Hatred With Benefits

S E V E N T Y - O N E

EVA.

Emerson is moving off my lap with wide eyes. "You want to what?"

"Talk to our parents about us. " I repeat my words and he says, "Eva, are you sure about that? I mean, I

don't think it'd be that—"

"I know how it'd be, Emerson but I'm willing to take that step with you. I don't want to wait for something

bad to happen to us or having to take terrible decisions later before we let them know about our

feelings. We have the chance to prevent those from happening, so why not take it?"

"I understand you. " He sighs. "I mean I do, but still— are you sure you're ready to do this? You have to

understand that your father won't easily give into this. "

"And that's why we'll have to try together. " I tell him and he smiles. "We will. When do you have in

mind?"

"I'm thinking tomorrow. " I say and he exclaims, "Tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow. We can leave for my place after lectures. "

"Do you want to meet your parents first?" He raises a brow and I nod, "I think my father is still more

softhearted than yours. If we manage to convince mine and get him on our side, then it'll be us versus

yours. "

"You sound like you've been planning this for a long time. " He lets out a laugh and I smile, "It crossed

my mind once or twice. "

"You're that eager to be with me?" He teases and I surprise him by saying, "I don't want to lose you,

Emerson. I don't want to ever have to let you go. "

Emerson's teasing smile drops and he edges closer, his hand moving around me as he nudges my

head to his shoulder. "And you won't ever have to. We'll do this, baby. Tomorrow, we go to your parents

and let them understand their rivalry won't stop us from being together. "

I raise my head to him and my eyes meet his. "Will you say those exact words?"

"No fucking way. Your father scares me. " He says with a frown and I let out a laugh, "Why? He's

everything, but scary. "

"You say that because you're his daughter. Any other person would be afraid of your father, Carson. "

"And you're still going along with this despite being scared?" I lift a brow and his lips curve as he moves

his face closer to mine with his thumb holding my chin. "Of course–" he takes a short pause and

strokes my chin. "Because I'm in love with his daughter. "

With a smile that matches his, I say, "And his daughter happens to be in love with you too. "

"I know, " he whispers. "She fell into my charms just like I predicted. "

"But didn't you fall into hers, first?" I taunt him and he presses his lips to mine for a brief kiss. When he

pulls back, he says, "You're right. I fell so hard. "

I stare into the eyes that hold the assurance of forever before I lift my hand to his face and lower his

lips on mine, the intimate excitement rushing through me the second he takes over the kiss and slips

his tongue inside my mouth.

Each caress of his tongue against mine is a promise that I've got him and I know with him by my side,

we'll get through this together.

~

"You don't look so good. " I tell Aliya as I slide into the seat next to her and she nods, rubbing her face

with her hand. "I had a bad night. "

"What happened?" I ask in worry as I drop my bag and edge closer to her, and a sad smile rests on her

face as she turns her head to me. "Nothing you have to be worried about. "

"Aliya. " I narrow my eyes at her. "Please talk to me. You know I won't be at rest until you do. "

"It's seriously nothing to—"

"Please. " I say again, not letting her finish her words and her shoulders drops as she looks away from

me. I watch as she fiddles with her fingers when she starts to speak, "I ran into Sage last night and it

didn't go well. "

"What did she say?" I ask her, holding a hand over her shoulder to comfort her and she says, "Nothing

she shouldn't have. She isn't herself, Evie. I broke her so bad. "

"Aliya, " I start with a call of her name and she raises her gaze. "Listen, I know I'm not you and I can't

completely understand how you feel, but if you're this worried about her, then don't you think you could

still be in love with her?"

"Love and worry don't go together. I'm not in love with her, but I feel guilty because I'm the reason she's

the way she is. " She proclaims and I nod. "I know that, but maybe you're just not admitting it to

yourself, and you—"

"I'm not in love with her, Eva. I'd know if I were. " She insists and I sigh, dropping my hand from her

shoulder.

"I don't know what to say. " I tell her and she chuckles. "Me neither. "

"She'll be fine. " I say and she nods. "She'll be. She just needs to be. "

I give her shoulder another soft squeeze and she looks at me with a small smile. "I'm alright. How are

you by the way? You are glowing today. "

"I am?" I press a palm to my face to feel my burning cheeks and Aliya hums, "You are, so something

good happened?"

"Yeah, " I respond, a smile making its way to my face at the remembrance of the previous night with

Emerson. "I was worried over nothing. Emerson was acting that way because he was planning a

surprise for me. "

Aliya's eyes lighten. "A surprise? Oh, it must be so good if you're smiling at the mention of it. "

"It was, " I agree with a nod, getting lost in my thoughts for a while before looking by my side to see

Aliya's brows raised at me.

My smile drops. "What?"

She pushes her face closer. "Bitch, what do you mean what? You have to tell me the details. "

"No. " I state firmly, turning my head away from her, but she doesn't stop. "Come on, Evie. Tell me. "

"No Aliya. " I persist, shoving her to the side. "Oh, and before I forget; I'm leaving for home after school.

"

"You're going home? Why?" She asks and I say, "I'll tell you about it once I'm back. "

"Why can't you tell me now?" She frowns and I pass her a smirk, "Because it's best served late. "

"I hate you. " She grumbles, averting her gaze and I laugh as I drop my head on my shoulder. "You love

me, baby. " And she nudges me away relentlessly, causing me to laugh again.

~

ME: I'm home. When will you be done with Jaxon?

I click on the send button and Emerson's reply comes as I stop at the front door.

ANNOYING FORD: I'm almost done, baby. I'll join you soon.

