T W E N T Y - F I V E


    EVA.


    "So what happened?" I ask Aliya, taking a seat next to her on her bed and she finally looks up from her


    phone, a sigh slipping through her parted lips.


    "That doesn''t sound good. " I furrow my brows and she gives a small nod.


    "I couldn''t choose. " She says in a low voice and I ce a hand on her shoulder, giving a tight squeeze


    before letting my hand fall from the skin.


    "You''ll be fine. " I assure her and she shakes her head. "Not for long. Maybe I''ll need to try another


    pussy. Getting caught up with confused emotions isn''t my thing, Evie. "


    "I know, " I let out a smallugh, snuggling closer to her. "But life can be weird, and trust me the more


    you try to avoid them; the stronger your desires get. "


    Aliya snaps her gaze at me at my words and lifts her brows. "And how could you possibly know that,


    Miss Carson? "


    I give a raise of my shoulder as I fall back on her bed, lifting my hands to the back of my head. "Books.


    "


    Aliya chuckles next to me before she falls beside me, turning on her side so her eyes are fixed on


    mine. "You know everything about human emotions through books?"


    "Exactly, " I beam. "You should try to read more. It helps a lot. " I tell her in a teasing voice and Aliya


    gives a yful p to the side of my thigh, causing me tough.


    I stare at her as she turns her eyes to the ceiling and remains silent. I watch the heavy rise and fall of


    her chest before she speaks again, intruding the peaceful air. "It''s scary. "


    "You wanting the both of them?" I ask her and she hums. "In such a short time. It scares me. "


    I sigh and raise my head, supporting it with my elbow pressed against the soft mattress. "I''ve heard that


    love can be a strange thing. "


    "You''re amplifying it, bitch. It isn''t love. " Her lips turn in a frown and I chuckle. "Yet. Let''s see how long


    you can hold off, Miss. "


    "I hate you. " She groans and I chuckle again before I say, "Those words are meant for Emerson Ford,


    Aliya. "


    "About him—" a grin appears on my best friend''s face as she turns her gaze back to me and I cuss


    under my breath, immediately regretting bringing up that man''s name. "How''s your n going?"


    "What n?" I ask in confusion and Aliya rolls her eyes before she says, "The n to drive him out of


    the house. "


    At Aliya''s words, the words I uttered when I saw Emerson for the first time in that house crosses my


    mind and it astounds me how I''ve never given a thought to it. I''ve somehow gone from wanting


    Emerson out of there to enjoying the nasty taunts between us.


    "Oh that, " I mumble, avoiding Aliya''s gaze but I feel her eyes on me from the corners of mine. "I don''t


    know. He''s quite reluctant. "


    When I lift my eyes to Aliya again, a smirk is pressed to her lips. "Is that so? Or have things changed


    between the two of you now that you''re under the same roof? Did he tempt you with that pretty orgasm


    maker?"


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    I''m impressed with how easily I mask my body''s reaction to Aliya''sst words as I speak. "Nothing can


    change the way we feel about each other, Aliya. We''re too deep in it to draw back. " I''m too deep in it to


    the extent it escted into something else: A side of me I never thought would feel something other


    than hate for Emerson Ford. That part of me is small and it''s almost non-existent but I can tell it''s there.


    "That sounds like a double meaning. " The tease attached to Aliya''s words pulls me out of my thoughts


    and I give her my middle finger, earning augh from her.


    My phone vibrates next to me and I extend my hand to grab the device: a new text notification stares


    back at me.


    DAN: I''m here.


    "He''s here. " I tell Aliya as I type out my reply.


    ME: On my way.


    I climb off her bed and Aliya trails behind me as I walk to her door.


    "I wanted to ask. Are you keeping this one?" She questions as I ce my hand on the knob and I twist


    my body to her as I say, "I don''t know, but he''s fun and I''m finding my time with him enjoyable for now. "


    "He wants you though. " She says and Iugh. "I thought that was obvious. "


    "No, bitch. Not that way; The other way. " She exins and I shift on my feet, turning my gaze to the


    door in front of me. "I can tell by the way he looks at you. " She continues.


