her mother has taught her well, she may be a yoga teacher, but she carries herself like a Queen. I force the corners of my mouth to widen further so she has no doubt that I am flirting with her.

Her eyes widen as she gets the message and she glances at Raven in surprise before she responds. “Hello, Earl,” she drawls, her voice lilting in a way that must charm most men. She stops just shy of too close, as her arms extend out to me. I let myself be pulled into a casual hug.

Raven was expecting that.

Her reaction is immediate—a flicker of shock flits across her face, her lips parting as if to say something, but she quickly catches herself. Still, her lips tighten, and her eyes narrow just slightly, betraying the irritation she’s struggling to suppress. The tension radiating off her is palpable, even as she tries to appear unaffected.

I feel an instinctive urge to pull away from Annabelle, but the sharp glint of annoyance in Raven’s gaze intrigues me, stoking me. Still so possessive, are we? The realization sends a ripple of dark satisfaction through me.

There. Tonight won’t be entirely tedious after all.

Instead of creating the distance I know Raven wants, I wrap my arms loosely around Annabelle’s frame, leaning in to press a light kiss to her cheek. The contact is brief, but calculated to send Raven’s annoyance into full bloom. From the corner of my eye, I catch her expression—a flash of pale shock, followed by a storm of barely contained fury. Her fists curl at her sides and her composure slips for the first time this evening.

“Hello, Annabelle,” I say smoothly, stepping back just enough to reclaim my space but not before letting my hand linger on her elbow for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. “It’s been a long time.”

“It really has,” Annabelle replies, her smile brightening. She doesn’t seem to notice the charged atmosphere between Raven and me—or perhaps she’s pretending not to. “And here you are, making waves as always.” Her words are light and conversational. There is no harm in them.

But Raven remains unimpressed. Her silence is deafening. I can almost hear her biting the inside of her cheek, a habit she hasn’t given up. Her jaw is tight, her eyes sharp as glass, and for a brief moment, I wonder if she’s going to say something.

She doesn’t.

Instead, she takes a step closer to me, subtly reasserting her place at my side. It’s a small, almost imperceptible move, but it’s enough to make me bite back a smirk. Oh, tonight is definitely going to be interesting.

Annabelle’s eyes flick to Raven, her expression lighting up as if she’s just noticed her. “Raven,” she says warmly, her voice honeyed with just a trace of familiarity and something else. Something between them. It sets my teeth on edge because I know exactly what it is. Raven has secrets and Annabelle knows what they are. They both don’t know that I already know.

“I have to say, you look absolutely stunning tonight,” she adds in that same fake friendly voice. “That dress is breathtaking. Earl has always had an eye for beauty, hasn’t he?”

Raven blinks. She is so unsettled by jealousy it hasn’t hit her yet. Her polite smile wavers ever so slightly. “Thank you,” she replies, her tone measured but tight. Her gaze darts briefly to me, searching for reassurance. She shifts her weight, in the slight downward tug of her lips before she forces them back into a neutral line.

Annabelle doesn’t stop there, her attention now fully on Raven. “I’ll admit, I was surprised when I heard the news about you two. You must have had so many options, Earl. And yet …” She trails off, letting the implication linger in the air like smoke. Her smile widens, and it’s the kind of smile that’s designed to cut.

Raven’s face freezes for a heartbeat, her composure cracking just enough for a hint of worry and confusion to bleed through. “I’m sorry, what do you mean?” she asks, her voice careful, but laced with a sharp edge.

“Oh, nothing,” Annabelle says breezily, waving a manicured hand. “Just that you’ve always had your sights set on the highest goals, so I guess in the end you still got what you wanted. It’s really interesting how things turn out. Life is full of surprises, isn’t it?”

I can practically see the gears turning in Raven’s mind, her brow furrowing as she tries to figure out what Annabelle is unsubtly hinting at.

And then, like a bolt of lightning, it hits her. Her eyes widen just a fraction, the realization dawning with a force that makes her inhale sharply.

Her gaze snaps to me, then back to Annabelle, and I don’t miss the flash of shock in her expression. She’s remembering—that thing she’d buried or forgotten—and it’s rising to the surface now, raw and unfiltered. She tries to mask it, but it’s too late. The damage is done. Annabelle knows and I know. But they don’t know that I know.

Annabelle, for her part, remains blissfully oblivious or expertly pretends to be. She steps closer to Raven, her voice dropping slightly as if to convey sincerity.

“That dress—it’s so perfect on you. But that necklace … phew. Gorgeous. Something I’d buy myself, but not really to your taste, is it?” She turns to me, her eyes sparkling with something that feels like a challenge. “Earl you have great taste. Then again … you always did. Even wearing greasy jeans.”

Raven manages a smile, but it’s faint and strained, her lips barely lifting at the corners. “That’s very kind of you,” she murmurs, her voice almost robotic, as if she’s on autopilot.

I watch her closely, taking in every flicker of emotion that crosses her face—the uncertainty, the unease, the unmistakable hurt and the guilt. Unbelievable, but she actually forgot what she did. She’s trying to hold it together now, but I know her too well. She’s unraveling, and for a fleeting moment, I wonder if she’ll admit what she did, or simply pretend it never happened. She stays rooted to the spot, her fingers clutching the edge of her purse like it’s her only lifeline.

Annabelle doesn’t seem to notice—or care. She turns her attention back to me, her smile softening into something more nostalgic.

“It’s really nice to see you again, Earl. Hopefully, we’ll get the chance to truly catch up later tonight.” She glances spitefully at Raven. “I have lots of stories to tell you.”

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