Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 36

EVA.

A groan leaves my lips as my eyelids flutter and I open my eyes to the familiar ceiling before I drop my eyes to the space next to me, and move back a bit at the sheets that are not mine.

Sitting up on the bed, I glance around Emerson Ford's familiar room and down to the book that's by my side before the memories of last night come crashing down.

"What the fuck are you doing, Eva?" I mumble under my breath as I swipe my hands down my face before letting them stay on my lap.

With a sigh, I start to climb off his bed and straighten his sheets before I grab his copy of the book to return to the shelves.

With my hands on the edge of the shelf, I stare around his room– one which still holds his smell and wonder why the fuck I left mine to sleep here? Have I grown so used to having Emerson right next to me that I felt something wasn't right on my first night back in my apartment without him?

Not being able to come up with an answer, I make my way out of his room through the same path I came through and slide into mine.

Striding towards my bed, I grab my phone for any new notifications and after responding to Aliya's text, I make my way into the bathroom to freshen up for the day.

~

"So what did I miss?" I ask Aliya as we take the corner that leads to our first class.

"Just a whole bunch of lectures and a new project. I'll fill you in on the project later, but I took your notes for you. " She explains and I wrap a hand over her shoulder before I bend her back and ruffle her hair. "You did good, babe. "

Aliya struggles to move out of my grasp before I let her go and she throws me a glare as she smoothes her hands down her hair. "I'll kill you for this one day! We're on campus, you bitch. "

"Who are you cheating on with Sage and Chloe?" I lift my brows and she gives me her middle finger, causing a laugh to slip through my parted lips.

"I don't see why else you would want to look good for classes. " I tell her, earning another middle finger before she says, "Come back to talk to me about that when you're not looking extra good yourself. "

"It isn't my fault I'm hot, babe. " I wink and she scrunches her nose. "Whoever told you that wanted you for the ruins. "

"You told me that more than twice, bitch. " I call her out and she shakes her head. "I would have had my mouth on you if I considered you hot, Evie. "

"And the only thing stopping you is what we have. " Aliya opens her mouth to respond, but before she can speak, another voice beats her to it.

"Hey, you. " I lift my head to see Dan standing in front of me with Noel by his side.

"Hey. " I respond as I fasten the strap of my bag and he says, "It's nice to see you're back. "

"It's nice to be back. " I retort and a smile covers the corner of his lips. "Does this mean—"

Knowing the words he's about to utter next, I interrupt Dan before he finishes his words. "Tonight. The second date. "

"You're sure?"

"I won't bail on you. " I assure him and his tiny smile grows into a wide dimpled one as he speaks, "I'll see you tonight, then?"

"You will. " I repeat before I step to the side after throwing a greeting to Noel.

"Another date?" Aliya's whisper near my ear as their figures disappears makes me turn my head in her direction, and I frown at the taunting smile on her face. "Don't you start with me. "

"I'm just getting started, bitch. " She laughs as he drapes a hand over my shoulder and drags me to class.

~

I cross my legs on the couch with a bowl of ice cream in hand and my eyes on the screen before I'm interrupted by the vibration of my phone.

Dropping the bowl by my side, I grab the mobile and there's a new text from Dan.

DAN: Should I come to pick you up?

ME: No, just give me the location of where you are, and I'll come meet you.

After a few minutes of staring at the screen, Dan's message of his location comes through and I turn off the TV before moving to my feet with the bowl in hand.

I stride to the kitchen and drop the ice cream inside the fridge before walking to my room to grab my key.

I slide my feet into my boots and hurl a jacket over my shoulder before closing the door behind me, and walking towards the exit.

~

ME: I can't find you.

I click on the send button as I stare around where I'm to meet Dan with no sign of the man.

DAN: Right across you.

I frown at the words across the screen before twisting my body in the other direction to see him waving at me from the other side.

I give a wave back before I cross to the other side to meet him.

"So where are we going this time?" I ask Dan as I stand in front of him and he frowns, jerking his head to his open arms as he says, "Won't you give me a hug? It's been days. "

"You saw me at school earlier. " I remind him and with a sad face, he complains, "But I couldn't hug you. "

With a shake of my head and a smile, I move into his open arms and let him wrap his arms around me, while my arms stay on his back.

"You smell so good. " He says as he nuzzles his face into my neck, his nose brushing against the skin. "Absolutely good. " He mumbles, his lips brushing my neck, and causing a shudder to roll off my body.

"I know. " I give gentle pats on his back before he draws back, and holds my face in his hands. With gentle strokes of his thumbs, he offers one of his gorgeous smiles before he pulls away.

"So I was thinking something different today? We've been to a restaurant and we've taken a walk; so how about you suggest what to do this time? Is there anywhere you'd love to go?" He asks with a brow lifted.

"I don't think so. I don't go out to many places, so you have to decide on that. "

"How about a club then?" Dan's suggestion makes me furrow my brows as I say, "A club as a date?"

"It should be fun, " he assures with a wide smile. "Just the two of us with the music and the noises. I suck at other places; we could loosen up with a place we're both familiar with. " He explains further.

"I don't see a reason why not?" I tell him and Dan's smile widens before he nods for me to follow him.