Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 67

EVA.

"I might be home late tonight, are you alright with that?" Emerson asks as I unfasten my seatbelt. I turn to him and say, "Why not? Are you leaving campus early?"

"Yes. I have to head over to Jaxon for some things. " He tells me and I nod, tearing my gaze away from his to grab my bag.

"Is that okay with you?" Emerson inquires when I drop my gaze back to him and I nod, "Of course. Gives me more alone time to myself without you sniffing your face into my ass. "

"Oh, babe, " he chuckles as he leans over the divider to grab my chin. "Have I ever mentioned how adorable you sound when you try to hide the truth from me?"

"I don't think I need to hide if it's—" Emerson's lips on mine shut me up and he stays for five seconds before he pulls back, "Make me dinner before I get back, yeah?"

"What am I? Your wife?" I snort out a laugh as I slap his hand from my chin and he sinks back in his seat with a knowing smile on his face. "No, you're something more. That sounds too low in comparison. " I twist my head from his view after those words to hide the way he once again easily made me turn red.

"Baby?" Emerson calls behind me, and I just know he's smiling with the tone of that voice. Clearing my throat and taking several exhales to calm down my burning cheeks coupled with my racing heart, I angle my head to meet his eyes. "I just remembered. You said you'll do the groceries today. "

"Oh shoot, " he mumbles, guilt covering his face. "We still have enough to last us for a week or more. I'll do it tomorrow, I can't cancel plans with Jaxon. "

"You said that the last time we ran out and I ended up doing it myself. " I throw him a frown and he puts on one of those convincing looks that get so hard to resist. "I won't this time, Eva. "

"Promise, " he adds when I don't give a response and I give a curt nod to curb the smile that's threatening to break out. Silence swims between us with our gazes fixed on each other before there's a loud beep of a phone and I look down to the compartment to grab Emerson's phone but he's quick to snatch it from me.

"Got it. " He mutters as he waves the device in the air. "Probably an unnecessary text from Hanna or one of the boys. "

"Um, okay?" I respond and then gesture to the door. "I need to catch up to Aliya. See you in class?"

"See you. " He says with a small smile and I close the space between us to press a kiss to his cheek before I climb out of the car.

Shutting the door behind me, I throw another glance at Emerson to see his eyes on his screen. What the hell was that? Why was he so alarmed?

Looking away from him, I shake my mind off the thought before I walk away.

~

"Eva!" I jump at the loudness of Aliya's voice and when I meet her eyes, I throw her a frown, "Why the fuck did you shout so loud?"

"Because I've been speaking to you without your attention?" She scowls and my shoulders sink in a sigh as I drop my hands on the table before me. "Sorry. I was lost in thoughts. "

"Is everything alright? You don't look so good. Did something happen with Emerson?" She asks and I take a while before I part my lips, deciding whether the issue is worthy enough to speak to Aliya about. Knowing it'll keep bothering me until I speak about it with someone, I go along with it. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, why not?" She responds and I lean over the table, moving my face closer to hers. "Do you think I should be worried if I start noticing some changes in a person's behaviour?"

"Changes like what?" She questions and I say, "Just minor ones. They start doing things differently from the way they used to and they're always wary with the slightest of things that never mattered before. "

"I don't know, " she starts, rubbing her chin. "I think it depends on whether things have changed between the both of you. "

Changed? Nothing changed between me and Emerson. The phone protectiveness just came out of nowhere, and it's leading to thoughts that I shouldn't have. Thoughts that I know can't be true, but I can't help considering.

"This person is Emerson, isn't it?" Aliya's voice pulls my attention back to her and I hum, "He's been acting odd and I'm scared. "

"In what way?" Aliya questions further and I say, "He's being... Guarded? Mostly for his phone. "

"Maybe he doesn't like you invading his privacy? There are people like that, Evie. No matter how intimate you get, they always want their privacy. " She explains and I make a sound of disapproval. "No, that isn't it. He wasn't like this before. There's no seclusion when it comes to me and him, Aliya. Especially not with his phone. He leaves the phone carelessly around me, and I help with his calls sometimes, but now it's different. Just a subtle touch will earn me loads of questions and it's starting to frustrate me. What's he so guarded for?"

"Maybe it's getting too much?" She suggests and I lift a brow, "What do you mean?"

"I mean you guys have never been like this before. Not until you got into a relationship, and at first; he would think it's alright. But then it starts to get too much and he doesn't know how to go about it so he pulls away? Like he needs space? Wanting to take a breath of fresh air after being suffocated for long?"

"No. " I'm quick to oppose her analysis. "I know Emerson, Aliya and he isn't like that. If you haven't noticed, he's the clingiest between the two of us and he was in my space before I was in his. It can't be that. "

"I don't know what else it could be. " She says. "But I believe he's your man and you should know him better than anyone. You should try to speak to him about it if it's disturbing you this much. "

"Maybe. Maybe I should. " I agree and she smiles, lifting her hand to the table to caress mine. "But I'm sure it's nothing to be worried about. Emerson loves you, Evie. I barely see him around yet I know that fact. "

"It's cute when you try to act mature. " I tease her and she drops her hand. "Fuck off, bitch. "

And I shove her my middle finger before we both break into a laugh.

"Oh, is that Sage?" I speak at the sight of the blonde-haired girl walking into the room with an unfamiliar girl by her side.

I wear a smile as I lift my hand to wave at her, and she meets my eyes, her expression the opposite of what I'm used to before she turns her head away and I slowly drop my hand. When I shift my gaze back to Aliya, she's staring at me and I say, "Do you think she just ignored me? She saw me but she looked away?"

"I don't see any reason for her to say hello, Evie. I'm right here. " She points a finger to herself and I watch as Sage walks past us without a word or something as simple as a glance. I'm stunned to say at least. Sage is warm and cheerful. At times, I thought she was a perfect fit for Aliya because their personalities are almost the same, but this Sage? Her whole posture screams cold.

"Stop staring at her. " Aliya tells me and I look away from the duo. "She obviously doesn't want to talk. Let her be, Eva. "

"Do you want to go talk to her? You've been worried for days. " I remind her and she turns her head sideways in disagreement. "No, I'm fine. Talking to her will do nothing but worsen the way things are and I don't want to either. I'm alright with the sight of her well being. "

"Aliya—" I start to say but she cut me off. "Drop it, Eva. " Then she grabs her bag from the side, "I'm done. Are you? We should leave. "

Knowing the reason behind her sudden willingness to leave, I nod and grab my bag, trailing after her as we make our way out.

~

"Are you okay?" Emerson asks as he hovers over my body with his hands staying by the sides of my head and I smile at him, "Of course, I am. Why won't I be?"