Hatred With Benefits

T W E N T Y - F I V E

EVA.

"So what happened?" I ask Aliya, taking a seat next to her on her bed and she finally looks up from her

phone, a sigh slipping through her parted lips.

"That doesn't sound good. " I furrow my brows and she gives a small nod.

"I couldn't choose. " She says in a low voice and I place a hand on her shoulder, giving a tight squeeze

before letting my hand fall from the skin.

"You'll be fine. " I assure her and she shakes her head. "Not for long. Maybe I'll need to try another

pussy. Getting caught up with confused emotions isn't my thing, Evie. "

"I know, " I let out a small laugh, snuggling closer to her. "But life can be weird, and trust me the more

you try to avoid them; the stronger your desires get. "

Aliya snaps her gaze at me at my words and lifts her brows. "And how could you possibly know that,

Miss Carson? "

I give a raise of my shoulder as I fall back on her bed, lifting my hands to the back of my head. "Books.

"

Aliya chuckles next to me before she falls beside me, turning on her side so her eyes are fixed on

mine. "You know everything about human emotions through books?"

"Exactly, " I beam. "You should try to read more. It helps a lot. " I tell her in a teasing voice and Aliya

gives a playful slap to the side of my thigh, causing me to laugh.

I stare at her as she turns her eyes to the ceiling and remains silent. I watch the heavy rise and fall of

her chest before she speaks again, intruding the peaceful air. "It's scary. "

"You wanting the both of them?" I ask her and she hums. "In such a short time. It scares me. "

I sigh and raise my head, supporting it with my elbow pressed against the soft mattress. "I've heard that

love can be a strange thing. "

"You're amplifying it, bitch. It isn't love. " Her lips turn in a frown and I chuckle. "Yet. Let's see how long

you can hold off, Miss. "

"I hate you. " She groans and I chuckle again before I say, "Those words are meant for Emerson Ford,

Aliya. "

"About him—" a grin appears on my best friend's face as she turns her gaze back to me and I cuss

under my breath, immediately regretting bringing up that man's name. "How's your plan going?"

"What plan?" I ask in confusion and Aliya rolls her eyes before she says, "The plan to drive him out of

the house. "

At Aliya's words, the words I uttered when I saw Emerson for the first time in that house crosses my

mind and it astounds me how I've never given a thought to it. I've somehow gone from wanting

Emerson out of there to enjoying the nasty taunts between us.

"Oh that, " I mumble, avoiding Aliya's gaze but I feel her eyes on me from the corners of mine. "I don't

know. He's quite reluctant. "

When I lift my eyes to Aliya again, a smirk is pressed to her lips. "Is that so? Or have things changed

between the two of you now that you're under the same roof? Did he tempt you with that pretty orgasm

maker?"

I'm impressed with how easily I mask my body's reaction to Aliya's last words as I speak. "Nothing can

change the way we feel about each other, Aliya. We're too deep in it to draw back. " I'm too deep in it to

the extent it escalated into something else: A side of me I never thought would feel something other

than hate for Emerson Ford. That part of me is small and it's almost non-existent but I can tell it's there.

"That sounds like a double meaning. " The tease attached to Aliya's words pulls me out of my thoughts

and I give her my middle finger, earning a laugh from her.

My phone vibrates next to me and I extend my hand to grab the device: a new text notification stares

back at me.

DAN: I'm here.

"He's here. " I tell Aliya as I type out my reply.

ME: On my way.

I climb off her bed and Aliya trails behind me as I walk to her door.

"I wanted to ask. Are you keeping this one?" She questions as I place my hand on the knob and I twist

my body to her as I say, "I don't know, but he's fun and I'm finding my time with him enjoyable for now. "

"He wants you though. " She says and I laugh. "I thought that was obvious. "

"No, bitch. Not that way; The other way. " She explains and I shift on my feet, turning my gaze to the

door in front of me. "I can tell by the way he looks at you. " She continues.

