Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 18

EVA.

I take one last glance at my body before walking inside the restaurant.

My gaze moves across the room as I search for a blonde head and it doesn't take long to find him waving at me from his booth.

"I didn't think you would show up. " Dan smiles as I slide in the booth, taking the seat across him and I give a small laugh. "Why not? I did say I'll be here. "

"I know, " he nods. "But I was having doubts. My friend will be here, is that okay with you?"

"The more, the merrier. " I confirm and Dan cackles before calling for order.

The woman takes Dan's order of two beers while I go with a vodka soda.

"Just soda? You sure you don't want a beer?" Dan asks as the woman walks away.

"I am. Why? Does that sabotage your plan to get me drunk?" I raise my brows teasingly at him and Dan laughs. "And what could I possibly get from getting you drunk?"

"A lot of things. " I lower my voice.

"Darling, " he calls with his lips curved into a smirk. "I don't need to fuck with your mind to get what I want. "

"So sure of yourself. " I say and he winks, before letting his eyes roam across my body. "You look beautiful. "

"I would say the same about you, but I saw this earlier. "

"So you won't?" He pouts.

"Nice to see you still look the same, Dan. " I joke and Dan laughs, his dimples coming into view this time.

That laugh slowly dies down when another figure joins us and takes the seat next to me. He's the same guy I saw with him at campus, and he's still wearing that scowl from earlier.

"He's my friend. You saw him before. He wanted to tag along so–" Dan doesn't finish the rest of the words when dark-haired throw him a glare.

"I'm Noel. " His voice is soft and smooth, compared to his harsh gaze and I place my hand in his for a brief handshake.

"Eva. " I tell him and he nods. "I know. The fucker ditched our plans for you. " He glares at his friend again and a soft chuckle falls from my mouth.

"I'm sorry for that, Noel. " I tell him and he detaches his hand from mine before saying, "That's fine. Your beauty makes up for it. "

Did he just–

"Noel. " Dan calls sharply and we both raise our heads to him. "Don't fucking flirt with my date. "

Noel leans forward with a taunting smirk on his face. "And why's that? Afraid I'll steal her attention from you?"

The duo glare at each other and it almost seem like it's taking everything for Dan not to move from his seat and throw his fist in his friend's face before they both break into a laugh and Noel draws back.

I'm unable to hold back my smile at the silly interaction. Noel is cooler than I thought he would be at first glance.

The woman returns with two beers and a vodka soda. She drops the soda before me while Dan passes one of the beers to Noel.

"So what inspired the colour of your hair, Eva?" Dan asks.

"What makes you think I wasn't born this way?" I cock my brows at him, relaxing into my seat.

"I can tell you weren't. It's a unique colour. " He says and I hum. "You could say that and I just loved the colour. "

"It suits your eyes. " He whispers, keeping his gaze fixed on me and I take a sip of my drink to ease down the tension.

"What do you think of this?" Dan asks again and I draw my brows together. He answers my silent question. "The two of us. "

"Friends hanging out on a chill night?" I respond and there's this unbelievable expression that covers his face like he expected a different answer.

"What?" I chuckle when Dan laughs and he shakes his head. "Just the first time a girl will friendzone me in a very long time. I'm impressed. "

"Were you hoping for more?" I tease him.

"I don't think I need to hope to get more, sweetheart. " He speaks confidently and that reminds me of someone else. I close my mind before any further thoughts of him can creep in.

"Trust me, you do. " I assure him and he wears a challenging look. "Was that a challenge?"

"Do you think it is?" I retort. I stay still and frown at the sound of a familiar voice. I angle my head to the exit to see Emerson walk in with his circle of friends.

Emerson meets my eyes and if he's surprised to find me here, he sure as hell doesn't show it because his eyes are off me the next second, going to the redhead beside him.

"Do you know them?" Dan asks me and I turn my attention back to him. With a smile, I say, "Someway. "

He smiles in return and turns to mumble something to his friend, while I take that chance to glance at Emerson and his friends. They are in the booth behind us and he's sitting across from me so our gazes are on each other.

"You know Emerson?" Dan asks and I look away from Emerson.

"You do?" I ask with lifted brows and he nods with a small chuckle. "I've seen him around. He's in one of my classes. "

"Oh, the same goes for me. " I tell him, leaving out the slight detail of living with him.

My phone vibrates on the table and I gesture to Dan to give me a minute before grabbing the device. It's from an unknown number and I furrow my brows as I open the text.

UNKNOWN: You should have gone with red. Would have caught his eyes better, Carson.

The name at the end is a dead giveaway and I lift my eyes to Emerson, but he isn't staring at me. He has a smile on his face as he speaks to his friends with redhead hugging him by the side.

How the fuck did he get my number?

ME: I don't remember giving you my contact.