Hatred With Benefits

EVA.

"My head hurts so fucking much. " Aliya complains, holding her head in her hands as I slide her cup towards her.

I laugh and lift the cup to my lips, taking a sip before looking back at Aliya's squeamish face. "You drank too much. "I tell her and she lifts her head to me, a frown crossing her lips. "Why didn't you stop me?" She complains with a pout before dropping her hand to the coffee in front of her and I scoff, saying, "Stop you? I don't remember you being a kid, Aliya. " "I know that, mom," she jokes and I throw her the middle finger, earning a laugh from her.

I chuckle and shake my head as I stare down at my wrist. "We have to leave soon. Finish your coffee. " I nod towards the cup in front of her and she nods.

"I didn't do anything stupid last night, did I?" She asks and knowing this is my chance to tease her, I smirk and lean towards her. "What part do you remember?"

"Up to the part of the game? And yes, I remember hooking up with Sage." She frowns and I furrow my brows, "Why do you sound that way? I thought you enjoyed your time with her?" "I did," she agrees. "But I have a no messing around with friends strict rule, remember?"

I shake my head. "Since when was that a rule? I don't remember. "

Her lips curve into a smirk as she moves her coffee to the side to push her face closer to mine. "Why do you think I haven't had my mouth on your cunt yet?"

I lift my hand and smack her forehead. She tumbles back to her seat and hisses, holding the spot.

"The fuck was that for, Evie?" She snaps, lifting her head to me and a small laugh falls from my mouth. "For fucking with me."

Aliya rubs her forehead a few times before she drops her hand. "You know I was fucking with you.

"I know. There's no such rule, so tell me why you sounded that way. "I repeat my earlier question and her shoulder sinks in a sigh. "It's not me. It's her. She said she isn't into it. "

I draw my brows together. "Into it? She kissed you and trust me, the last thing I saw in her was her not into it."

"She just wanted a taste." She raises a shoulder and I hum, moving back in my seat.

I study her for a few minutes before I ask my next question. "And you? Was it just a taste or you wanted more?"

"I'm not into her that way." She laughs with a slow shake of her head. When the sound dies down, her voice is soft and small when she says, "She just feels like someone I could keep around. " "That doesn't sound bad. " I smile at her and she grins.

"Come on. We should leave now." Aliya moves out of her seat, and I follow behind her as we walk out of the cafe.

"Oh, and I wanted to ask. How did you manage to get me to my dorm last night? I can almost swear you didn't do it alone." She laughs and those words brings about a moment I would rather not think about. After helping with getting Aliya to her dorm, we didn't speak a word to each other and he wasn't in the house when I woke up this morning. Unless his car mysteriously disappeared from the driveway and he remains hidden in his room.

Whatever is keeping Emerson Ford out of my sight, however, I know it has nothing to do with the moment of anger between us last night. We have had a lot of those moments and he's always ready to annoy me the next minute. Whatever is keeping Ford from my sight is unknown and its something I'm pleased for because I get to live peacefully without him breathing down my neck, and poking each of my fucking

nerves.

"Did you hear me?" Aliya's tap on my arm brings me out of my thoughts and I nod. "I had help. " "From who?" She raises her brows and I roll my eyes. "And why do you need to know that?"

"Why can't I know?" She retorts, raising a suspicious brow at me. "Are you hiding something?"

"What? No!" I deny, ignoring the way my heart races at the thought of my previous agreement with Emerson. Aliya will never let me hear the end of it if she finds out.

"Are you sure?" She narrows her eyes and I drape my hand over her shoulder, dragging her with me.

"I'm sure." I assure her and she gives a small nod while we make our way to the campus.

"Do you look forward to seeing her today?" I nudge Aliya with my elbow, teasing her and she shakes her head. "I'm not. I already told you it's not what you think."

"But you do want to keep her around. "I agree, repeating her earlier words and she looks away from me. I chuckle and duck my head towards her face just to piss her some more and Aliya snaps her head to me. She parts her lips, but before she can speak, a low gasp falls from my mouth as I bump my head into a hard surface. A hard, smooth surface.

"Oh, fuck! I'm so sorry. "I apologize as I move out of the man's chest and my eyes widen barely when my eyes meet bright blue ones.

"Oh, hey. It's you." I smile at Dan and he smiles. "It's me. Why do you sound so surprised?"

"I'm not surprised, "I say, stepping back to put some space between us. "Just intrigued to see you again. "I look behind him to the dark-haired guy who stands next to him with a scowl on his face, and his eyes on his phone.

"Oh, don't mind him. " Dan says when he notices my gaze and I let out a small laugh as I look back at him.

"I never got your contact last night. Mind if I do now? You said we could hang out some other time." He fishes out his phone and pushes it towards me.

I meet his eyes before shifting my gaze back to the phone between us. I take it and ignore the way Aliya's eyes follows me as I type out my contact before passing the phone back to Dan.

"I'll text you." He tells me, offering me one of his gorgeous dimpled smiles and I hum, before saying, "See you around. "

I step to the side and drag my best friend with me.

"He's from the party?" Aliya whispers beside me with brows raised in inquisitiveness and I give a nod, ignoring the way her lips stretch into a wide smile.

"Fuck off. "I groan, knowing questions that will follow.

"What? I'm not asking much. I just want to know how good he was. He looks hot." She squeals and I roll my eyes. "I didn't have sex with him, Lia. "

Her smile drops. "You didn't? But you said he's from-"

"I didn't know I was to sleep with every single guy I met last night. "I mumble sarcastically and she laughs, giving a playful hit to my arm.

"I didn't mean it that way. You don't give out your contact that easily and It just felt like you have something different with this one." She says and I nod; if you count the sweet kiss we shared and the almost-sex before Emerson came in and turned the whole thing around.

"Do you like him?" She intentionally bumps her shoulder into mine as she wriggles her brows at me.

"He's okay. "I say and Aliya gives me another one of her dubious looks. I dismiss her with a wave and make my way towards class, ignoring her calls behind me.

She catches up with me just before I move into the class.

"You're telling me everything as soon as we're out of class. No questions asked. "She points a warning finger before she walks inside while I trail behind her.

My eyes move across the room briefly before I catch myself and move to a seat with Aliya settling beside me.

"No one to annoy you today." Aliya chuckles beside me as she drops her bag, and I nod slowly. "I'm more than fucking glad about that."

She laughs and turns her head away, while I sink back in my seat, gnawing at my lips.

Classes end with Aliya returning to her dorm while I make my way to my place.

I halt my steps just before I get to the door and stare at the spot where his car was previously parked before shaking that nonessential thought off my mind.

A sigh leaves my lips as I walk through the door. I turn around to click the lock and my eyes widen, my heart racing in my chest as a hand presses against my mouth.

Panic sets in and I prepare to attempt an attack but stop at the familiar cologne that surrounds me when the body presses against my back.

I stop struggling against him and he lowers his hand, moving it to my throat instead. I remain still as he lays his head on my shoulder, his harsh breaths fanning my neck as he speaks. "I need you, Carson."