Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 45

EVA.

"Are we leaving together later?" I ask Aliya as we walk towards the exit of the campus and she shakes her head, "No, I don't think so. I have to take care of something first. Text me once you're on your way. "

"Does that something have to do with—"

"Yes. " She interrupts the rest of my words, and I drape a hand over her shoulder. "Good-luck. Don't give in to the temptation of sex, babe. "

"Fuck off. " She groans, lowering her head to drop my hand from her shoulder and I let out a chuckle as I adjust the strap on my shoulder.

"And you might just want to take care of something. " I furrow my brows in confusion as I meet her eyes, and she nods in a direction. I follow the trail of her eyes and instantly freeze on my spot as I see Dan approaching. He's appearing before me for the first time since that day, and he looks much better than the last time, with his bruise almost faded.

"Hey. " He smiles as he stops in front of us, before he nods his head to Aliya as a form of greeting, and instead of her usual response– she scowls at him. "What do you want?"

"Do you think I could steal Eva for a second? I need to speak to her. " He says, directing a gaze at me.

"You can speak to her right here. Though I doubt you have the luck to do that any longer. " She spats, and Dan must have noticed the tone of her voice because he looks back at her, then to me and back to her again before he says, "You told her?"

"Why does that come as a surprise to you?" Aliya is quick to respond to him, and I place a hand on her shoulder to calm her down before she jumps on the poor guy in the middle of the field.

"What do you want, Dan?" I ask as I turn my attention back to Dan and his chest falls in a sigh before he starts to speak, "I know you hate me for what happened, and since it's the semester break, I want to apologize again and earn your forgiveness. We were heading somewhere, Eva. You felt it, and I felt it before I ruined the—"

"Before you ruined it. " I complete his words and he nods slowly. "Not once, Dan. " He creases his brows at my words and I drop my hand from Aliya's shoulder. "Back at the club? You lost your control. Back at your house? You lost control. How many times do you have to lose your control before I realize you're capable of forcefully taking me?"

"I'm not. I promise I—" he tries to take a step forward, but a glare from me stops him. "It'll never repeat itself, Eva. I know you don't believe me, but you should sweetheart. I like you, and I was serious with you. I still am. I want to make you mine, Eva. You have to give me a chance. You have to forget the past for us to move forward; I know you feel something for me. "

"Hey, guys. " A familiar voice echoes in the air as I part my lips to speak and Dan steps to the side for Sage and her friend to come into view. "Um– are we interrupting something?" Sage asks awkwardly as she looks between the three of us.

"Not at all. Dan was just leaving. " I throw her a smile before I look back at Dan, who looks like he's about to say something but thinks back on it and walks away after a sigh.

"Hey, angel. We meet again. " A smile appears on Josh's face as he takes my hand and presses his lips to the back of my palm, just like last time.

"Nice to see you again, Josh. " I match his smile with one of mine before I look at Sage, who's staring at Aliya.

"Do you want us to excuse you?" I break the silence and both girls' heads snap to me, as if they didn't realize they were lost in each other's eyes.

"No, why would you—" Aliya starts to say, but I interrupt her words. "You got it. We'll just take a step away. " I throw her a wink before I drag Josh with me, not waiting for her expression.

"They are so in love, aren't they?" Josh speaks once we're steps away from them and I grin. "You see it too? I swear everyone sees it but those two. "

"I think they know it, but just try hard to deny it. Your friend, specifically. " He points out and I smile. "She's just scared, nothing more. It's alright to be scared of love. "

"But love is nothing to be scared of. " He says as he looks away from the girls to meet my eyes.

"It isn't, but it could be. It depends on the person. Love could be the best thing that's ever happened to one person, and the worst that's ever happened to another. We all have different perspectives and experiences when it comes to it. "

"And you? Have you ever been in love, Eva?" He asks as he ducks his head and I say, "Not in love, but I've known what it's like to love another. "

"So are you scared of being in love?"

I press my lips into a thin line at that question. Am I scared of being in love? Could I possibly be afraid of love?

"You don't have an answer to that?" Josh pulls me out of my thoughts and I lift my gaze to him. "It's like I said; it depends on the person. "

"That's one complicated answer. " He chuckles and I follow with. "I know, but what's the world without complications?"

"Aliya is lucky. " Josh suddenly says, changing the topic and I lift a brow in confusion until he says, "To have you as a friend. You look and sound amazing. "

"You can't decide that on a few words, Josh. " I tell him and he shakes his head, "I can, and I just did. "

"Thank you. Sage is lucky too. " I say and he cocks a brow, "To have a guy as handsome as me as a friend?"

"No, " I laugh and his fall falls. "To have you as a friend in general. "

"So you don't think I'm handsome?" His lips turn in a frown, and I teasingly take a step back to check him out.

"I'm not sure about that. " I tilt my head and he breaks into a laugh, revealing his perfect set of white teeth.

"I have a feeling that we'd make a crazy duo, Eva. "

"Aliya took that title. " I inform him and he lifts his shoulder in a shrug. "A fine duo, then. "

"Yeah?" I raise a brow and he blinks once as a response. "Yeah. " And we both smile before we look back at the girls.

~

I take one last glance at my door, before I shut the door and look to Emerson's room. The thought that he hasn't been around since early this morning crosses my mind and I fish out my phone as I stroll to the living room.

ME: I'm heading home. You won't meet me when you arrive.

I click on the send button to deliver the text to Emerson before I throw my phone in my Jeans pocket and take my backpack from the couch before striding out of the house.

I stroll towards the Uber parked at Emerson's spot before I climb inside, and say a greeting to the man behind the wheel as he starts the engine and begins to drive.

~

"You're back!" Mom is the first to sight me as I walk through the door and I smile as she walks towards me with open arms.

"Hello, beautiful. " I beam excitedly at the sight of my mother as I move into her arms and let her wrap hers around my body; almost lifting me from my feet.

"God, mom. Am I that easy to lift?" I joke as she pulls away from me and holds my face in her hands with teary eyes.

"I've just missed you so much! You have no idea. " She mutters and I smile, moving into her arms again and I give gentle strokes to her back as I say. "I know, and I've missed you too. "

When I pull away, I look behind her in search of my father and mom must have caught onto my search because she says, "He isn't home yet. Busy day at work today. "

"I forgot how late that man comes home sometimes. " I say as I look back at her and she nods, "So you understand why I miss you being around? "

"Mrs Martins is here and you have friends you go to. " I point out and she frowns, "I mean family time, Eva. My friends are different from my family. "

"I thought you told me to consider my friends my family?" I counter just to tease her and she throws me a look before she says, "You are back with your argument?"

"No, " I say through cackles. "I'm back for some family time. "

She smiles and moves to my side, throwing a hand around my waist as she leads me forward. "How was school?"