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.