T W E N T Y - O N E


    EVA.


    I don''t think before I do it. I panic and m the door shut in their faces.


    I exhale in harsh breaths and my heart is racing wildly in my chest as I take steps back, my mind all


    over the ce.


    "Hey, who is–" my eyes fly wide as I turn back to see Emerson standing in the middle of the living room


    with a bowl in hand.


    "What''s wrong?" He asks as he meets my wide eyes and I press a finger to my lips. When Emerson


    draws his brows together in confusion, I takerge strides towards him and sp my hand over his


    mouth.


    He tries to speak, but the sounds are muffled against my palm and I press the finger harder to my lips


    as they bang the door.


    "Eva! Eva, open this door. Talk to me, baby. " It''s the sound of my mom and I shake my head to


    Emerson, who seems to be smiling against my palm now.


    I slowly remove my hand from his mouth and true to my words, a smile is pressed to his lips.


    "Your mom?" He wiggles his brows and I nod. "They can''t know you''re here. "


    Emerson raises a brow. "And why is that?" Did he just ask me that question?


    "What the fuck do you mean by why is that? My dad''s at the fucking door. " I snap and Emerson takes


    his eyes in that direction before looking back at me. "So, what do you want me to do?"


    "Hide. " The wordes out sharp and firm and Emerson smirks. It''s not a good one and I know the


    words he will say next will be ones I won''t like.


    He confirms my thoughts by saying. "What do I get by ying along with your game?"


    "Nothing. I''m doing this for your fucking sake! You''ll be dead if my dad sees you here. " He wouldn''t. I


    will be the one to be dragged out of here like a fucking child and that''s thest thing I want.


    "I''ll just sit here and wait for that to happen then. " Emerson raises a shoulder and falls to the couch. He


    drops the bowl beside him, and crosses a leg over his thigh as he grabs the remote.


    I shouldn''t give into the demand, but I''m getting damn desperate with the loud knocks at the door.


    "What do you want?" I sigh and Emerson lifts his head to me, a smile climbing on his face. He drops


    the remote and rises to my height. He doesn''t speak a word as he takes a step forward and I take one


    backward. Emerson takes a step forward again and I take another backward. He repeats the process


    till I trip and fall on the couch; Emerson''s body falling after me.


    Emerson smiles and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear before moving closer. He whispers, "You


    owe me, Carson. " The words are slow and deliberate and I shudder when his tongue swipes across


    my earlobe.


    Pulling back, he gives me a wink before walking out of the room.


    When I''m sure he''spletely out of sight, I take a breath to calm myself before striding back to the


    door. I pull it open and smile at my parents.


    "Hey, what are you doing here?" I say as I step to the side and mom pulls me into her embrace. "Oh,


    you poor thing. You have no idea how worried you made us. "


    I look over her shoulder to see dad frowning down at me and I drop my gaze, wrapping my arm around


    mom to return the hug.


    "Why were you? I''m fine. " I mumble into her shoulder and she pulls back. As she cups my cheek with


    her hand, she says, "You didn''t pick up your calls, neither did you respond to your messages.


    Considering how it''s always been–"


    "You thought I''d do the same this year. " Iplete her words with a chuckle and she nods.


    "I told you I''d be fine, mom. I''vee to ept it and I''m not the same girl I was a year ago. " A


    pulled me out of it. Though I knew they would be worried, I didn''t expect them toe all the way here.


    "So you came here to make sure I''m alright?" I chuckle and mom nods, angling her head back to dad.


    "He was worried and wouldn''t listen to anyone until he makes sure you''re fine. "


    "I am. " I repeat the words to assure my family. "It''s not like I was going tomit suicide. " I joke and


    when I meet dad''s eyes, his face is hardened as he says, "You came close to that once. "


    The atmosphere in the room changes at Matt''s words and I stare down at the floor, taking a step back.


    "I''m happy to see you''re alright, Eva. I''m proud of you. " Mom speaks, her attempt to lessen the tension


    that''s suddenly taken over the room quite obvious and I throw her a small smile before urging them in.


    Before Aliya can go after them, I grab her wrist and pull her back. "Why the fuck didn''t you tell me they


    wereing?"


    She throws me a re. "I didn''t know they were. We met at the door and if you had answered your


    fucking phone, you would have got my warning. "


    "You could have tried to distract them, at least. " I whisper and sheughs lowly. "Distract Matt? Come


    on, Evie. You know your father better than that. Nothing goes in or out when ites to your safety. "


    Knowing she''s right, I nod and release her wrist from my hold.


    "Where did he go?" Aliya asks. "I''m guessing you hid him when you tantly shut the door on your


    parents'' faces. " A smirk climbs on her face and I nudge her.


