Hatred With Benefits

EVA.

After hours of messing around with the ocean, my hair is all wet and Emerson Ford stands in front of me with a proud grin on his face.

"It isn't funny. "I scowl at him when I raise my head to meet his gaze and he chuckles before stepping closer to me.

"Move your hands." He says and when I don't comply with his request, he takes my hands in his grip and swats them away from my wet hair before he grabs a fistful of the hair and squeezes, letting the water drops trail down my face.

"You should have told me to tilt my head. "I tell him as I angle my head to the side while he gives it another compression.

"You should have been smart enough to know what to do. " Emerson responds and I give a slap to the side of his thigh, which earns me a yank on my hair.

"Don't forget I have something more painful in my hold, Carson. "He taunts and I snicker before looking down at his wet boxers, taking a gulp at the fact that his cock is literally in my face.

"There, all done. "Emerson says and moves away from me, and I pull my eyes from his lower body to stare up at him. "You're getting dressed with that?" I jerk my head to his wet boxers and he shakes his head.

"I have new ones in my car. "He informs and I hum before moving to my feet. I watch as Emerson raises his head to the sky and squints his eyes at the soaring sun. He looks back at me and says, "We should leave."

I nod and give a last glance to the ocean, a smile on my face as we make our way back to where the car is parked. Emerson moves to the truck to leave his board and change into new fits before he climbs into the driver's seat.

"Are we headed somewhere else?" I ask him as he starts the engine and he taps on the screen of his phone, which displays the time before he says, "I should get you back home. "

I grab my phone from my side and open the new texts from Aliya.

ALIYA: She is and she's staying for long this time, so I guess I'll be heading home at the end of the semester.

ALIYA: Where the fuck are you, bitch?

ALIYA: Are you coming soon or do I have to come down there and drag you back with me? I miss your stupid ass here.

ME: I know you can't leave a second of your life without me, bitch. I'll be back soon, though; she's all better.

I click on the send button before I drop the phone and twist my body to Emerson's view. He drums his fingers on the steering to the beat of the music that booms from the radio with his gaze focused on the road before him, while the other hand rests on the window by his side.

"You might want to take a picture to stare at later, Carson." His mocking voice echoes in the space of the car and I look away from him with reddened cheeks before I say, "There are better things to use for that space, Ford. I'd rather not. "

Emerson laughs and drops his hand to my exposed thigh, squeezing it before he lets it stay there, and I bite down on my tongue to keep down the words that threaten to move from my throat-words that'll lead to him stopping the car to sate the mess between my thighs.

"We're here. " Emerson announces and I lift my head from the car window to take my eyes to him. He meets my gaze and says, "You won't get a thank you from me, Carson."

A chortle falls from my lips as I unfasten my seatbelt and mumble, "I know, Ford. I wasn't expecting one."

I take my phone from the side and move out of the car with Emerson climbing out through the other door, and I take a look around when he walks around the car to my side. "What do you think you're doing?"

Emerson follows my eyes before we keep each other's gazes. "Your father is miles away from here, in his office, Carson. You don't have to worry about-" Emerson doesn't get to finish his words before there's a call of his name.

"Emerson?" We both turn our heads to see Hanna Ford approaching us and Emerson grumbles under his breath as he turns away from me and steps forward.

"Why have you not been answering your calls? You got everyone worried. "The pretty girl complains with a frown on her face as she stops in front of us.

"What did I tell you about lying to me?" Is Emerson's response and Hanna opens her mouth to reply, but she pauses and peeks behind him, at me. I don't miss the way her eyes barely widen at the sight of me before she turns her gaze back to her brother and whispers some words I can't make out, but I've got some hints on.

There are a few minutes of them exchanging words in low voices before Hanna suddenly steps away from Emerson to my side, a huge grin on her face as she grabs my arm. "Hey! I'm Hanna. We've met a few times, right?" She greets me in a cheerful voice and I nod with a small smile. "Yes, we have, Hanna. It's nice to finally interact with you." "Wow-" she exclaims, slipping her hand out of mine and I lift my brows at her in confusion. "You sound nice. That's completely different from the perception I had of you.

A laugh slips through my parted lips at her words before I say, "You shouldn't judge people before you get to meet them; don't you think?"

Hanna's smile widens and she turns to her older brother, with a finger pointed at me as she says, "I like her. "

"

Emerson looks done with her from where he stands and I drop my gaze to Hanna when she turns back to me and says, "I thought you both hated each other? Why are you together and on—" Emerson steps forward before Hanna gets to finish her words and drags her away from me.

