Hatred With Benefits

N I N E T Y - O N E

EMERSON.

"Hey, " I whisper as she drops her head on my chest. "Hey. "

Adjusting against my body, she says, "How do you feel?"

"Happy?" I say more of a question than an answer, then I settle with. "Happy. You're in my arms. "

A smile crosses her face. "Emerson Ford. " She lifts her hands to my face. "You know how to make a

girl feel good just at the brink of slumber. "

I show a proud smile. "You. Just you. "

She hums and drops her chin to brush her lips against my chest. Then she tips it again to meet my

eyes, "But I meant the other way. "

"I know, baby. " I say, circling my hands around her waist. "And I'm happy. Maybe it's because you're

here. Maybe it's because I've finally come to accept that, and the fact that she'll always be with me, or

maybe it's because everything else seems perfect. "

"You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that. " She murmurs, pauses for the pass of a heartbeat,

then adds, "Do you want me to come with you?"

I groan loudly. "I'll very much like that, Eva... But I can't have you with me. You'll have to let me go for

today. "

"You promise to take me there one day?" She pouts and I chuckle, leaning forward to kiss her frown

away. When I move my head back against the pillow, I snake a hand around the back and say, "Right

after yours. "

"You first. " She insists, and just as I'm about to open my mouth to protest, the sound of a beep

interrupts me and I angle my head to the side to grab my phone.

Opening the screen, it's a new text from Elias.

EL: Are you on your way? Everyone else is almost ready.

"It's Elias. " I tell Eva when she starts to move off me and I bring the phone forward to type out a reply.

ME: Almost. I'll be there soon.

"Where are you going?" I ask when I drop the phone to see Eva stripping out of my shirt. She turns her

head to me, "You said it's Elias; you should get ready. "

I hum and she starts to walk to my side in just her panties with her bare chest. She throws a hand over

my shoulder and brings my head to her thigh with her fingers combing through my curls. "Today isn't a

sad day, is it?"

I lift my gaze to meet hers and shake my head.

"Good. " She whispers and I drop my head to grab her other hand. Entwining it with mine, I say, "What

will you do when I'm not here?"

"I have to meet up with Aliya. But I'll be back before you. " She assures and when I raise a brow at her,

she says, "I promise. "

With a nod, she drags me out of bed and pulls me to the bathroom, while she strides back inside the

room.

~

"He's here. " Hanna is the first to sight me as I stride inside the house and they're all on the couch.

Elias looks away from his phone and walks to me. "Hey. "

"Where is—"

He doesn't let me finish before he answers. "In his room. He's waiting for you. "

I nod, and Hanna throws me a smile along with my stepmom as I walk out of the living room to where

he awaits me.

When I walk into his room, Dad is standing by the window and I stroll closer to his side. He looks at me

at the sound of my footsteps and smile, "Hey, you're here. "

"I am. " I nod, and he slaps a hand on my shoulder before he steps to the side with me following behind

him. I stand still while he walks to his drawer and I watch as he takes out a small box before he closes

it and turns to me.

He turns around, making a stop in front of me and I gaze at the box in his hand.

When I look up at him, he says, "This was the gift Jane wanted for you. She had me hold it with me so

we'll give it together. "

I swallow at the mention of my mom's last gift to me. "What's in it?"

"I never opened it. I couldn't find it in me to. " He says as he pushes the box in front of me, "But you

should. "

I nod and take the black box from him. Meeting his eyes, he nods for me to go ahead and I do. A white

small card is the first I see when I open it, and I take it; revealing the necklace that rests beneath.

With a shaky breath, I grab the necklace that holds my initial and tears pool in my eyes, remembering

my last request to her and her promise to fulfil it.

I hold the box in one hand to open the small card, and I instantly recognize her writing.

'Hey, baby. I got you the necklace like you wanted, and I hope you love it. I know you wanted just an

ordinary one, but because my handsome son isn't just ordinary to me— I thought I'd go out of my way

and make this for you. You love it, don't you? I know you're angry at mom for not spending enough time

with you, but I do want you to know that you're always in my mind and in my heart, and I might not be

physically beside you, but you'll always feel my presence, baby and I promise to work and strive harder

so I can have my resting moments with my beautiful boy and the rest of the family. Love Always, Mom. '

I don't realize my tears are dropping until Dad squeezes my shoulder and I lift my head to him. He

smiles at me, "You shouldn't be in tears. "

"I— this is— This is so beautiful. And she never got to see my reaction to receiving this gift from her. "

"I'm sure she's looking at you right now, Emerson and she must be so happy that you love it. " His

voice breaks and I can feel the sadness in his words.