    I turn my body in her direction and let go of the doorknob, "And how could you possibly know that?


    You''ve only met him twice. "


    She gives a raise of her shoulder. "He makes it quite easy. I''m sure he wants you to know that too. "


    I nod. "I just want to enjoy this time with him. That might change soon, and it might not. Either way, Dan


    is a good guy. "


    "And you aren''t a fan of them, are you? You love the ones who make you scream all night—"


    "Fuck you. " I scowl, silencing the rest of her naughty words and Aliyaughs before she nods to the


    door. "Have fun. Let me know if anythinges up. "


    "You too, " I tell her, throwing her a wink. "I want to know what your two girls got in stock for you next. "


    Aliya tries to keep the frown on her face but it easily slips and I catch the small smile threatening to


    break into a grin as she says, "I truly hate you, Eva Carson. "


    "You love me, bitch. " I smile, giving her a wave before I walk through the door, and shut it on her


    smiling face.


    "Hey you, " I raise my head to see Maria approaching just as I make it through the hallway of the dorm


    and I smile at her as she reaches my side.


    "Hey. " I respond to her greeting.


    "Leaving after a long conservation with your friend?" She jokes and Iugh. Maria is Aliya''s roommate,


    and conceivably the nicest girl I''ve ever met. She''s friendly and fun and she always has this expression


    that tells you she''s far too innocent for the world.


    "You know it. " I wink at her and Maria''s smile widens.


    "I''ll see you around. " I tell her and she nods, stepping past me to continue her walk to her room while I


    take the direction that leads me out of it.


    Taking fast strides across the field, I easily spot Dan on the other side. He''s dressed in jeans and a


    white tee that look gorgeous on him with the light shadows from the surging moon cast on his figure.


    Dan''s gaze turns to me when I''m only steps away and a smile slips to his face as he waves at me.


    "To whom do I own this honor? Eva Carson actually making an appearance?" He fake gasps and I p


    his arm. "Don''t start today. "


    He chuckles and gives me a warm hug before pulling away to say, "You look gorgeous. "


    "You saw me earlier, " I tell him with lifted brows and Dan raises a shoulder dismissively. "You look


    prettier than you looked hours ago. "


    "Don''t you think that''s a bit overboard, Daniel?" I smile and he shakes his head, the yful look fading


    from his face to be reced with the serious one that''s supported by his intense gaze. "Nothing is ever


    too much when ites to you, sweetheart. "


    "Okay, enough with the sweet talks. " I speak through augh.


    "I read the talks earns you some more points. " He reveals and I furrow my brows. "Read? You''re


    reading to go out with me, Dan?"


    "You''ll be surprised with the things I do for you, Eva. It''s crazy. " He sighs and I nod, agreeing with his


    words. "It is. You don''t need to do that, Dan. Just be yourself. It wouldn''t change my opinion about you


    either way. "


    "I am, but when ites to girls like you– a bit of help is always needed. Plus I told you I don''t do


    things like this, and if I will, then I need to make sure I''m doing it right. "


    "The guy from that night at the frat party?" I pause to peek at him and Dan bobs his head for me to


    continue. "And the one at the restaurant the other day? Was that you? Or you had help?"


    "That was all me. " He answers and I smile. "I had fun with that guy. "


    Dan''s expression changes and he steps closer. He lowers his voice as he speaks. "That guy would


    probably have you around his waist by now, savouring the sound of your moans and the feel of you


    against his body. " His gaze drops to my lips and he swipes his tongue over his lips before he meets


    my eyes and continues, "I''m trying to be a good guy here, Eva. Don''t tempt me. "


    "A little temptation never hurts, Daniel. " I''m aware of the way Dan''s eyes darken at my choice of words


    including the way he licks his lips again and it brings a smile to my face.


    He lifts his hand to my face and presses his thumb over my bottom lip; the force enough to make the


    skin tingle. "You''re something else, Eva Carson and you amaze me. "


    "So I''ve been told. " I wink and Dan chuckles, applying more pressure to my lips before he drops his


    hand and steps back.


    "So where do you have in mind?" He clears his throat.


