Hatred With Benefits

T W E N T Y

EVA.

Emerson doesn't leave and he doesn't pull away. He continues to give gentle pats to my back with my

head hanging on his shoulder. He doesn't say anything either, and I've never appreciated his silence as

much as I do now. He lets me feel everything I need to feel with his embrace giving me the comfort I

didn't know I would find in anyone. Especially not him.

"I'm done. " I whisper, pulling away from his embrace. Emerson meets my eyes and I give him a small

smile as I lift my hand to my face, to wipe my tears– trying not to make myself more pathetic than I

already look before him.

Emerson surprises me by lifting his hand with mine. Each harsh swipe of my fingers across my wet

cheeks, gives a soothing, slow stroke of his.

I meet his eyes and they are closed off once more. I can't detect what he's thinking— or feeling. He's

back to the Emerson Ford I know.

"Do you need to cry some more, Carson?" And we're back to the first name. I try to find any hint of

mockery in his voice— I can't find any. It was a genuine question.

Feeling much light-hearted than earlier, I throw a tease at him. "Why? Trying to save how pathetic I

look so you can taunt me about it later?"

Emerson smiles. A real smile that tightens his eyelids and not the one he gives when he's insulting me.

I would say it's beautiful if I didn't know who he is.

"I'm running out of things to taunt you about, Carson. I would appreciate it if you provide one yourself. "

He catches onto my game, but there's softness behind his words. Softness he never gives until now.

And as much as I appreciate Emerson trying to soften his usual blow, I don't want him to hold back

either.

"Hey, Ford. " I call casually and he lifts his brows. I clasp my hands to my thighs before I speak. "Don't

go easy on me because of this. Let's act like this moment never happened and go back to hating each

other as soon as we leave this room. "

"I never stopped through the entire moment, " he raises a shoulder. "I'll just prefer you hating me

wholeheartedly, then halfheartedly. "

I shake my head. "You can never stop, can you?"

Emerson gives me a half-smile. "Believe it or not, Carson. Making you hot is one of my favourite things

to do. " When he swipes his tongue across his lips along with those words, I can't decide if he means

what I'm thinking or what he's supposed to mean. Either way, I find those words sexier than I should.

Emerson stands when I give no response and my eyes run along with each movement. He's bare-

chested with his mouthwatering skin staring back at me, tempting me to make a move... Take a touch.

"Is there something else you want to do?" Emerson speaks, distracting me from my uneven thoughts

and I lift my gaze to him. "What do you mean?"

"I just thought there might be something you love to do on this day. Other than locking yourself in your

room to cry. " He chuckles lightly and I throw him a glare.

"And if there is?" I ask him. "How's it of your concern?"

"It's not. " He says. "But I think I can offer a bit more comfort before I leave this room, Carson. " Before

he goes back to throwing my troubles in my face.

"But if there's not..." He trails off and turns around, attempting to walk out of the room before my voice

stops him. "There's something!" My voice comes out sharp and I clear my throat when Emerson turns

back to me.

"I usually go somewhere and my parents always find me there. " I have no doubt they must have

searched for me there.

"Do you want to go?" He surprises me by asking and I stay silent for some seconds before shaking my

head. "No. Not this time. "

Emerson nods and lingers on his feet before he turns around and walks out of the room.

I sigh as I watch his frame disappear through the door before lifting my phone. Notifications of missed

calls and unread texts stare back at me, and my hand hovers over the screen. Deciding I want to end

this day without the usual security of my parents, I throw the phone to the side and jump when my door

opens.

Emerson's head peeks through the door and he offers a smile. "You want to come watch some movies

with me?"

I drop my shoulders. "I thought you were going to–"

Emerson walks through the door and strides towards me. "This is not me holding back, Carson. " He

assures me before holding out his hand for me.

I stare at his face to his hand then back to his face, before swatting his hand away and moving from the

bed. "I would rather die than hold your hand. "

He smirks. "Careful what you wish for, Carson. " It's the only response he gives before he leads me out

of the room.

We walk into the living room and I fall on the couch with Emerson settling beside me, leaving a

reasonable space—that I appreciate—between our bodies.

"Action?" Emerson asks as he grabs the remote and switches through the channels.

"Fuck no. "

"Horror?"

I throw him a look. "That's the last thing I want to watch right now. "

"Drama?"

"Don't think so. "

"Tragedy?"

"I think I've done enough crying for today. "

"Do you want me to say romance, Carson?" He lifts his head to me and a tiny smirk climbs on my lips.

"With you? Probably the worst decision ever. "

Emerson snickers. "You lie, Carson. You lie badly. "

I don't think about the way he lowers his voice at the second part nor the way my heart skips a beat at

those words.

"If you don't want any of those, then what do you want? I don't see anything else other than kid's

shows. " Emerson grumbles and I give him a nod.

He stares at me dumbly. "Are you serious? A fucking kid show? What are you, five?"

"They are better than the shit you watch where the women's tits are out in the open. " I snap, snatching

the remote from me and Emerson laughs lowly. I flinch when he pushes his face forward.

My heart is racing in my chest at the sudden closeness and it only worsens when Emerson's gaze

drops to my chest before he meets my eyes again. "And tell me why the fuck I would want to watch

some tits that I'm unable to touch on the screen when I have one right here... One I could touch. Pinch.

Pull. Suck. Any way I want. "

He says the words slowly, almost like he's digging at something and I wet my lips unintentionally in

response.

Emerson's eyes fall to the sensual move before he drops back and I exhale in fast breathes.

"Let's go with this. "

"You're serious? The panda?" Emerson's lips twitch as he stares at the screen and I shrug. "You can

leave, Ford. Your ass isn't glued to that spot. "

I see him glare at me from the corners of my eyes and a smile presses to my lips as the theme song

comes in.

Emerson mumbles something under his breath before moving to his feet and my eyes follow him as he

walks to the kitchen.

I'm quick to turn back to the screen before he catches me staring and I groan when there's a knock at

the door.

I drop the remote to the side before rising from my seat and striding towards the door.

Pulling it open, I'm met with the sight of a furious blue-haired.

"Hey, I've been trying your contact all day long. Why the fuck did you not return my calls?" Aliya

complains loudly, throwing the words in my face as soon as her eyes meet mine and I give her a weak

smile. "Sorry, I wasn't with my phone. "

"That's the excuse you'll go with again?" She frowns, folding her arms against her chest.

"It's not an excuse. I honestly wasn't with my phone, though that might have been a bit purposefully. " I

pinch my fingers together in front of her and she scoffs, the frown remaining on her lips for a moment,

before it fades into softened eyes and a worried expression.

"Eva–" she starts, and I interrupt her, knowing what will follow the rest of her words. "I'm fine, Aliya. I

promise I didn't do anything stupid. " I give her a soft smile.

Aliya narrows her eyes at me. "Are you sure about that? I mean it's alright if you–"

"I'm sure. I'm completely fine. " And I mean those words. The ache in my chest doesn't hurt as it used

to and I can still feel his arms around me. I can still feel his warmth around my body. Emerson Ford

managed to lessen my pain and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

"I'm happy to hear that, though you're about to hear lots more complaints. " A tiny smile crosses her

lips and I draw my brows together. Aliya answers my unasked question by moving to the side, bringing

them into my view instead.

My mouth parts in surprise and I'm sure it's reflected on my face too as I stare at the worried face of my

mother and an equally worried plus annoyed face of my father.

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