Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 25

EVA.

"So what happened?" I ask Aliya, taking a seat next to her on her bed and she finally looks up from her phone, a sigh slipping through her parted lips.

"That doesn't sound good. " I furrow my brows and she gives a small nod.

"I couldn't choose. " She says in a low voice and I place a hand on her shoulder, giving a tight squeeze before letting my hand fall from the skin.

"You'll be fine. " I assure her and she shakes her head. "Not for long. Maybe I'll need to try another pussy. Getting caught up with confused emotions isn't my thing, Evie. "

"I know, " I let out a small laugh, snuggling closer to her. "But life can be weird, and trust me the more you try to avoid them; the stronger your desires get. "

Aliya snaps her gaze at me at my words and lifts her brows. "And how could you possibly know that, Miss Carson? "

I give a raise of my shoulder as I fall back on her bed, lifting my hands to the back of my head. "Books. "

Aliya chuckles next to me before she falls beside me, turning on her side so her eyes are fixed on mine. "You know everything about human emotions through books?"

"Exactly, " I beam. "You should try to read more. It helps a lot. " I tell her in a teasing voice and Aliya gives a playful slap to the side of my thigh, causing me to laugh.

I stare at her as she turns her eyes to the ceiling and remains silent. I watch the heavy rise and fall of her chest before she speaks again, intruding the peaceful air. "It's scary. "

"You wanting the both of them?" I ask her and she hums. "In such a short time. It scares me. "

I sigh and raise my head, supporting it with my elbow pressed against the soft mattress. "I've heard that love can be a strange thing. "

"You're amplifying it, bitch. It isn't love. " Her lips turn in a frown and I chuckle. "Yet. Let's see how long you can hold off, Miss. "

"I hate you. " She groans and I chuckle again before I say, "Those words are meant for Emerson Ford, Aliya. "

"About him—" a grin appears on my best friend's face as she turns her gaze back to me and I cuss under my breath, immediately regretting bringing up that man's name. "How's your plan going?"

"What plan?" I ask in confusion and Aliya rolls her eyes before she says, "The plan to drive him out of the house. "

At Aliya's words, the words I uttered when I saw Emerson for the first time in that house crosses my mind and it astounds me how I've never given a thought to it. I've somehow gone from wanting Emerson out of there to enjoying the nasty taunts between us.

"Oh that, " I mumble, avoiding Aliya's gaze but I feel her eyes on me from the corners of mine. "I don't know. He's quite reluctant. "

When I lift my eyes to Aliya again, a smirk is pressed to her lips. "Is that so? Or have things changed between the two of you now that you're under the same roof? Did he tempt you with that pretty orgasm maker?"

I'm impressed with how easily I mask my body's reaction to Aliya's last words as I speak. "Nothing can change the way we feel about each other, Aliya. We're too deep in it to draw back. " I'm too deep in it to the extent it escalated into something else: A side of me I never thought would feel something other than hate for Emerson Ford. That part of me is small and it's almost non-existent but I can tell it's there.

"That sounds like a double meaning. " The tease attached to Aliya's words pulls me out of my thoughts and I give her my middle finger, earning a laugh from her.

My phone vibrates next to me and I extend my hand to grab the device: a new text notification stares back at me.

DAN: I'm here.

"He's here. " I tell Aliya as I type out my reply.

ME: On my way.

I climb off her bed and Aliya trails behind me as I walk to her door.

"I wanted to ask. Are you keeping this one?" She questions as I place my hand on the knob and I twist my body to her as I say, "I don't know, but he's fun and I'm finding my time with him enjoyable for now. "

"He wants you though. " She says and I laugh. "I thought that was obvious. "

"No, bitch. Not that way; The other way. " She explains and I shift on my feet, turning my gaze to the door in front of me. "I can tell by the way he looks at you. " She continues.