"You need to head back home." He says sternly and Hanna frowns, "Why? Am I interrupting something?"

"Hanna-" Emerson calls in a warning tone and Hanna sighs before she says, "Fine, I'll leave, and you should probably be more careful. Dad would have your head if he sees this.

Emerson loosens his grip on her arm and slips his hand into his pants pockets. "I know. I'm not a child. "

"I'll see you at home then, brother. There's a birthday surprise waiting for you-" Hanna stops speaking when Emerson gives her a look and the girl chuckles awkwardly before stepping away.

"It was nice to meet you, Eva." She says, twisting her body away from her brother's harsh gaze and I smile at her as I say, "You too, Hanna. "

With another glance at the two of us, she walks down the path that leads to the houses and when she's completely out of sight, I turn to Emerson who heaves a sigh.

"I told you she's annoying. " He groans as he trudges closer to me and I shake my head in opposition to his words before I say, "She isn't. She sounds fun."

Emerson lets out an amused laugh at my words, "Hanna? Fun? She's everything, but that, Carson."

"That's conceivably because you've got the worst opinions on people. " I point out and Emerson's frustrated look is replaced with a mischievous one. "You think I've got the worst opinion of you?" "There's no complaint about that since it applies to both sides. "I give a raise of my shoulder and Emerson cackles before the sound dies down and we both fall into silence.

As his gaze starts to turn intense, I clear my throat and say, "She mentioned something about a birthday?"

Emerson looks away from me after those words and I narrow my eyes at him, "Is it your birthday, Ford?"

"No." His response comes quick and sharp. When he looks back at me, I fold my arms against my chest and furrow my brows at him, and in a fall of his chest, Emerson whispers, "Yes. " Though that's the answer I was expecting, the surprise in my voice doesn't fade as I say, "Is that why you wanted me to come out with you?"

Emerson nods before he chuckles and says, "Strange, isn't it?"

There's no reason for me to feel this way, but there's something about Emerson Ford seeking out peace on his day that tugs at my heart. Maybe it's because I've been in that situation repeatedly and I know how it feels- a day that's supposed to be a happy one turning out to be one of the worst ones, and you just want to forget it ever exists. And maybe that's why I part my lips and tell Emerson, "Hey, Ford. "

"Hmmm." He answers with lifted brows and I gnaw at my lower lip, taking a glance around us before looking back to Emerson to say, "Later tonight. Meet me at the back of my room, yeah?" If Emerson is surprised by my words, he definitely doesn't show it as he asks, "Why?"

"Quit the questions and do as you're asked. "Is the response I give him and he stares at me for some seconds before he agrees and gives a bob of his head.

"I'll see you around then, Ford. "I give a salute with two of my fingers before turning to the other direction and walking down to my house, leaving a still perplexed Emerson Ford behind.

"You're back." My mother is in the same spot I left her as I walk through the door and shut it behind me.

"Have you been there all day?" I ask as I stride toward her.

"Of course not." She says as she opens her arms and I move into them for a warm hug. When she pulls away from me, she says, "I got tired of sleeping, and Mrs Martins left minutes ago."

"I kept to my promise. "I beam at her as I take the seat next to her and she jiggles her head, "Before your dad arrives, yes but not the other one.

"You said she left only minutes ago. "I point out and she opens her mouth to argue, but lets it go; shaking her head instead.

"Did you have fun with your friend?" She questions and I hum. "I did. More than I thought I would."

"I'm happy to hear that." She says and I smile at her before we both turn our heads to the screen.

After spending some time with my mother, I excuse myself to my room and take the path that leads to it. I kick my boots off my feet before I stride towards my bed and fall on it with a heavy sigh, the softness welcoming me.

The earlier revelation from Emerson crosses my mind and I sit up on the bed, pressing my back against the headboard. I have absolutely no idea why I told him to meet me here when I don't even have a gift for him, but what I do have is time- one I know he's trying to escape from.

I might not be able to give him something for his day, but I'll be able to be there for him. I'll be his escape for the last hours of the day.

After a text message from Emerson, I stride towards my window and bend over it, staring down to see Emerson with his eyes on his phone.

"Hey. "I call out in a whisper and he raises his head to me. "I have a feeling you didn't call me here just to stand over there and watch me, Carson." He says and I roll my eyes before looking back to my room, making sure the lock is clicked before I drop my eyes to Emerson again.