I turn my body in her direction and let go of the doorknob, "And how could you possibly know that?

You've only met him twice. "

She gives a raise of her shoulder. "He makes it quite easy. I'm sure he wants you to know that too. "

I nod. "I just want to enjoy this time with him. That might change soon, and it might not. Either way, Dan

is a good guy. "

"And you aren't a fan of them, are you? You love the ones who make you scream all night—"

"Fuck you. " I scowl, silencing the rest of her naughty words and Aliya laughs before she nods to the

door. "Have fun. Let me know if anything comes up. "

"You too, " I tell her, throwing her a wink. "I want to know what your two girls got in stock for you next. "

Aliya tries to keep the frown on her face but it easily slips and I catch the small smile threatening to

break into a grin as she says, "I truly hate you, Eva Carson. "

"You love me, bitch. " I smile, giving her a wave before I walk through the door, and shut it on her

smiling face.

"Hey you, " I raise my head to see Maria approaching just as I make it through the hallway of the dorm

and I smile at her as she reaches my side.

"Hey. " I respond to her greeting.

"Leaving after a long conservation with your friend?" She jokes and I laugh. Maria is Aliya's roommate,

and conceivably the nicest girl I've ever met. She's friendly and fun and she always has this expression

that tells you she's far too innocent for the world.

"You know it. " I wink at her and Maria's smile widens.

"I'll see you around. " I tell her and she nods, stepping past me to continue her walk to her room while I

take the direction that leads me out of it.

Taking fast strides across the field, I easily spot Dan on the other side. He's dressed in jeans and a

white tee that look gorgeous on him with the light shadows from the surging moon cast on his figure.

Dan's gaze turns to me when I'm only steps away and a smile slips to his face as he waves at me.

"To whom do I own this honor? Eva Carson actually making an appearance?" He fake gasps and I slap

his arm. "Don't start today. "

He chuckles and gives me a warm hug before pulling away to say, "You look gorgeous. "

"You saw me earlier, " I tell him with lifted brows and Dan raises a shoulder dismissively. "You look

prettier than you looked hours ago. "

"Don't you think that's a bit overboard, Daniel?" I smile and he shakes his head, the playful look fading

from his face to be replaced with the serious one that's supported by his intense gaze. "Nothing is ever

too much when it comes to you, sweetheart. "

"Okay, enough with the sweet talks. " I speak through a laugh.

"I read the talks earns you some more points. " He reveals and I furrow my brows. "Read? You're

reading to go out with me, Dan?"

"You'll be surprised with the things I do for you, Eva. It's crazy. " He sighs and I nod, agreeing with his

words. "It is. You don't need to do that, Dan. Just be yourself. It wouldn't change my opinion about you

either way. "

"I am, but when it comes to girls like you– a bit of help is always needed. Plus I told you I don't do

things like this, and if I will, then I need to make sure I'm doing it right. "

"The guy from that night at the frat party?" I pause to peek at him and Dan bobs his head for me to

continue. "And the one at the restaurant the other day? Was that you? Or you had help?"

"That was all me. " He answers and I smile. "I had fun with that guy. "

Dan's expression changes and he steps closer. He lowers his voice as he speaks. "That guy would

probably have you around his waist by now, savouring the sound of your moans and the feel of you

against his body. " His gaze drops to my lips and he swipes his tongue over his lips before he meets

my eyes and continues, "I'm trying to be a good guy here, Eva. Don't tempt me. "

"A little temptation never hurts, Daniel. " I'm aware of the way Dan's eyes darken at my choice of words

including the way he licks his lips again and it brings a smile to my face.

He lifts his hand to my face and presses his thumb over my bottom lip; the force enough to make the

skin tingle. "You're something else, Eva Carson and you amaze me. "

"So I've been told. " I wink and Dan chuckles, applying more pressure to my lips before he drops his

hand and steps back.

"So where do you have in mind?" He clears his throat.

