Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 82

EVA.

"Hey, why did you want me to come meet you here?" I call out to Aliya as I stroll toward her and she smiles when our eyes meet. "Hey, you. Why are you dressed that way?" She asks when I stop in front of her.

"Because it's cold, Lia. Why didn't you want to come in?" I ask her my previous question and she throws me a wink before she steps to the side, revealing a new presence to me. My furrowed brows drop when my eyes catch Josh's gaze, along with Sage by his side.

"Um... Hi, guys. What are you two doing here?" I ask awkwardly as they move forward and Sage is the first to speak, "We were worried about you. Since you and your boyfriend decided to disappear without notice, we thought we'd come to you, if you wouldn't come to us. This guy here especially refused to stop disturbing me about you. "

I let out a small laugh. "Sorry about that. The last time we saw, you— " Sage doesn't let me finish my words before she closes the gap between us and wraps her arms around me, her head resting on my shoulder. "I know. It was wrong to have ignored you, but I had a little bit of something going on too. "

"I understand. You don't have to apologize for that. " I assure her, giving her back a caress before she withdraws from the hug with a small smile on her face. Her hands move to my face and she cups my cheeks, "How are you doing?"

"Fine. I'm good. " I tell her and she narrows her eyes, "Are you sure about that?"

"A hundred percent. " I beam and she nods, giving my shoulder a rub before she steps back for me to come to face with Josh.

His eyes roam across my body before they settle on mine and he sighs as he steps before me. "The Eva Carson. " He jokes and I respond with, "The Josh... Oh wait, I just realized I never got your last name. "

"You're still as funny as ever, angel. " He throws me a smile before he engulfs me in a hug and I return his embrace, my voice muffled against his chest as I say, "When have I ever not?"

He pulls back but keeps his hands around me as he speaks, "When I got back here, I thought I'd be seeing a bit of this face around, and then I got worried when I saw none. "

"I didn't think you care about me enough to be worried about my absence. " I tease him and he shakes his head, letting his hands fall off me. "I care about you enough to check in. "

"Thank you. Truly, the both of you. This means a lot. " I say, looking between Sage and him and they both hum before Josh opens his mouth, "You don't look like you've been enjoying your stay at home. "

"I can honestly tell you that it isn't as fun as I thought. " I answer and he laughs, the sound swimming around us before I excuse myself to take Aliya to the side.

"Are you guys fine now?" I mumble silently, and she shakes her head. "She's only here because of you; not me. "

"Are you sure about that?" I raise a brow and she nods, a sad smile covering her face as she says, "There's someone new. "

"Oh, " I let out, having no other immediate words to the information. "I don't know what to say, Aliya. "

"Say nothing, " she says as she meets my eyes. "I'm glad she's moving on like I want her to. "

"Are you truly happy about that?" I question, lifting one hand to her shoulder and she stares at the hand before she speaks again, "I am, babe. Trust me. There's no better way than this. By the way, I almost forgot this with me. " She takes her hand to her pocket and brings out a small piece of paper.

Is that— is that what I think it is?

Aliya confirms my thoughts when she says, "I saw this at the apartment, and thought it was important so I took it with me, but I forgot to give you earlier. "

"This–" my voice comes out small as I lift my head to her. "Was with you?"

"Yes. It seems important, so I—"

"And you didn't think to give me this immediately you found it, Aliya?" I raise a brow, my voice turning harsh and she slowly drops her hand. "I couldn't. You weren't in the right state of mind. "

"And you couldn't leave it with me? Back at my place? My room? Those skipped your mind too?"

"No, I—" she starts to say, then pauses. Angling her head to the side, she says, "Wait, are you mad at me for this?"

"Damn right I'm mad at you!" I snap, mumbling curses under my breath as I pace back and forth before her. "You had the fucking paper, and you had the fucking time to show me, or leave it with me but you didn't. "

"Babe, I had it in my pocket and forgot all about it because I was worried about you. I didn't think it was needed this much. "

"It isn't about the fact that it was needed. It's the fact that you forgot about it. You said you thought it was important, and yet it skipped your mind?" I stop pacing across and Aliya lets out a sigh, "Please, Eva. It's just a fucking piece of paper, and if it were that important to you; you would have kept it by your side. I thought you'd be grateful that I found it for you, but you're being this way?"

"Did you read it?" I ask her, ignoring her words and when she keeps mute for a while, I take another step forward till our faces are only inches away. "Open your damn mouth, Lia! Did you read it?"

"Only by the first line. " She finally answers, and everything suddenly makes me angry; Emerson showing up again after days, his explanation that only makes me hurt the more, the words I said to him and Aliya showing up with the damn paper only now.

"So you knew what's in it?" Once again, my best friend decides to remain mute. "Answer my fucking question, Aliya!"

"Stop raising your fucking voice at me, Eva! I found the fucking paper and how else was I supposed to know it's important if I didn't read it? Yes, I know what's in it and you honestly can't fucking blame me for forgetting all about it just because I was stuck with taking care of you!"

She drops her head, slapping her forehead before she says. "I'm so sorry, Evie. I didn't mean to say those words. I just—"

"I gave you a choice, Aliya. You didn't have to be stuck with taking care of me; you chose to be stuck. " I cut her off and she nods, "I know that, Eva and I did that because I care about you and I— I'm so fucking sorry I said that. I was never stuck. I just..."

I don't let her finish her words before I shift my gaze to Josh and Sage, who stands a few steps away from us with bewildered eyes.

"Thank you for checking up on me, guys but I'm afraid I'll have to leave now. I'll see you guys later. " I tell them then move away from Aliya.