Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 51

EVA.

I stride into the living room to see mom standing behind the couch with her hands on her hips as she whispers some words to dad.

"What's going on?" The sound of my voice catches both of their attention and they turn their heads to me, quick to mask their faces with a bright smile.

"Hey, baby. You're up?" Mom smiles at me as she extends her hand for me to take it, and I do, lacing my fingers through hers as I step to her side.

"Is everything alright?" I ask her, looking between her and dad, and she nods, "Of course, everything is. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Because you both are looking suspicious right now? You were whispering some words in hushed tones before I appeared. " I let out and mom's gaze darts to dad's, a sigh leaving her lips before her eyes fall back to me. "I was just persuading your father about some things. "

"What things?" I'm quick to question, and once again, mom looks at dad before she turns her attention back to me to say, "You don't have to worry about it, Eva. It's nothing serious. "

"Dad?" I drawl, pinning him down with a questioning look as I meet his eyes and his shoulders sink in a heavy sigh before he opens his mouth to say, "It's like your mother said, Eva; it's nothing serious. Just some work problems and I'll have them sorted out. "

"You're sure we are not in any trouble?" I narrow my eyes at him and he smiles, "Doesn't come close to it, Princess. "

"Is it him?" I proceed to ask about the only other thing that could have caused a problem, and when dad's face hardens, I know I hit the right nerve.

"What's it this time?" I pinch the space between my brows and Dad shakes his head, turning his body to the other side to get his bag off the couch before he turns back to me, "I'll have it settled. I need to get to work now. Will you be here or you're heading out on one of those dates?"

Heat spreads to my cheeks at his mention of my outings with a guy he would rather not know repeatedly, and I say, "Dad!"

"A genuine question, Princess. " He chuckles as he paces closer to me to press his lips to my forehead before he steps back to kiss the side of mom's face.

"I love you, hmm—" his tiny whisper to mom doesn't escape my ears and my lips tug up in a tiny smile as mom responds to his words of affection before dad steps back, throws a wave at me then turns to walk out of the house.

As dad's figure disappears through the door, I turn my body to mom's view and lift a brow when she stares down at me with hands on her hips.

"What?" I ask and she draws closer, pushing her face forward. "What has been going on in your room lately?" The question catches me off guard and an awkward cough falls from my mouth, causing mom to draw back.

"Eva!" She throws me a pointed look and I say, "I'm sorry, beautiful. I didn't realize that was coming. " I press my palm to my chest to calm down the race of my heart as I pray the slight unpleasant incident made her forget about her question.

The prayer wasn't accepted. "So you want to tell me what you do every night? I heard voices the other night. "

"What voices?" I feign innocence, pressing my fingers into the skin of my palm as I let my hand drop from my chest.

"Voices that tell me you weren't alone in that room, Eva. " She explains and I let out an awkward laugh, one I hope she doesn't notice. "What are you talking about, mom? Who else would I be with? It's only the three of us in the house. "

"Not if you had someone sneak up to your room, " she suddenly says, and my eyes widen barely as uncertainty rushes through me at the fact that my mother could have caught me. Caught us. Not until she says, "Did you have Aliya climb to your room to go to some parties like last time, Eva?" I let out a breath of relief at Aliya's name before I throw mom an innocent smile.

"I didn't. I've been staying up late to watch movies recently, so those were probably the voices you heard. " I tell her with a raise of my shoulder and she furrows her brows, "Are you sure about that?"

"You don't trust me?" I throw back. "You can ask Aliya about it if you want. "

"What? Of course not. " She's quick to say, stepping closer to brush my hair. "I just wanted to make sure you're fine, baby. Nothing more. "

"Trust me, mother. I've never been finer than I am right now. " I assure her and her smile broadens. She drops her hand to my cheek to give small slivers to the skin before she lets it falls to her side.

"I have to head out to check up on Danielle today, and Mrs Martins isn't coming in because she had a bit of a family issue. Do you want to come with me, or you're alright with—"

"I'm alright with staying home. " I don't let her finish her words before I interrupt her and a chuckle falls from her mouth. "Is this because of Danielle's son again?"

"His stares are creepy and he irks me. I absolutely don't want to go there, knowing he'll be around. " I scrunch my nose in irritation and she smiles in understanding. "I would never want you to do anything uncomfortable either. Maybe call Aliya to keep you up and running?" She teases with a glint in her eyes and I shake my head at her playful taunt as I cross her side to move over the couch.

"I'll be fine, mother. " I announce and she comes from behind me, clasping her hands to the sides of my head to press her lips to the middle of my hair before she pulls back, taking her warmth with her at the sound of her receding footsteps.

~

"Why are you here?" I question as Emerson climbs through my window and I step to the side to give him space.

"You said your parents are out?" He states the obvious, referring to our earlier conservation on the phone and I throw him a look, "I said they are out; I didn't say you could come, Ford. It's fucking daylight. "

"And you're all alone so I don't see what's the problem here. " He moves past my side to climb on my bed, and I let out a huff as I stride towards my window to shut it before I pace back to my bed.

"Anyone could see you, Emerson. Your family included. " I remind him of the fact he seems to have forgotten and Emerson says, "Everyone is out, but my stepmom. "

"And she could—"