Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 94

EVA.

Emerson holds my hand as I stand in front of her grave, and I smile at him before I drop the flower I have in hand.

Straightening up, I say, "Today is our birthday. Though, physically you aren't here to celebrate it with me. I know you're watching me with a smile, and I just want to thank you for being such an amazing sister. And for taking care of me the best way you could have ever. I've always thought it's selfish to celebrate and be happy on this day without you, but recently, I've found out that what's truly selfish is refusing to celebrate this day with beautiful memories of you, so I promise to never do that from now on. "

With a heavy sigh, I speak my last words, "Thank you, sister. For your sacrifice; I'll never forget all that you did for me, and I'll always love you, Lena. Always. "

I rest my head against him when Emerson moves to my side and slides a hand around my shoulder.

"You did amazing, baby. " He whispers, and I hum, letting him stroke my hair before I give one last wave to my sister and turn back.

Standing in front of me is mom and dad, and they both smile at me. Mom is the first to speak as she snatches me into her embrace. "I'm so proud of you, baby. So damn proud!"

"Are you okay?" I ask her when she pulls me back, and she caresses my cheek. "I am, baby. We both are, and it makes us happier to know you are too. "

"Are you sure you don't want to come home with us, Princess?" Dad asks and I nod, looking at Emerson. "I am. I have to go meet my friends. "

"Then we shouldn't stop you. Go have fun, Eva. You deserve all of it. " Dad says as he squeezes my shoulder and I nod, giving him a hug before I move back to Emerson's side.

"Take care of her, and if anything comes up—"

Emerson doesn't let Dad finish. "Trust me to take care of her always. "

He smiles and slaps his shoulder before we stride back to the car with them trailing behind us, taking their car.

"What do you think is in there?" Emerson asks as he glances at the boxes in the backseat— the gifts from my parents.

"I'm not sure, but I can't wait to find out. " I respond and he holds a hand over mine, his thumb caressing my knuckles. "Light?"

"Never been lighter. " I say and he gleams before he starts to drive.

~

"Here?" I ask Emerson as we stand in front of the place and he nods, "According to her description; it's here. "

"She's so unpredictable. " I sigh as I take out my phone to text Aliya.

"She said the roof. " I say to Emerson and he nods, gesturing for me to move. I drop my phone back inside my purse as we take the steps that bring us to the rooftop of the cocktail lounge and I jump in surprise at the sudden scream of wishes.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Holding a hand over my chest, a smile slowly spreads to my face at the sight of familiar faces. Aliya, Sage, Paige, Maria and Jaxon. Aliya did keep to her words of making it just our circle.

"We thought you two wouldn't show up! We've been waiting for long! " Aliya complains as she steps forward. "What do you think? Do you love it?"

"How?" I ask as I stare around the rooftop, realizing there's no one here other than my friends and Aliya confirms my thoughts by saying, "We rented the entire place. "

My mouth drops. "You did what?!"

"We rented the entire place. " She repeats with a cheeky grin and my words fail me as she continues, "Since you didn't want to celebrate at your place for reasons best known to you, I thought it'd be more fun to do it at a place like this, and we don't want strangers interrupting our party or questioning our actions so we rented the place. "

I turn my head to Emerson. "You knew about this, didn't you?"

"She said to keep it a secret. " He says and I look back at Aliya, "Tell me you love it, please. "

"I— God, you guys. This is so heartwarming. Thank you. I can't— just thank you. " I stammer and she giggles as she pulls me into her arms, rubbing my back as she murmurs into my ear. "Happy birthday, babe. You have no idea how fucking excited I am to celebrate this with you. "

"What'd I do without you?" I sigh as I wrap my arms around her and when she pulls back, she says, "Absolutely nothing. You'd be miserable without me. "

I shake my head and pull her into another hug. "Thank you, bitch. Why a cocktail lounge, though? Why not a restaurant?"

She draws back. "Because we're all addicted to alcohol and it'd never be fun without it. " She answers and I give her a playful hit before she steps to the side and Sage steps forward. She hugs me. "Hey, Eva. Happy birthday. "

"Thank you. I'm so glad to see you here. " I tell her, and she pulls away, leaving her hands on me. "Josh couldn't make it, but he sent his regards, and he's sorry he can't be here. "

"No, I don't expect him to sit through hours just to celebrate my birthday. It's more than enough that he remembered. " I assure her, and she pecks my cheek before she steps away, and Paige moves forward.

After the last wishes from Paige, Jaxon and Maria, I drop my purse on the sofa and take a drink from Aliya, a bright smile on my face as I watch everyone. We're not much, but it's more than I ask for. Both ones I've always been fond of, and ones I never thought could grow this close. And something about that just makes my heart flutter. Though I knew something like this was coming, the reality of it actually happening fascinates me in the right ways.

I look to my side and Sage's hand is on Aliya's shoulder as she whispers some words to her. Seeing them no longer awkward with each other is such a beautiful sight to watch.

