OUR SECRET LOVE {GxG}

NOVA

It’s been a few weeks since I returned to school, and already, I’m questioning my decisions. Horizon Peaks High is full of judgment, and I’m an easy target. The students talk behind my back, but I don’t care. I didn’t come back for them. I came back for survival.

And for Miss Raven.

She’s not someone I ever pictured being in my life, but the truth is—she’s been offering me exactly what I need. Money. A means to make it through another week, another month. That’s all this is. I’m not in love with her, and I’m sure she isn’t in love with me. But her money? That’s real. And it's the kind of security I’ve been craving since my mom passed.

There’s something else, though. Something I can’t quite put into words.

Miss Raven’s husband is rarely around. Always off on business, he’s more of a ghost in their marriage, always busy, always unavailable. That’s why she turned to me, I suspect. She needed someone to talk to, someone who could listen to the emptiness she feels. But what she doesn’t tell me is how much she craves more than just conversation.

It started innocently enough. She invited me over for dinners, asked me how my day was, made sure I was comfortable. At first, I thought it was just an act of kindness, or maybe a superficial attempt to feel less lonely. But as the weeks wore on, I started to sense that it was something more, something unspoken.

It’s the way she looks at me sometimes, like she’s trying to read me, trying to figure out what makes me tick. I’ve learned to keep my emotions guarded, especially around her. But tonight, there’s something different in the air. A slight tension I can’t shake.

When I walk into her house, she’s already waiting. There’s something warm about her presence, something inviting, and for a brief moment, I wonder if it’s just me who feels it or if she’s aware of it too.

"Nova," she greets me, her voice smooth like silk, as always. She stands up from the couch, the soft fabric of her dress shifting as she moves. I try not to stare at the curves of her body, but it’s hard not to. She’s beautiful, in an elegant, timeless way. You'd swear she's not thirty eight.

“I’m glad you could make it.”

I give her a polite smile. “Thanks for inviting me.”

She motions for me to sit beside her, her fingers brushing against my arm as I settle next to her. She’s warm. The contact sends a small shock through me, one I quickly try to ignore. But there’s no denying it—there’s a pull between us, and I’m not sure if I want to resist it.

"How’s school going?" she asks, her voice a soft hum as she looks at me with those piercing eyes, studying my every move.

“It’s fine,” I say, the lie slipping off my tongue easily. School is far from fine. It’s a daily struggle to get through the days. But Miss Raven doesn’t need to know that. “Busy, as usual.”

She nods, leaning in just a little closer. The space between us feels smaller, and I feel her gaze lingering on me, a quiet tension building.

“Busy can be good,” she says, her fingers gently tracing the edge of my hand as she shifts slightly closer. There’s no mistaking it now—the air around us is thick with something unspoken, something I don’t fully understand but can’t ignore.

I don’t move away. I don’t pull my hand back. Instead, I let her touch me, let her fingers linger just long enough to send a wave of warmth spreading through my skin. I can feel her watching me, waiting for a reaction.

For a moment, I forget why I’m here. I forget the plan, the money, the arrangement. All I can think about is how she feels against me, how her touch makes me feel… noticed. Seen.

She leans back, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “You’re not as quiet tonight,” she observes, her voice soft. “I’m glad.”

“I’m just trying to relax,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. I don’t want her to think this means anything. It doesn’t. This is business. This is what I agreed to.

But her smile deepens, and I see something flicker in her eyes. She’s not just looking for my company anymore. She’s looking for something more, something that I’m not sure I can give her.

I quickly redirect the conversation, making sure to keep things casual. “How’s your husband?” I ask, though I already know the answer. He’s still away, still working, still distant.

Miss Raven’s expression falters for just a second, and I catch it. The mask slips, and for a moment, she looks vulnerable, human. “Busy,” she answers quickly, her voice quieter than before. “He’s always busy.”

I nod, unsure of how to respond. I don’t want to delve too deeply into her personal life. It’s clear she’s lonely, but that’s not why I’m here. I’m here for the money, for the stability.

But as the evening stretches on, I begin to feel the weight of her gaze more heavily, as if she’s waiting for me to make the next move. The silence between us grows more charged, and I can’t help but notice the way her fingers brush against mine once again.

There’s an unspoken invitation in her touch, a subtle request that I can’t ignore, but I don’t take it. I stay still, my hand resting at my side.

She leans in again, just a little closer, her breath warm against my ear. “You know, Nova,” she murmurs, her voice low and intimate, “sometimes it’s nice to have someone here who can just listen. No pressure, no expectations. Just... company.”

I don’t answer at first. I don’t know what to say. But I can feel the way she’s waiting for me to give her something—anything—that might ease her loneliness, even if only for a little while. But this isn’t about me. It’s about her.

“I’m here,” I say finally, my voice steady, a reminder that I’m still in control of this arrangement. “I’m here for as long as you need me.”

Her fingers graze my arm one last time before she pulls back, a wistful look in her eyes. “You’re a good girl, Nova,” she says, her words soft but laced with something more. “I know you’re just trying to make it through. I’m glad I can help.”

I smile faintly, a quick acknowledgment that this arrangement, however complicated, is working. For both of us.

But as I stand to leave later that night, the tension still lingers in the air, unspoken and unresolved. I know exactly what this is—and I know where it’s going. No promises, no emotions. Just my monthly allowance for company.

That’s all it is.