Annabelle reached up and cupped Raven's face, thumb brushing along her cheekbone. Raven's breath caught.
"I don't want to think about tomorrow," Annabelle said. "I don't want to think about anything except right now."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay," Raven repeated softly.
Annabelle kissed her.
It was different from their other kisses. Less urgent, less tentative. This was deliberate. Intentional. A choice to be present, to take comfort, to let herself have this one thing when everything else felt like it was spinning out of control.
Raven's hand came up to tangle in her hair, pulling her closer. Annabelle shifted until she was straddling Raven's lap, never breaking the kiss.
When she finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard.
"Annabelle?" Raven said, and there was a question in her voice.
"Take me to bed," Annabelle whispered.
Raven's eyes searched hers for a long moment. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"You're stressed and tired and…"
"And I want you." Annabelle kissed her again, softer this time. "I want this. I want to not think for a while. Please."
Raven stood, lifting Annabelle with her in one smooth motion. Annabelle wrapped her legs around Raven's waist, burying her face in her neck, breathing in leather and cigarettes and beer and something uniquely Raven.
They made it to the bedroom without either of them letting go.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The school hall was buzzing. People were everywhere, shouting and fixing and dressing and everything in between. And Raven couldn’t help but grin. This might be a school fundraiser, but the backstage atmosphere was no different than a rock concert. Desperately nervous and excited and pants-wettingly anticipatory.
She’d arrived at three, which was ridiculously early, but Annabelle had texted at two saying she was already there and could use help, and Raven had found herself throwing on clothes and walking over before she could talk herself out of it.
Now, two hours later, the place was a hive of activity.
Blossom was stringing fairy lights across the ceiling with the kind of efficiency that suggested she'd done this before. Arty was on a ladder, adjusting the sound system while muttering about dodgy wiring. Gloria stood center stage, directing a group of bewildered children through her interpretive dance about the importance of literacy.
And Annabelle was everywhere at once.
"The raffle tickets gothere, not there, yes, perfect! Oh, could someone check on the biscuits in the staffroom? I think they might be burning. No, wait, that's fine, Nina's got it. Has anyone seen the programs? I printed two hundred but I can only find, oh, there they are. Brilliant!"
She was wearing a bright yellow dress and had a clipboard clutched in one hand, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail that was already coming loose. She looked exhausted and radiant and slightly unhinged.
Raven found herself smiling. Maybe optimism really did carry things through. Who’d have guessed it?
"Raven!" Daisy bounced over, carrying an armful of bunting. "Can you help me with this? I can't reach the hooks up there."
"Sure." Raven took one end of the fabric and climbed onto a chair, stretching to loop it over the hook on the wall.
"You're so tall," Daisy said admiringly. "I bet you never have trouble reaching things."
"Not generally," Raven said dryly.