I turn my body in her direction and let go of the doorknob, "And how could you possibly know that? You've only met him twice. "

She gives a raise of her shoulder. "He makes it quite easy. I'm sure he wants you to know that too. "

I nod. "I just want to enjoy this time with him. That might change soon, and it might not. Either way, Dan is a good guy. "

"And you aren't a fan of them, are you? You love the ones who make you scream all night—"

"Fuck you. " I scowl, silencing the rest of her naughty words and Aliya laughs before she nods to the door. "Have fun. Let me know if anything comes up. "

"You too, " I tell her, throwing her a wink. "I want to know what your two girls got in stock for you next. "

Aliya tries to keep the frown on her face but it easily slips and I catch the small smile threatening to break into a grin as she says, "I truly hate you, Eva Carson. "

"You love me, bitch. " I smile, giving her a wave before I walk through the door, and shut it on her smiling face.

"Hey you, " I raise my head to see Maria approaching just as I make it through the hallway of the dorm and I smile at her as she reaches my side.

"Hey. " I respond to her greeting.

"Leaving after a long conservation with your friend?" She jokes and I laugh. Maria is Aliya's roommate, and conceivably the nicest girl I've ever met. She's friendly and fun and she always has this expression that tells you she's far too innocent for the world.

"You know it. " I wink at her and Maria's smile widens.

"I'll see you around. " I tell her and she nods, stepping past me to continue her walk to her room while I take the direction that leads me out of it.

Taking fast strides across the field, I easily spot Dan on the other side. He's dressed in jeans and a white tee that look gorgeous on him with the light shadows from the surging moon cast on his figure.

Dan's gaze turns to me when I'm only steps away and a smile slips to his face as he waves at me.

"What?" I chuckle and he shakes his head, taking his eyes ahead of us. "I just love that look on your face when you talk about things you like. I can see why you enjoy them and I guess I should watch out for your brother's best friend?"

"I don't have a brother so you're safe. " I assure him before staring ahead of us. We're striding down the sidewalk with our shoulders pressed to each other.

"Do you want ice cream?" Dan queries as he spots an ice cream shop ahead of us, and I lift my hand to my belly— pressing against the skin to feel any sharp pains.

"Absolutely. " I respond, dropping my hand.

"Wait here. " He says as he starts to move ahead of me, but I'm quick to grab his wrist. Dan turns back to me with raised brows and I slip my hand inside my pant pockets to bring out a few notes. "You didn't take this. "

Dan laughs at the worthy papers between our bodies. "I think I can handle a few dollars, Eva. "

"No, I don't—"

"You are not forcing me to take it. I want to do this. Please let me. " He frowns and I sigh before dropping my hand and slipping the money back into the space.

"Good girl. " He praises and ruffles my hair before he walks away. I take slow strides after him and watch as he slips inside the shop.

I slide my hands into my back pockets and halt my steps at the sight in front of me: a woman is pressed against a car and her eyes are screwed shut in what I won't consider pleasure.

I watch as the man before her, nuzzles his head in her neck and the longer I watch, the faster my heart beats in my chest.

The lady opens her eyes and snaps her gaze at me. I gasp and take a step back at the horrified look on her face, and she struggles to speak as the man's hand wraps around her throat. Her eyes scream for help, and I want to. I want to fucking reach her, to bring her out of the situation she's found herself yet I can't seem to take a damn move.

Cold shivers run through my veins and my visions blur with tears the longer I stand and watch the sight before me.

"Eva!" I jump at the loud sound to see Dan standing in front of me with worried eyes. "Are you okay? Did something happen?"

I part my lips to speak, but no words slip through and I lift my hand, pointing behind him. When I look at the scene again, a woman is pressed against the car with her dress hitched up and her hands buried in the guy's hair.

"I don't think they care about us, Eva. " Daniel chuckles and brings his attention back to me.

I breathe and shake my head, knowing the previous image was just my fucked up mind messing with me.

"Do you know them? You don't look so good. " Dan notes and I wiggle my head, giving him a forced smile. "I don't. "

I clear my throat before I continue. "A bit amazed with that. "

Dan chuckles and pushes the cup of ice cream to me, and I take it from him, mumbling thanks as he steps beside me.

"Maybe they couldn't control it, I'm sure you've had a tongue down your throat in the open. " He says and I cackle. "Maybe, but not to that extent. "

"It gets wilder, Carson. " He winks before focusing on the cup in his hand and I nod, staring down at mine. I take one last glance at the couple still pressed to the car and tell myself that what I saw was all in my head— nothing more.