EVA.  I don't think before I do it. I panic and slam 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 place.  "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 take large strides towards him and clasp 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

EVA.    I stare down at Emerson's relaxed drowsing face and let out a weak sigh before moving my hand from his curls. I'm careful to not wake him as I roll his head from my chest to the bed to sit up.   I stare around his room and it looks better than I expected– a bit bigger than mine if I want to be petty. Every corner is in black except the bed sheets and it makes the atmosphere appear gloomy and moody in an Emerson Ford style.    There are shelves of books on one side and a desk next to the shelves. A smile climbs on my face as I look back to Emerson before looking back at the shelves – Ford never strikes me as a guy who enjoys reading and it comes as a surprise that he has books with him.    I gnaw on my lips as I move from the bed and take quiet steps to the other side. I pick up a book and my eyes widen barely at the cover and the label. Looking through the shelves, the rest are

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 place 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 small laugh, 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? " 

EVA.    My eyelids flutter, and my chest rises and falls steadily. Warmness surrounds me and I know there's another presence in the room by the feel of something heavy on my tummy.    Twisting my head to the side, I'm met with the sight of Emerson Ford's sleeping face with some of his fallen curls covering one side of his face.    Staring down, our legs are tangled in each other and I sigh as I dart my eyes back to Emerson's face. He slept here with me– he stayed. He came here to give me comfort—when he didn't need to—and he didn't leave.    I press my lips into a thin line as I slowly lift my hand to his face. I barely place a touch against his skin as I push the curls from his face and let my eyes roam across it. Unlike that other time, there's no crease over his forehead and there's no frown on his lips as he gives soft snores.    The urge to press my

EVA.    "What are you doing with a spatula, dude?" The familiar voice echoes into the kitchen and I turn off the stove at the brown rings over the pancakes.    "What else would I be doing with it?" Comes Emerson's response then the sound of laughter and it isn't just from one person.    "I never saw you as one who cooks, babe. You just turned the whole thing around. " I grimace at the pitch of Paige's voice and there's silence before there's the sound of the slam of a door.    "It smells nice in here, Em. Can we have whatever it is you're making? Oh wait— what about that hot roommate of yours?" Another voice that I don't recognize speaks.    "She isn't hot. " I roll my eyes at Paige's voice.    "Well, she's certainly hotter than you and that's fine by me. "   "Fuck you, Leo. " Leo. Leo from the frat party.&nb