Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 59

EVA.

"Thank you. " I say to the man behind the wheels before I get out of the car and throw my bag over my shoulder. My chest falls in a sigh as my eyes move to the spot where Emerson's car is parked, and I know he's inside.

I take deep breaths to keep myself under control before I walk up to the front door.

When I walk through the door, Emerson is standing behind the couch with his eyes on me, still in his same attire from school.

"Hey, " he throws me a smile as he leans away from the couch and I shut the door behind me before I respond to his greeting, "Hey. "

Silence swims around us and I try not to note the fact that the silence is tensed as Emerson walks up to me. He lifts his hand to my shoulder and moves my bag from there, tossing it to the side before he rests his hands on my shoulders.

"How are you feeling?" He questions softly, gazes resting on mine.

"How am I supposed to feel?" I arch a brow and if Emerson is disappointed by my response, he doesn't show it as he drops his hands from my shoulders and lets them fall to his side.

"We need to talk. " Of course we do. It can't be ignored for long no matter what.

"Talk about what?" I ask him with a blank stare and he says, "You know what, Carson. Don't play dumb with me. I've had enough of the cold shoulder. "

"Why'd you think I'm giving you a cold shoulder?" I let out a chuckle and Emerson's hard expression remains unfazed as he speaks, "Because you are. I can feel your annoyance from where I stand. "

Letting the smile fall from my face, I say, "Okay, Emerson. Let's talk. "

"Why are you so bothered about Paige?" The question falls from his mouth as if I'm not supposed to be. As if I'm wrong for feeling this way, and it fucking enrages me. When I held back, he said to let myself feel and when I let myself feel, he's fucking questioning me? Putting on lines on what I am and I'm not supposed to fucking feel?

"Are you honestly asking me that? " A scoff slips through my parted lips and Emerson nods, keeping on a straight face. "I'm asking you because I don't understand. Why are you worried when I assured you it's nothing?"

"You are fucking with me right now, " I tell him "Seriously, are you that dumb, Ford? Or you're just pretending to be? Don't you get it? She feels for you, Emerson. She fucking wants you as more than just a friend, and I don't get why you're ignoring that!"

"I'm ignoring that because what she feels for me doesn't matter! I don't care how Paige feels for me or if she wants more than just friendship with me! The only thing that matters– the only thing that should matters is my fucking feelings and you know where that lies, Eva. " He raises his voice, his tone matching mine.

"So I should be alright with you being friends with a woman who wants more from you just because you don't feel the same way?"

"Eva—" he drawls in a tired voice, but I don't let him finish before I interrupt him. "No, Emerson. Answer me. Should I? Would you? If it were me, would you be able to handle it? To be friends with a guy I've once slept with just because I let him know we don't have a chance?"

"That isn't the same. " He voices out, irritation creeping into his tone and he matches it with a scowl on his face.

"It's the same! It's the fucking same so why don't tell me your answer, Emerson? Should I go ahead and be friends with one of them? Or maybe I should start going out with Dan—"

Emerson's edgy voice silences the rest of my words "Shut it. Don't go there, Eva. Don't. "

"That's what I thought. You think this is alright because you aren't the other person. " I let out a distressed laugh.

"God, Eva, it's more than fucking that! I wouldn't be doing this without a damn reason! Why the fuck don't you trust me? Why are you so insecure? Why the fuck do you think I'll cheat on you with her?" His loud voice only makes my frustration grows the more.