T H I R T Y - F O U R


    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''tply 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


    anotherpression.


    "You should have been smart enough to know what to do. " Emerson responds and I give a p 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 ast nce 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 disys 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 youing soon or do I have toe 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 atter, 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. "


    Emersonughs 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 girlins


    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 exims, slipping her hand out of mine and I lift my brows at her in confusion. "You sound


    nice. That''spletely different from the perception I had of you. "


    Augh 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 nce at the two of us, she walks down the path that leads to the houses and when she''s


    "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 amusedugh 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 reced with a mischievous one. "You think I''ve got the worst opinion of you?"


    "There''s noint 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,


    This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Ford?"


    "No. " His responsees 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 toe 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 nce 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 weing me.


    The earlier revtion 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 thest 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''ming 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 ce my legs over my window and down to the


    "Have you done this before?" Emerson asks with amusement clear in his words and I throw him a re


    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 thedder.


    "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 goodugh. " 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 thedder and at thest few steps; Emerson''s hands move around


    my hips as he moves me from thedder and I ce 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


    when her ne crashed. " Heughs. A sad, bitterugh 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 nce 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 me 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 oneplicated 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 ess 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.