Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 71

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. "

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

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