"I'm coming down so you might want to step back. "I warn him but Emerson being Emerson finds a way to get on my nerves as he says, "Why would I want to do that when I could peek under that shirt of yours on your way down here?"

"I have a choice of staying in my room, Ford. "I remind him as I lean away from the window and when I lean over it again, Emerson has stepped to the side.

"Always make the better choice, Ford. "I tease before I place my legs over my window and down to the ladder.

"Have you done this before?" Emerson asks with amusement clear in his words and I throw him a glare as I take another step.

"Ask for my help to make it easier for you, Carson." I ignore Emerson's words and take another step till I'm away from the window and supported by the ladder. "You might want to turn the other way." He advises and I scowl at him. "I fucking can't. "I honestly didn't think this through when I told him to meet me here. "Always known you as a coward. "Emerson teases before he moves forward and extends his arms. "Keep moving; I'll catch you if you fall. " He assures me.

"Or you'll step away and let me fall so you could have a good laugh. "I throw back and Emerson cocks his head before he says, "That sounds like a good option too, but I won't do that, Carson-" he lowers his voice and adds, "Trust me."

"

Taking a breath, I continue down the ladder and at the last few steps; Emerson's hands move around my hips as he moves me from the ladder and I place my hands on his shoulder to support the movement. "So why did you want me out here?" Emerson asks as he carefully lowers me to the ground and I blow my hair from my face before motioning to the other side. "Come with me. We walk to the bench that's stationed under the big tree by my window and settle on it with a small space left between our bodies.

"It sounded like they had a surprise for you; why did you leave home, Ford?" I turn my head to Emerson as I ask the question and he lies back, pressing his hands by the sides as he stares up at the sky. My words hang in the air for a while before he breaks the silence and says, "This day. My mother died. "

Out of all the things that I thought could be the reason, those words are ones I didn't expect and my mouth opens with no words falling through.

"She was on a business trip, and it was my birthday. My parents were never present on my birthdays; it was just my brother and I, but that year was different. For the first time in my entire life, my mother was coming home for my birthday. It was meant to be a happy day, but it was quick to turn into a sad one when her plane crashed. "He laughs. A sad, bitter laugh that pierces the soul. "I wondered if things would have been different if I wasn't so adamant about-" knowing the rest of the words he's about to let out, I shush him and press a finger to his lips.

Emerson turns his head to me and his eyes are the saddest I've ever seen them. One glance at them and you could easily tell the pain they carry- the pain he carries.

"Don't do that." I whisper with a shake of my head. "I know you blame yourself, but don't." My words at this moment seem to be a mirror of my thoughts, and the voice at the back of my mind questions if those words are just for Emerson Ford, or they might apply to-

I bury down the tricky growing thought and focus on the hurting man before me. "She wanted to be there for you and that's all that matters. That's all that should matter."

"I killed her. "The power those words weigh, falling from his mouth is heavy. The damage they've caused and continue to cause to him- Hurts my heart in a way I can't possibly define, and without another word, I snuggle closer to Emerson and slide my hand to the back of his head before pressing his face to my shoulder.

"You didn't-" I assure him as I stroke his hair. "You never did. It happened because it was bound to happen, so you shouldn't think otherwise. You shouldn't let that one incident turn this day into a day for you to scorn for the rest of your life, Ford. Mrs Ford would never want that for you.'

"

I continue to give gentle strokes to his hair and Emerson raises his head from my shoulder. He lifts his hand to my face and I let him caress my cheek as he says, "You're one complicated woman, Carson."

I let out a chuckle and try to lighten the mood as I say, "Why? Didn't think I was capable of such powerful words?"

Emerson's lips curve into a smile; It's barely noticeable, but it's there. "I never thought you were capable of anything other than being a daddy's pet. "

"I'll let you get away with that just this once, Ford. "I tell him and his smile widens before he drops his hand from my face. Moving my hand from the back of his head, I cup his cheeks with my hands and say, "Happy birthday, Emerson. "

Emerson's mouth opens, but no words slip through and catching me off guard, he slides his hand to my neck to aid in the angling of my head before he closes his lips over mine.

He pulls at my bottom lip and I give him the access he's initiating as I part my lips for him. The kiss is different from the previous ones we've had. It's neither aggressive nor rough, and neither of us is trying to take the lead as we fight for dominance.

It's just the mash of his lips against mine as we let it take a flow of its own- savouring the taste of each other.