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.

ALIYA. "Hey!" I flinch at the loud sound behind me and Eva laughs as she moves around me to my side, holding me by my arm. "You're such a coward. " "Shut up, bitch. You scared me. " I throw her a frown, adjusting the strap of my bag and she wiggles her head as she straightens against me, "Why were you lost in thoughts?" "I was not. " I roll my eyes and she narrows hers at me, "Yes, you were. Were you thinking about Friday? You don't have to come up with something heavy, you know. " I smirk at her at the mention of her birthday. "No chance in hell, bitch. Everyone is coming. " She furrows her brows, "Aliya, what do you mean by that? Please tell me you didn't go overboard with this. " When I don't give her a response and keep the smirk on my face, she screams, "Aliya!" "Fuck sake, we're on campus. Tone it down for later. " I hiss as my eyes move across us to see people are barely paying us any attention. When I look back at her, I say, "I was just fucking with you. There's no one

We're at the end!!! Woohoo!Where do I begin? So far, Hatred turns out to be the most challenging book I've written. Not just with the trope and the content, but both emotionally and physically. There were a lot of challenges along the way, but I made it. WE made it, and I know you're probably tired of hearing me say this now, but I truly wouldn't be here without your support. Hatred isn't just a step out of the comfort zone for me, it's a book that I found myself so attached to along the way and one I learn a lot from, so thank you all, for letting me write Eva and Emerson's story, for believing in me and for staying with me until the very end. I still find it hard to believe at times when I look at how far I've come, and how many of you have travelled with me through this journey. I recognize some of you from my very first book, A Night With The Billionaire, and you have no idea how glad it warms my heart to see you up till now. Thank you very much for enduring and for staying. I