    Aliya walks in while I shut the door, and pray Emerson remains still.


    "Where''s your roommate? Matt told me you have one. " Mom asks as I take the seat across them and I


    exchange looks with Aliya before looking back at her. "She is asleep. "


    "Is she nice? Giving you any troubles?"


    "Giving troubles is one thing through. " Aliya mumbles from her seat and I re at her, giving her my


    middle finger.


    "She isn''t, " I say to mom. "And yes, she''s nice. You don''t have anything to worry about, mom. I love it


    here. "


    "I know. " She smiles.


    "And you should head back home now that you''ve confirmed I''m fine? I told you I didn''t want you guys


    to show up here. " I frown.


    "We wouldn''t havee if you had responded to the texts and calls, Princess. " Dad finally speaks, his


    voice calm, and not the harsh one he gave at the door.


    "I was watching TV, so I didn''t get any of those. " I tell him and he nods, rising to his feet.


    "Come here. " He says and I look at mom who gives me an assuring nod. I move to my feet and stride


    towards my father, letting him wrap his arms around me; covering me with hisrge body.


    "You got me, dad. " I whisper and he presses his hand tighter around me. I know the scar from what


    happened years ago left on him. Left on me. Left on us and as much as I tend to think I have the


    biggest scar, I know they had it worse even when they pretend to be strong for me.


    I pull away from dad and give mom another hug.


    "You weren''t there today. " She whispers into my hair and I nod. "I want to find peace within myself


    before going again. "


    Mom pulls back and holds my face in his hands. Unshed tears shine through her eyes as she says, "I


    couldn''t be any prouder. " And she presses her lips to my forehead.


    "We should be on our way. Is there anything you need? " Dad asks and I shake my head. "You already


    gave me everything I need and more. "


    He presses his hand to my cheek before he pulls back and I walk them to the door.


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    I watch them get into the car after filling my ears with how much they love me before they drive out,


    disappearing out of sight.


    "Want me to stay for a while?" I drop my gaze to Aliya''s at the sound of her voice and say, "No, I don''t


    think so. "


    She pouts. "I thought you would want me to keep youpany with him around. "


    At Aliya''s words, I remember Emerson is still in hiding and a smile crawls to my face that he kept to the


    n.


    "I''m fine, Aliya. I have some works to catch up with. I''ll text youter. " I tell her and she narrows her


    eyes at me. "Why does it feel like you''re trying to drive me out of here? "


    "I''m not. " I assure her. "But we both know you''ll get bored if you stay here, then you''ll try to take me out


    for some fun and you know I can''t today. "


    She seems to be in thought for some seconds before she nods. "You know me too well, bitch. " She


    gives a yful hit to my shoulder and Iugh.


    "Call me if you need me, yeah? Anything and I''lle running at your door. " She says in a serious


    tone and I smile. "I know you''re here. "


    She leans forward to ruffle my hair, to which I re at her, causing her tough before she moves away


    and I wave at her till she moves out of sight before I walk back inside.


    "I''ve always known you''re a daddy''s pet, Carson. " I turn around to see Emerson''s eyes on me with


    arms folded to his chest, and a smirk pressed to his lips.


    "I have a good rtionship with my father. There''s a difference. " I tell him as I close the door, and


    freeze at the crazy thought that runs through my mind.


    "You didn''t hear anything, did you?" I ask slowly, and Emersonughs. "Do I look like I eavesdrop on


    people''s conservation? Though I think I should have done that, judging by that look on your face. Must


    be something interesting if you don''t want me to learn about it. "


    My heart calms at his words, and I move forward. "Not your biggest win. " I taunt him as I stride to the


    kitchen at the rumble of my tummy.


    I grab a bowl and put out the eggs.


    "What are you making?" I jump at the sound of Emerson''s voice behind me and nudge him from my


    shoulder.


    "Omelet. " I tell him as I crag the eggs into the bowl.


    "Those look too much for you alone, don''t you think?" He says and I roll my eyes, knowing where he''s


    digging at.


    "It''s for the both of us. " I tell him and Emerson fakes a surprise face. "Eva Carson making me food.


    That''s something I never thought would happen in this life or the next. "


    "If you run that mouth too much, I might consider poisoning it and getting rid of you permanently. " I


    retort as I grab a pan and Emerson chuckles. "We both know you won''t get rid of me that easily,


    Carson. "


    I ignore his words as I begin to fry the vegetables in a considerate amount of oil and Emerson props on


    the counter. I feel his eyes on me from the corners of mine and I shift awkwardly on my feet.