    "Nowhere. I thought you were going to make that decision. " I say and Dan seems to think about it for a


    while before he says, "How about a walk? The weather is cool and looks decent for a walk. "


    "I see no reason why not. " I respond and Dan smiles before sliding a hand around my waist to bring


    me to his side.


    "Do you stay at the dorms?" Dan asks as he turns his head to me and I shake my head. "My friend


    stays here. I stay at my apartment. "


    "That sounds fun. " He remarks and I nod with a soft smile. "It does. "


    "You said you love reading the other time, " I nod to his words before he continues. "Are you reading


    anything right now?"


    "Yes, " I hum and keep the hair that flies to my face from the blowing wind behind my ear. "I''m reading


    a brother''s best friend. It''s one of my favourite tropes. "


    "Why? What interests you about fucking your brother''s best friend?" He asks with genuine curiosity


    clear in his voice and I say, "The tension interests me the most. I think it rtes a bit to the forbidden


    trope and that just makes everything so fùcking better: the thought that you shouldn''t want something,


    but you just can''t help it. It''s exciting. "


    When I lift my gaze to Dan''s face, he''s staring down at me with a soft gaze.


    "What?" I chuckle and he shakes his head, taking his eyes ahead of us. "I just love that look on your


    face when you talk about things you like. I can see why you enjoy them and I guess I should watch out


    for your brother''s best friend?"


    "I don''t have a brother so you''re safe. " I assure him before staring ahead of us. We''re striding down


    the sidewalk with our shoulders pressed to each other.


    "Do you want ice cream?" Dan queries as he spots an ice cream shop ahead of us, and I lift my hand


    to my belly— pressing against the skin to feel any sharp pains.


    "Absolutely. " I respond, dropping my hand.


    "Wait here. " He says as he starts to move ahead of me, but I''m quick to grab his wrist. Dan turns back


    to me with raised brows and I slip my hand inside my pant pockets to bring out a few notes. "You didn''t


    take this. "


    Danughs at the worthy papers between our bodies. "I think I can handle a few dors, Eva. "


    "No, I don''t—"


    "You are not forcing me to take it. I want to do this. Please let me. " He frowns and I sigh before


    dropping my hand and slipping the money back into the space.


    "Good girl. " He praises and ruffles my hair before he walks away. I take slow strides after him and


    watch as he slips inside the shop.


    I slide my hands into my back pockets and halt my steps at the sight in front of me: a woman is pressed


    against a car and her eyes are screwed shut in what I won''t consider pleasure.


    I watch as the man before her, nuzzles his head in her neck and the longer I watch, the faster my heart


    beats in my chest.


    Thedy opens her eyes and snaps her gaze at me. I gasp and take a step back at the horrified look


    on her face, and she struggles to speak as the man''s hand wraps around her throat. Her eyes scream


    for help, and I want to. I want to fucking reach her, to bring her out of the situation she''s found herself


    yet I can''t seem to take a damn move.


    Cold shivers run through my veins and my visions blur with tears the longer I stand and watch the sight


    before me.


    "Eva!" I jump at the loud sound to see Dan standing in front of me with worried eyes. "Are you okay?


    Did something happen?"


    I part my lips to speak, but no words slip through and I lift my hand, pointing behind him. When I look at


    the scene again, a woman is pressed against the car with her dress hitched up and her hands buried in


    the guy''s hair.


    "I don''t think they care about us, Eva. " Daniel chuckles and brings his attention back to me.


    I breathe and shake my head, knowing the previous image was just my fucked up mind messing with


    me.


    "Do you know them? You don''t look so good. " Dan notes and I wiggle my head, giving him a forced


    smile. "I don''t. "


    I clear my throat before I continue. "A bit amazed with that. "


    Dan chuckles and pushes the cup of ice cream to me, and I take it from him, mumbling thanks as he


    steps beside me.


    "Maybe they couldn''t control it, I''m sure you''ve had a tongue down your throat in the open. " He says


    and I cackle. "Maybe, but not to that extent. "


    "It gets wilder, Carson. " He winks before focusing on the cup in his hand and I nod, staring down at


    mine. I take onest nce at the couple still pressed to the car and tell myself that what I saw was all


    in my head— nothing more.