"Nowhere. I thought you were going to make that decision. " I say and Dan seems to think about it for a

while before he says, "How about a walk? The weather is cool and looks decent for a walk. "

"I see no reason why not. " I respond and Dan smiles before sliding a hand around my waist to bring

me to his side.

"Do you stay at the dorms?" Dan asks as he turns his head to me and I shake my head. "My friend

stays here. I stay at my apartment. "

"That sounds fun. " He remarks and I nod with a soft smile. "It does. "

"You said you love reading the other time, " I nod to his words before he continues. "Are you reading

anything right now?"

"Yes, " I hum and keep the hair that flies to my face from the blowing wind behind my ear. "I'm reading

a brother's best friend. It's one of my favourite tropes. "

"Why? What interests you about fucking your brother's best friend?" He asks with genuine curiosity

clear in his voice and I say, "The tension interests me the most. I think it relates a bit to the forbidden

trope and that just makes everything so fùcking better: the thought that you shouldn't want something,

but you just can't help it. It's exciting. "

When I lift my gaze to Dan's face, he's staring down at me with a soft gaze.

"What?" I chuckle and he shakes his head, taking his eyes ahead of us. "I just love that look on your

face when you talk about things you like. I can see why you enjoy them and I guess I should watch out

for your brother's best friend?"

"I don't have a brother so you're safe. " I assure him before staring ahead of us. We're striding down

the sidewalk with our shoulders pressed to each other.

"Do you want ice cream?" Dan queries as he spots an ice cream shop ahead of us, and I lift my hand

to my belly— pressing against the skin to feel any sharp pains.

"Absolutely. " I respond, dropping my hand.

"Wait here. " He says as he starts to move ahead of me, but I'm quick to grab his wrist. Dan turns back

to me with raised brows and I slip my hand inside my pant pockets to bring out a few notes. "You didn't

take this. "

Dan laughs at the worthy papers between our bodies. "I think I can handle a few dollars, Eva. "

"No, I don't—"

"You are not forcing me to take it. I want to do this. Please let me. " He frowns and I sigh before

dropping my hand and slipping the money back into the space.

"Good girl. " He praises and ruffles my hair before he walks away. I take slow strides after him and

watch as he slips inside the shop.

I slide my hands into my back pockets and halt my steps at the sight in front of me: a woman is pressed

against a car and her eyes are screwed shut in what I won't consider pleasure.

I watch as the man before her, nuzzles his head in her neck and the longer I watch, the faster my heart

beats in my chest.

The lady opens her eyes and snaps her gaze at me. I gasp and take a step back at the horrified look

on her face, and she struggles to speak as the man's hand wraps around her throat. Her eyes scream

for help, and I want to. I want to fucking reach her, to bring her out of the situation she's found herself

yet I can't seem to take a damn move.

Cold shivers run through my veins and my visions blur with tears the longer I stand and watch the sight

before me.

"Eva!" I jump at the loud sound to see Dan standing in front of me with worried eyes. "Are you okay?

Did something happen?"

I part my lips to speak, but no words slip through and I lift my hand, pointing behind him. When I look at

the scene again, a woman is pressed against the car with her dress hitched up and her hands buried in

the guy's hair.

"I don't think they care about us, Eva. " Daniel chuckles and brings his attention back to me.

I breathe and shake my head, knowing the previous image was just my fucked up mind messing with

me.

"Do you know them? You don't look so good. " Dan notes and I wiggle my head, giving him a forced

smile. "I don't. "

I clear my throat before I continue. "A bit amazed with that. "

Dan chuckles and pushes the cup of ice cream to me, and I take it from him, mumbling thanks as he

steps beside me.

"Maybe they couldn't control it, I'm sure you've had a tongue down your throat in the open. " He says

and I cackle. "Maybe, but not to that extent. "

"It gets wilder, Carson. " He winks before focusing on the cup in his hand and I nod, staring down at

mine. I take one last glance at the couple still pressed to the car and tell myself that what I saw was all

in my head— nothing more.