Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 71

EVA.

Emerson is moving off my lap with wide eyes. "You want to what?"

"Talk to our parents about us. " I repeat my words and he says, "Eva, are you sure about that? I mean, I don't think it'd be that—"

"I know how it'd be, Emerson but I'm willing to take that step with you. I don't want to wait for something bad to happen to us or having to take terrible decisions later before we let them know about our feelings. We have the chance to prevent those from happening, so why not take it?"

"I understand you. " He sighs. "I mean I do, but still— are you sure you're ready to do this? You have to understand that your father won't easily give into this. "

"And that's why we'll have to try together. " I tell him and he smiles. "We will. When do you have in mind?"

"I'm thinking tomorrow. " I say and he exclaims, "Tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow. We can leave for my place after lectures. "

"Do you want to meet your parents first?" He raises a brow and I nod, "I think my father is still more softhearted than yours. If we manage to convince mine and get him on our side, then it'll be us versus yours. "

"You sound like you've been planning this for a long time. " He lets out a laugh and I smile, "It crossed my mind once or twice. "

"You're that eager to be with me?" He teases and I surprise him by saying, "I don't want to lose you, Emerson. I don't want to ever have to let you go. "

Emerson's teasing smile drops and he edges closer, his hand moving around me as he nudges my head to his shoulder. "And you won't ever have to. We'll do this, baby. Tomorrow, we go to your parents and let them understand their rivalry won't stop us from being together. "

I raise my head to him and my eyes meet his. "Will you say those exact words?"

"No fucking way. Your father scares me. " He says with a frown and I let out a laugh, "Why? He's everything, but scary. "

"You say that because you're his daughter. Any other person would be afraid of your father, Carson. "

"And you're still going along with this despite being scared?" I lift a brow and his lips curve as he moves his face closer to mine with his thumb holding my chin. "Of course–" he takes a short pause and strokes my chin. "Because I'm in love with his daughter. "

With a smile that matches his, I say, "And his daughter happens to be in love with you too. "

"I know, " he whispers. "She fell into my charms just like I predicted. "

"But didn't you fall into hers, first?" I taunt him and he presses his lips to mine for a brief kiss. When he pulls back, he says, "You're right. I fell so hard. "

I stare into the eyes that hold the assurance of forever before I lift my hand to his face and lower his lips on mine, the intimate excitement rushing through me the second he takes over the kiss and slips his tongue inside my mouth.

Each caress of his tongue against mine is a promise that I've got him and I know with him by my side, we'll get through this together.

~

"You don't look so good. " I tell Aliya as I slide into the seat next to her and she nods, rubbing her face with her hand. "I had a bad night. "

"What happened?" I ask in worry as I drop my bag and edge closer to her, and a sad smile rests on her face as she turns her head to me. "Nothing you have to be worried about. "

"Aliya. " I narrow my eyes at her. "Please talk to me. You know I won't be at rest until you do. "

"It's seriously nothing to—"

"Please. " I say again, not letting her finish her words and her shoulders drops as she looks away from me. I watch as she fiddles with her fingers when she starts to speak, "I ran into Sage last night and it didn't go well. "

"What did she say?" I ask her, holding a hand over her shoulder to comfort her and she says, "Nothing she shouldn't have. She isn't herself, Evie. I broke her so bad. "

"Aliya, " I start with a call of her name and she raises her gaze. "Listen, I know I'm not you and I can't completely understand how you feel, but if you're this worried about her, then don't you think you could still be in love with her?"

"Love and worry don't go together. I'm not in love with her, but I feel guilty because I'm the reason she's the way she is. " She proclaims and I nod. "I know that, but maybe you're just not admitting it to yourself, and you—"

"I'm not in love with her, Eva. I'd know if I were. " She insists and I sigh, dropping my hand from her shoulder.

"I don't know what to say. " I tell her and she chuckles. "Me neither. "

"She'll be fine. " I say and she nods. "She'll be. She just needs to be. "

I give her shoulder another soft squeeze and she looks at me with a small smile. "I'm alright. How are you by the way? You are glowing today. "

"I am?" I press a palm to my face to feel my burning cheeks and Aliya hums, "You are, so something good happened?"

"Yeah, " I respond, a smile making its way to my face at the remembrance of the previous night with Emerson. "I was worried over nothing. Emerson was acting that way because he was planning a surprise for me. "

Aliya's eyes lighten. "A surprise? Oh, it must be so good if you're smiling at the mention of it. "

"It was, " I agree with a nod, getting lost in my thoughts for a while before looking by my side to see Aliya's brows raised at me.

My smile drops. "What?"

She pushes her face closer. "Bitch, what do you mean what? You have to tell me the details. "

"No. " I state firmly, turning my head away from her, but she doesn't stop. "Come on, Evie. Tell me. "

"No Aliya. " I persist, shoving her to the side. "Oh, and before I forget; I'm leaving for home after school. "

"You're going home? Why?" She asks and I say, "I'll tell you about it once I'm back. "