"But to make her even happier; you have to come with me to make an appearance before her. "

"Yes, " I agree with a nod as I fold the paper and close the box. "I have to. "

"Good. Do you need us to give you a few minutes or—"

"No, I'm fine. I'm perfect. We can leave right now. " I assure him, and he squeezes my shoulder before

he walks out of the room. With another glance at the box in hand, I slip it inside my pocket and take the

same path he did.

Everyone is waiting for us when we arrive in the living room, and Elias moves to my side, holding a

hand over my shoulder. "Are you okay?" He asks softly.

I turn my head to him, and nod, "I am. "

"Are you sure?" He asks again and I throw him a small smile as I slide a hand around his shoulder.

"Perfect. "

We all walk out of the house with Dad and Eliza taking one car, while Elias, Hanna and I take another.

"Why are you smiling?" I lift my brows at Hanna when I meet her eyes in the mirror and she shakes her

head, "It's nice to see you back to normal. "

"When have I ever not be?"

"When Eva was—" she's quick to shut her mouth when I glare at her, and Elias laughs next to me as

he starts the car.

I look down at my phone, and rub my finger across her face with a small smile before I drop the mobile

and look out the window.

~

"Jane. I'm here. " Dad speaks first, his eyes on the sight in front of him. "You're probably mad at me for

staying away all these years, and no excuses nor reasons can justify that so I'll ask for your

forgiveness, rather than trying to do those. "

I gulp and hold my hands in front of me as he continues, "I'm so sorry that it took me this long to come

to you. And I'm so sorry for all the mistakes I've made —ones I'm sure haven't gone beyond your notice

— all in the name of my love for you. I'm sorry for making our son suffer and blaming him for what was

nothing but fate. I'm sorry for a lot of things, Jane and I hope you'll forgive me for them. I got remarried,

Jane. " He holds out a hand to his wife as he speaks those words, and she grips him tight. "I'm not sure

what your reaction would be to that, but knowing you; you'd probably say I made the best decision that

was there. You'd say she's beautiful, and I deserve a shot at happiness again. I do want you to know,

though, that you'll always be in my heart and nothing will ever take that away from us. "

Dad looks at me, and holds out his hand. With a smile, I take it before I extend my other hand to Elias,

who takes mine and extends his hand to Hanna. "We're all here for you. My family. Your family. We're

here to thank you for being an amazing woman. An amazing wife. An amazing mother, and an amazing

person in all. Thank you for giving us your love, and your care, Jane. You'll always be in our hearts, and

we'll always love you. "

After those words, he drops his flowers before he steps back and the rest takes turns speaking.

"Let's give him a moment. " Dad says when it gets to my turn, and I throw him an appreciative smile as

they step away. Standing in front of my mother, I hold out the box.

"I just received this, " I chuckle as I open the box. "And it's beautiful. Thank you. I don't know what you

thought I'd say about it, but I love it. "

Closing the box again, I move it to the front and sigh. "I— he already said everything I wanted to say. I

— I'm sorry, mom. For not understanding you, and for being angry over a lot of things that I was never

meant to be for. I'm sorry for never getting all these sooner and I'm sorry for not telling you this before

you left, but I do want to say it now: you're an amazing mother, mom. And I've always loved you. I will

always love you. Thank you for coming into our lives, and giving us all you did. And I also want you to

know that I'm happy, mom. Right now, I'm the happiest I could ever be. There's someone. " I smile and

drop my head. "Eva. You don't know her, do you? I'll bring her to you one day. She's beautiful. Very

pretty. She's the most beautiful, and I'd never be here without her. You'll like her too. Just wait for me to

bring her here. "

I slip the box back into my pocket, and drop my flowers. "I'm leaving this here, and I'll be back soon. I

love you, mother. "

With a swipe across my face, I turn away and dad surprises me by instantly wrapping his arms around

me as I turn to him.

He pats my back. "She's happy. She's happy, Emerson. "

And as I wrap my arms around him, receiving my father's warmth for the first time in years with smiles

on my family's faces as they stand a few steps away from us; I know my birthday is no longer a day of

sadness for me. I no longer have to feel alone, nor blame myself for taking my mother away from us on

that very day. I now see that day as her day. A day to honour her memories and let her know that she's

always with me... With us. Every. Single. Time.

~

"Will you be returning to your apartment tonight?" Dad asks as Hanna brings the cups and Elias beats

me to speak."I don't think he can spend another lasting second without Eva. I'm sure he already sees it

as torture that you have him waiting here. "

"I won't. " I respond, ignoring his taunts. "She's waiting home for me. "

"Aww, it's your home now. " Hanna speaks and I say, "You shouldn't open your mouth when your elders

are speaking. "

"How long have you been with her?" Dad asks, interrupting my interaction with my sister and I raise my

gaze to him, "A few months. It wasn't always love between us. "

"That's understandable. " He smiles as he takes a sip from his drink. "And how long have you known

about us?"