With a smile on my face, I throw my phone into my pocket and knock on the door.

Mom's face is covered with surprise the second she opens the door to the sight of me and I put on a

wide smile as I spread my arms for her.

"Eva? Baby, what are you doing here?" She says as she takes a step out of the house to pull me into

her arms, and I rest my head on her shoulder as I return her embrace. "Why? Do I need a reason to

come see my parents?"

"Of course not, " she mumbles into my hair. "I just didn't expect you to be here. I mean, there were no

calls or texts about your coming. This is a nice surprise, baby. "

I pull away from the hug, letting my hands rest on her waist, "Does this mean you missed me?"

"Oh, sweetheart, " she coos as she cups my face with one hand. "You should know by now that I'll

always miss you no matter how short it is. "

"I know, " I answer with a grin before nodding my head inside. "Let's go in. " Mom's hand slides down to

my back and she leads me inside the house, the familiar smell of the living room welcoming me as we

stride to the couch.

"Did you have anything to eat? I have some chicken left. " She tells me as she crosses over my leg to

take the seat next to me and I shake my head in response to her words, "No, I had food before coming

here. "

"You're honestly here just to see us?" Mom asks as she leans towards me and I throw a leg over the

couch to turn to her, "Why? Is it hard to believe that still?"

"Not exactly, but you wouldn't show up without a reason in the middle of your semester, Eva. " She

calls me out and I smile, dropping my gaze to my thigh before I say, "There's actually a reason. I need

to speak to you and dad about an issue. "

"Why? Is everything alright at school? Is anyone giving you trouble? Are you having trouble sleeping? I

thought you said your nightmares were gone last time I checked on you. How's—" mom doesn't take a

breath until I cut her off. Opening my mouth, I say, "Mom. It's none of those. "

Relief flushes over her face and she places a hand on her chest. "I got a bit worried. "

"It's not about having troubles at school or my mental health; I promise you. " I tell her and she drops

the hand from her chest, a small smile gracing her lips. "I'm glad to hear that, but what's it? It must be

important if you had to come here. "

"It is, " I nod to her words. "And I can't tell you alone. You have to sit together with dad to hear this. "

She furrows her brow, "Sit together? That sounds extremely serious. Should I be concerned?"

"No, it's not bad news. I mean, it could be to you both, but it isn't to me. " I explain, but the confusion

doesn't clear from her face. With a sigh, I say, "You'll understand better once dad is here. I texted him

already, and he said he'll be here as soon as he can. "

"And you're sure everything is alright?" She raises a brow and I give her an assuring smile as I take her

hand and squeeze it gently. "Everything is. "

About thirty minutes in, there's the sound of the door opening, and both mom and I turn our heads from

the TV screen to see dad walking in.

"You're back. " Mom moves from beside me to give a hug to her husband and I walk behind her, heart

racing in my chest and palms turning sweaty at the sight of the man.

"Princess. " Dad greets me as he pulls away from mom and I walk into his arms, letting him place a

kiss on my forehead.

When he pulls away from me, he says, "I was surprised when I got your call. "

"She said she has something important to tell us. She didn't tell me what yet. " Mom says to dad as

they walk to the seat across from me while I settle on mine.

"We're here, Princess. " Dad says as they both take their seats, turning their heads to me.

"I want to tell you both something important and I don't want you to get angry over it. You should know

that this happened naturally and I had no control over it. " I speak up and they exchange glances

before they look back at me and mom is the first to say, "I think you've put enough suspense in us,

baby. We're ready to hear whatever it is you have to tell us. "

I take several exhales to calm down my thumping heart, dropping my head as I'm unable to meet my

dad's eyes the moment the words fall from my mouth. "I'm dating a guy and that guy is Emerson,

Mason Ford's son. "

I hold on to my breath as I wait for them to speak, but there's nothing. Only silence. The deafening

silence that's so loud at the same time.

I raise my head to look at them and they're staring at me, and I can't decide if it's anger in their eyes or

shock.

"Mom? Dad? Did you hear what I just said?"

Mom looks at dad before she drops her gaze back to me. "I heard you, baby. I'm just waiting for you to

laugh and tell us that was a joke. "

"It isn't a joke, " I'm quick to say and she raises a questioning brow, "It isn't? You're serious?"

When I nod, she proceeds to say, "You do realize you mentioned Mason Ford? Your father's business

—"

"Yes, mom. I mentioned him, but I also mentioned that I'm dating his son. " She goes silent after those

words. Leaning back in her seat, she doesn't utter a word as she looks back at dad, and I let my eyes

follow; a shiver running down my spine when my eyes meet his. They are the coldest I've ever seen

them in a while, and it fucking scares the living shit out of me.

"Matt, I think—" mom starts to speak, but dad raises a finger, silencing her. His eyes don't leave mine

as he parts his lips, "You're in love with Mason's son?"

His voice is so fucking fearsome and I swallow the bitter lump that moves from my throat as I nod

slowly.

"Eva. You love Mason's son? Do you have any fucking idea what you're saying to us? Do you realize

who this man is or are you quick to forget?" Hostility laces through each of his words. The kind that

would have anyone shuddering in their seat.

"No, dad. I do realize, but I don't think I have to care about what that man means to you when it comes

to falling in love with his son. The feelings were uncontrollable and I have no—"

"Uncontrollable, you say? Where the hell did you meet him, to begin with? How long have you been

seeing him? And how long have you kept this away from us?" He raises a brow and my next words fall Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

in a whisper. "He's my roommate. "

Mom speaks up next. "He's what?"