    "Why would you think I want omelet, though?" He says, and I raise my eyes to him. "You should be


    happy I''m making you something. "


    "More amazed than excited. Why are you making me food, Carson? Is this some sort of bribe?" He


    knows what he''s doing. He just always want me say the words. Fucking bastard.


    "I''m not surprised you''re that dumb to not realize this is a repayment. " I taunt him with a smirk on my


    face and Emerson gives a smallugh. "For what? The cry or the hide?" A blush reddens my cheeks at


    the reminder of Emerson Ford seeing me in displeasing situations... Twice.


    "And if I say it''s for both?" The egg sizzle as I add it to the vegetables and I cover the pan before


    turning to him.


    "That''s a cheat, Carson. You have to repay one with one. Not two. " He lowers his voice as he jumps


    off the counter and I raise my brows. "Who made that rule?"


    Emerson takes a step forward. "Me, and considering the fact that you''re repaying me, you have to go


    by my rules. " My eyes fall to the movement when he takes another step. "Which means you still owe


    me after this, Carson. "


    The pounding of my heart against my ribs is loud in my ears as Emerson takes the final step that


    closes the distance between us and brushes his nose against mine; the contact sending a shock


    through my body.


    "Since when have I ever gone with your rules, Ford?" I try to keep my voice steady and not give out the


    way my heart threatens to pump out of my chest or the way my breathing seems to quicken at having


    him this close or the way I''m aware of how he rubs his thigh against mine.


    "Since you brought up repaying me. " His voicees out in a baritone and God helps me– I''m unable


    to control the rub of my thighs when he drops his head.


    "You might want to check out on the omelet, Carson. " I turn my head quicker than necessary to hide


    the heat that rises to my cheeks as I peek at the omelet, and gulp when my ass presses against the


    front of Emerson''s pants in the process.


    "You know–" I swallow at the fan of Emerson''s breath near my ear. "I can think of a second way you


    could repay me right here. "


    I don''t try to move because it''ll only worsen the situation we''re in, and that includes the way he grows


    against my ass.


    "And what could that possibly be, Ford?" I give myself a mental pat to the back when my voicees


    out as I intended. Harsh and steady.


    "I could fuck you right now. " His lips brush against my neck as he speaks the words and my body


    shudders in response– one I hope he doesn''t notice. "Right here. " His hand moves over mine as he


    ps the counter and the image of me bent over the counter with Emerson pounding into me from


    behind goes through my mind– it''s hot and dirty and it emanates a familiar ache between my legs.


    "You''re thinking of it, Carson?" Emerson whispers near my ear when I take long to respond and I shake


    my head. "I''m too disgusted by the words to have a thought on it. "


    He chuckles. "Could have fooled me if your breathing didn''t quicken along with those words. " Before I


    can think of something else to say, Emerson moves away, taking every reaction with him, and I let out a


    deep breath.


    "But that was just me messing with you. I''ll be in the living room. " And when the sound of his receding


    footsteps echoes around me, I check the omelet before dropping my head.


    Emerson Ford is turning out to be a bigger distraction than I reckoned.


    After putting the omelet on two tes, I walk into the living room to see Emerson huddled on the couch


    with the Panda on the screen.


    "Here, " I say and he lifts his head to grab his te from me.


    "I''m surprised you can cook, Carson. This looks good. " He says as I take a seat beside him.


    "I''m surprised you think everyone is as bad at cooking as you are. " I retort and Emersonughs. He


    gives a small shake of his head before he cuts the omelet with his fork and I steal a nce to watch the


    way he licks his lips before taking another. The sightes with satisfaction and I turn back to the


    screen.


    Emerson gives me his te when I move from my seat to return mine to the kitchen and I throw him a


    re, but take it from him nheless. I drop the tes into the sink and get a ss of water for him


    after downing mine.


    "Here you go. " Emerson takes the ss from me with a smile. "You''re better at this than I expected. "


    "Consider this the first andst time you get to have it from me. " I respond before dropping on the


    couch in a crouched stance.


    Minutes into the movie and we''ve somehow moved from being apart to being extremely close.


    I''m aware of his one hand around me and the other ying with my hair. I''m aware of his heavy


    breaths against my neck and I''m aware of the way his skin is pressed to mine. I''m aware of the spot


    we''re in: legs tangled and bodies flushed.


    I''m aware I''m cuddling Emerson Ford on the couch whilst watching TV, but I don''t give room to think


    back on our actions as I push back against him and Emerson''s throat hums with a groan as he tightens


    his hold on me.


    "You feel good. " I hear Emerson whisper behind me and I don''t let myself think much into his words,


    but enjoy that moment, because I know as soon as I start to think on it– I''ll ruin this moment where


    there''s nothing, but the sounds of our breaths and the one from the TV.