"Not too long after I called you. " He says and I ask, "How do you even know?"

He grins. "I told you the world is too small for Mason Ford. "

When I narrow my eyes, he says, "Someone I know saw you both, and informed me about it. You

weren't that discreet about it, son. "

"I didn't plan to be. Not when I was away from here. " I say with a shrug and he hums.

"When do we get to meet Eva by the way? I feel like I'm the only one who hasn't met her yet?" My

Stepmom speaks and Hanna says, "You'll love her! She's so polite and so kind. I was stunned by her

personality the first time I saw her. "

"I don't think you'll be meeting her soon. " I respond to her question and she frowns, "Why's that?"

"Probably because he won't be able to keep it in his pants in front of us all. " Elias butts in, and I glare

at the side of his head while the others break into fits of laughter.

When he turns away from his laptop, and winks at me; I shake my head, unable to hold back my own

smile.

And we spend some more time messing around, from personal matters to business matters and it's the

first time I feel like we're a whole family. The first time I feel like I actually belong here.

~

Pulling in front of our apartment, I climb out of the car and shut the door; stilling at the sight of the light's

reflection and I know there's someone in there— waiting for me.

Pocketing my keys, I pace forward to the front door and push through. Closing the door gently, it

somehow doesn't go behind her notice and she raises her head to me. She's sitting on the couch, with

her eyes previously on the screen, watching one of her favourite shows and when she raises to her

feet, my eyes drag down her body; drinking in the sight of her in just a thong and a bra.

"Hey. " I greet her and she doesn't respond as she closes the distance between us and wraps her arms

around my neck. I clutch her to my chest tightly and bury my face in the side of her neck, inhaling her

scent and sighing at the feel of her again after a long, yet eventful day.

When Eva pulls back, she doesn't say a word still but jumps on me, and I immediately steady her legs

around me before I drop my hands to her ass.

After a brush of her lips to the corner of my mouth, she finally speaks, "Tell me. "

"Thank you. " I mumble, knowing those are not the exact words she's expecting but ones I want to say

to her.

"Why?" She questions and I repeat her action by brushing my lips to the corner of her mouth before I

speak, "For always been in my life. For deciding I'm worth more than just someone you despised. For

showing me what an amazing person you are, and for staying here. For giving me your everything,

despite what we've been through and for always loving me. I don't know how I would be without you,

Eva. "

"You'll be the same amazing person you are right now. " She says and when I part my lips to speak,

she shushes me, "You shouldn't thank me because you gave me more than what I gave you. "

"That's not right. "

She smiles and closes her lips over mine for a second before she takes her sweetness with her. "It is. I

needed you more than you needed me; I still do. "

"No. " I shake my head, disagreeing with her words. "I needed you just as much as you needed me,

and I still do. Without you, I would have never made it through a lot of things, Eva. My relationship with

my father. My mom. Everything. I'd be miserable if you didn't love me; probably sleeping around like a

whore, and trying to figure out the next girl I'll stick my cock into. "

Eva grimaces at my last words, and I chuckle, "Sorry. But you know what I mean. It had to be you, Eva.

If it weren't you, then I don't know how I would be, but I'm so fucking thankful that you let it be you. So

thank you, Eva Carson. "

"It had to be you too, so thank you, Emerson Ford. " She says and I smile, nudging her nose against

mine and bringing her head to my shoulder again. We stay like that for several minutes, hoping our

silence will speak everything else we want to say before Eva pulls away, and I begin to move us further

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"Did you miss me?" I ask her as I grab the remote to turn off the TV and she says, "You know damn

right that I did. "

"How much?" I lift my brow and she makes a thinking gesture before she speaks, "I came close to

walking out of that door, and coming to you. "

"You're a sweet talker, babe. " I frown and she laughs. "I mean it. "

"Did you eat already?" I ask as I make a turn to the kitchen and she shakes her head. "I was waiting for

you. "

"To ease your mind or to come to make food for you?" I tease her and she pinches my chest, causing

me to laugh. She drops her head to my chest and I move a hand to her back as I use the other to open

the refrigerator.

Closing it back with a bottle in hand, I'm startled when Eva pushes back against it, pulling me with her

and I hear the creak of the door.

She licks her lips, "Emerson. "

"Hmm?"

"Please kiss me. " When I look down between us, she says, "Just kiss. "

I smile and move to drop the bottle I have in hand before I place my lips over hers, our mouths moving

against each other in a slow-paced kiss in the beautiful silence of the night.

And like she wants, it's just a kiss before we move into an embrace again with the confessions of our

love floating in the air around us.