Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 31

EVA.

"Do you want me to take you?" Emerson asks as he emerges from his room and I shake my head in refusal to his offer. "No, I don't. Do you have a death wish? I'm heading home, Ford. "

"So?" He raises his brows in questioning and I give him a dumb look. "So I'm going to meet my father, who hates the very sight of you. "

"I know that, Carson. I'm not stupid; I was going to drop you a few blocks away. " He suggests and I narrow my eyes at him, "And why would you do that?"

"Because I want to?" He says in more of a question than an answer. We stand still after Emerson's words, just staring into each other's eyes before I break the gaze and look away from him as I say, "No, Ford. I don't need your help. "

Emerson doesn't say a word as I twist my body in the other direction and begin to make my way out of the room.

"I was generous enough to ask for your opinion. " I hear Emerson whisper behind me before there's the sound of his footsteps trailing after me. When I make it through the door, Emerson is right behind me and I halt my steps to turn to him.

"What?" I snap in annoyance when I turn back to him.

"I'm taking you home, Carson. " It isn't a question. It's a declaration– one that Emerson Ford doesn't get to use on me, but I'm running out of time and I know the more I stay here, trying to get Emerson off my back; the more he'll continue to persist till I eventually give into his demand.

"Fine. " I grumble and a smile of satisfaction creeps into his face. "That's what I thought. "

"Don't overdo it, or I'll take back my word. " I warn him but Emerson ignores me as he strides towards his car. I watch as he walks around the car to get to the driver's seat and I stare at the passenger's door.

"Aren't you supposed to open the door for me, Ford? " I call out to him and Emerson raises his head from his other side to say, "Funny of you to think I'd do something like that for you, Carson. Get in. " He motions to the door and I shake my head, the corners of my lips curving in a tiny smile as I open the door and climb inside the car.

I fish my phone from my pocket as Emerson starts the engine and drives out of his spot.

ALIYA: Hey, are you on your way? Do you want me to come with you?

My fingers hover over the keypad as Emerson moves over my body, and I stare down at him as he fastens my seatbelt before moving back to his seat.

When I look to his seat, he meets my eyes and says, "You're welcome. "

"I never thanked you for anything, Ford. " I mutter as I bring my attention back to my best friend's text to type out a reply.

ME: On my way, and no, you don't have to come with me. I don't want you to mess up your classes.

Aliya's new text comes instantly.

ALIYA: The classes aren't that important, Evie. It'll do no damage, I promise.

ME: No, Lia. I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me.

I stare at the series of messages and let out a sigh as I drop the phone.

"Hey, Carson. " Emerson calls next to me and I angle my head to his view. "She'll be fine. " He says and I nod before letting my head fall against the window as he drives farther away from our apartment and closer to my home.

~

"Stop here. " I tell Emerson when he's only a few houses away from mine. He parks to the side and I unfasten the belt across my chest before turning to grab my backpack from the backseat.

When I settle back in my seat, Emerson's eyes are on me with fingers drumming against the steering wheel.

"You do know you won't get a thank you from me, right?" I arch my brows and he cackles. "You're the rudest woman I've ever met, Carson. "

"I could say the same about you, Ford. " I throw back and there's a silence after that. He stares into my eyes for too long till I'm afraid he's peeling each layer of my form and I clear my throat, taking my gaze from his.

"I should leave. " I tell him and Emerson hums. After a few seconds of lingering in my seat and gnawing at my lips at the awkward goodbye, I make my way out of the car. Before I can step away, Emerson calls my name and I bend over the window to meet his eyes.

"When will you be coming back?" He asks and a smirk pulls to my lips as I say, "Are you missing me already, Ford?"

Emerson's response catches me off guard when he says, "Maybe. "

My lips part in surprise until he adds. "There's no one else to hate, Carson. "

I shake my head as I take a step back. "No one else to fuck either. How will you hold up, Ford?" I tease him.

"You don't have to be back at the apartment for me to fuck you. " He answers and I furrow my brows, "What's that supposed to mean? "

Emerson doesn't give a response and I wonder what he means by those words before I say, "I don't know. "

"Don't know?" Emerson repeats and I give a bob of my head. "Depends on how big the damage is. Might be days or weeks. "

"I'll see you around then, Carson. " Something is convincing about those words as Emerson starts the engine and drives off, and I stand still as I watch his car move out of sight.

"I'll see you around, Ford. " The words that fall from my mouth float in the air as I walk down to my house.

I barge through the door to see Dad walking down the stairs towards the exit with a man by his side. His eyes light up when his gaze settles on me and I give him a small smile as I walk toward him, throwing myself in his embrace.

"Will you be heading back to school now that you're assured I'm fine and your father just overreacted?" Mom questions in a playful tone, her attempt to lighten the tension that's suddenly taken over, working quite well.

"No, " I shake my head as I move off the bed. "I'll be staying until I'm sure you're a hundred percent fine. "

"But your studies–" mom tries to argue, but I'm quick to silence the rest of her words. "I'll be fine. I'll take notes from my friends once I go back, it's nothing to be worried about. "

My parents turn to look at each other and their worried expression slowly dissolves to be replaced by their bright smiles as mother turns to me and says, "You're more than welcome to stay, Eva. I've missed waking up to having you around. "

I let out a chuckle. "I know. You tell me that on phone every time. "

"Nothing feels like home?" She raises her brows and I have no fucking idea why the image of Emerson cuddling me on the couch crosses my mind at that moment. I shake it off before I can dwell too much on it and turn my attention back to my mother to repeat her words. "Nothing feels like home. "

"Your room is just as you left it. " Mike informs me and I nod with a smile, strutting towards mom to press my lips to her forehead before I turn back, and grab my backpack to walk out of the room.

I take the path to my room with only a few steps, and true to dad's words; it's just like I left it. The only thing that's missing in a room I've had for years is my shelf of books. I was in a hurry to get down here, I didn't even bring my favourite stuff with me.

"My days here will surely be long ones. "

I mumble under my breath as I throw myself on the familiar soft mattress.

~

I carefully close the door to my mother's room and stare at the frame for a while before finding my way down the hallway that leads to mine.

It's been three days since I've been home and they said she's getting better with each day that passes– something I hope is nothing but the truth.

My phone buzzes in my pant pockets just as I step in front of my door, and I fish it out; the name across the screen is one I didn't think I would see in a very long time.

ANNOYING FORD: Mine is too hot and the living room is too cold.

I furrow my brows in confusion at the text and I begin to type out a reply as I open my door and walk inside my room.

ME: What are you on, Ford?

As I click on the send button, I raise my head and my lips part in shock at the sight before me.

"I'll be sleeping here tonight, Carson. My room is too hot. " Emerson Ford. Emerson fucking Ford is on my bed.