I settle on the sofa, and shake my head as I watch Jaxon and Paige argue about yet another thing with the soft music playing in the background.

EMERSON.

I sneak up behind Eva, my hands moving around her neck and she immediately holds hers over mine, a smile on her face as she tilts her head to meet my gaze.

"Hey, " she mumbles and I lower my head to press my lips to the corner of her mouth. Withdrawing, I say, "Enjoying the party?"

She removes her gaze from me to look around us. "I shouldn't have believed Aliya when she said she wasn't going to go overboard. "

I chuckle. "It's fun, though. Don't you think?"

She meets my eyes again. "Can we have yours like this too?" She questions and I shake my head, "No. I'll not be sharing that day with anyone else other than you, baby. "

"Selfish. " She remarks with a grin and I agree, "Only for you. "

She smiles before she looks back at our group of friends. "Everyone looks like they're having a great time. "

I angle my head to her ear and whisper, "And how about you?"

She jerks her head to my face, her eyes lowering to my mouth before she looks into my eyes and whisper, "I can't tell, but something tells me it's about to get sexy. "

With a small on my face, I lower my chest against the sofa and slide a hand to the back of her head as I meet her lips. She opens her mouth for me, and I slide my tongue inside while she gives gentle caresses to my back. I make a sound of excitement against her lips and she's dragging her hand down my back, attempting to lift my shirt when I pull back with a smirk.

"Not just yet, Carson. " I tell her and she opens her eyes slowly, her words coming out in a heavy breath when she speaks. "Not yet?"

I nod, and let her hold my hand as I move around the sofa to get in front of her. "I have to show you something first. Will you come with me?"

"Right now?" She asks, and I look around us to see everyone either dancing, talking or taking a drink. Looking back at Eva, I say, "Yes, right now. We'll be back before they know it. "

When she doesn't say anything still, I twist my hands to hold hers and drag her out of her seat. "Come on, baby. It'll be quick. "

She nods and lets me lace my fingers through hers as I guide her to the exit and just before we walk through the door, I turn back to signal to Jaxon. He's standing next to Paige with a mischievous look on his face, and just as he turns his head; he catches my wave. He nods and gives a thumbs up before I walk out.

"The car?" Eva speaks when I lead her to the car, and I nod, opening the door for her. "Get in. "

She frowns. "We're leaving here? Em, isn't that rude? They—"

I don't let her finish before I lower her to her seat with a hand over her head. I slide my head inside to fasten her seatbelt and when I draw back a bit to the view of her face, I say, "Aliya is inside, and so is Jaxon. "

She hums and I pinch her cheeks before I move out and shut the door to walk to my side.

Starting the engine, Eva speaks again. "Where are you taking me, though?"

"Home. There's something waiting for you there. " I wink at her and her cheeks redden, "We could just do it here though. " She mumbles, and catching onto what she thought I meant, I play along, "I want us to be in the comfort of our place. "

She doesn't say a word after that and I cackle before I drive out.

~

"Why did you stop?" Eva asks as she looks around us and I say, "Because we're here. "

"This isn't home. " She states the obvious and I nod as I climb out of the car. When I arrive at Eva's side, she's standing outside, and her face lightens in recognition when she looks ahead, "The beach?" She turns to me. "You brought me to the beach?"

"Yes. And now, I want you to close your eyes. " I tell her and a small smile rests on her lips as she says, "You planned a surprise?"

"No questions asked, baby. Close your eyes. " I repeat my request and she nods before she complies with it. Ensuring her eyes are shut, I grab her hands to pull her in front of me, and slide my hand over her face to cover her eyes.

"My steps. Move where I move. " I order and she nods again. With one hand around her waist, and the other covering her eyes, I begin to move forward and the evening breeze blows our clothes as we step closer to the beach.

Stopping in front of the surprise I have for her– one I hope she'll love– I take my hand from her face and say, "You can open them now. "

I move to stand in front of her and when she opens her eyes, I spread my arms and say, "My surprise!"

EVA.

A gasp slips through my lips, my hands immediately flying to my mouth at the sight that's presented before me when I open my eyes. My heart warms in delight and tenderness, and tears burn the corners of my eyes at the scenery.

"Emerson. " I mutter under my breath as I look at him and he smiles as he steps in front of me. Holding my hands in front of us, he says, "Do you like it?"

"You said there's no surprise. " I mutter, blinking back my tears and he nods, leaving his hand from mine to cover my face. "I said that, only because I didn't want you to expect anything from me. It sounds all the more exciting that way. " He confesses and I shake my head as I look behind him to the table that's set.

"What do you think? I didn't think about it until the last minute, but I tried to make it look good. I'm not sure if you prefer the—" I don't let him finish his words before I close the small gap between us and lock my lips with his. His other hand slowly falls from mine, moving to my hips and I grip tightly onto the front of his shirt as I feel my tears drop; roll by roll, my heart drumming fast in my chest.