The Dissolution of Unrequited (The Science of Unrequited Book 4)

by Len Webster

  “Thank you,” she said with a smile. Because she believed him. She believed that he understood her decisions. “And I’m sorry if you came to Boston expecting more with me. I just don’t love you like I used to and never the way I love him.”

  He nodded, the pain remaining etched on his face. “I’ll never stop being grateful to have loved you, too, Alex. And though I hate that you’re giving up on MIT, I do understand why. You’ll make an amazing mother, Massachusetts.”

  At that moment, Alex knew she had no more skeletons.

  No more shame.

  She had finally settled all the bridges that led to Landon Carmichael.

  89Ac

  actinium

  ALEX

  Junior year of college

  The excitement that ran through Alex was incredible. For the remaining weeks of summer, she spent every single second with Evan. She had been worried her father would change his mind about his approval of their relationship, but he seemed to be okay. She had even caught him smiling at them at the dinner table when her mother had cooked Evan his favorite meal, the famous Parker family lasagna. It felt like old times—when Evan was welcomed in her family home as if he lived there.

  Her parents treated him as if nothing had changed between them at all. She was sure it was uncomfortable to watch Evan kiss her the first time. They were at the front door after they had spent the day in Rhode Island. He was kissing her goodbye when her parents opened the front door and caught them. It had been awkward for everyone, but they kept their displays of affection private—mainly at his house and in the bedroom. They had kissed outside of her mother’s restaurant after they told her parents about their relationship, but decided that since no one spotted them, they would remain private. Their relationship was still theirs and no one else’s to mess with. They were safe from Boston having any judgment of them and being in the magazines. They protected their relationship with their secrecy.

  Now they were back in Durham walking toward the apartment her parents were renting for her and Savannah. She had flown out of Boston early this morning with Evan, and they planned to spend a few days setting up her new apartment. Her roommate and best friend, Savannah Peters, would be driving to North Carolina from Vermont tomorrow, giving Alex and Evan the day together. The only time they could ever be together was when her parents were at work. And to avoid any accidental walk-ins, they ensured that anything physical stayed in his bedroom and not hers. But they had a day to be lost in each other and not have to rush to get to dressed and pretend as if they weren’t together.

  “Do you want to be the one to open the door to your apartment for the first time?” her boyfriend asked once they reached 6A of the Infinity Warehouse Apartments.

  Alex stopped next to him and smiled. She reached into her purse and pulled out her key. Her parents had surprised her with the three-bedroom apartment, and they were allowing Savannah to live with her almost rent-free. The only condition they had for her best friend was that if Savannah wanted to pay rent, she paid whatever she could afford and concentrated on school. Savannah countered the offer by adding that she had to drive Alex to campus and pick up all their belongings from storage tomorrow.

  Evan rolled her suitcase away from the door, giving her room to insert her key. With a smile, she twisted it and heard the door unlock. Alex pushed the door open and glanced over at her boyfriend.

  He had a large smile on his face. “You should go in first.”

  “Okay,” she said. She removed the key and took a large step inside, greeted by the short hallway and the sight of the living room ahead of her. Then she spun around and grinned at Evan. “Oh, my God. I’m standing in my very first apartment.”

  Evan reached over and grasped the handle of her suitcase, wheeling both of their luggage inside and leaving them by the wall. He took in the brightly lit apartment. “Wow, your parents did well.”

  Alex nodded. “One of my dad’s clients makes frequent trips to Durham. So when he heard that Dad was looking for an apartment for me and Sav, his client did some scouting and found this place. It’s a five-minute drive to Duke, and it’s close to everything I could possibly need. He made sure a new fridge, washer, dryer, and the TVs were installed.”

  “He did?” he asked once he closed the door.

  She closed the distance and grabbed her boyfriend’s hand, saying, “He did,” as she led him down the hall and to the open plan living room and kitchen. “Wow.”

  “Your dad’s client obviously appreciates your father doing his accounting because holy shit, AJ, this view!”

  Letting go of Evan’s hand, she walked to the kitchen counter and set her key and purse on the marble top before she headed to the large floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the view from her apartment. She could see Duke from where she stood. “I don’t want curtains.”

  “I wouldn’t either,” Evan agreed as he stood next to her.

  “This is so crazy,” she admitted as she shifted to face him. “Summer ended so quickly, and now we’re here. In two days, we fly to California and then we have two days at Stanford before I have to come back here.”

  “I know,” he said in a small voice.

  “I don’t feel like we had enough time.”

  Evan stepped closer, capturing her cheeks with his palms. “I didn’t think I would even get to have the summer with you. We’ll make it work, okay?”

  She nodded. “This is the only time I wish I was at Stanford rather than Duke.”

  “Other way around, AJ. I wish I was going to Duke.” Then he ducked his head and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her. His lips smooth and perfect against hers. He kissed her softly. He kissed her as if today was the very last day he’d see her. He kissed her as if he loved her.

  Alex pulled away, afraid that they were skipping a conversation they should really be having. “No repeats, okay? No repeats of everything we got wrong before I came home. We have to talk. We have to be honest with each other. We have to see each other.”

  “I already have a plane ticket to see you in three weeks,” he revealed.

  “Really?” She was shocked.

  Evan’s thumb brushed against her bottom lip. “Really. I checked with my coach. We won’t have preseason training yet.”

  Alex smiled as she grasped his shirt, whispered, “I love you so much,” then pulled on his shirt so that his lips returned to hers.

  This time, she kissed him with desire.

  Her body hummed with need.

  She ached to feel his touch.

  “AJ,” he muttered into her mouth as her hands released his shirt and her arms wound around his neck, pressing herself to him, feeling his hardness against her stomach.

  “Please,” she moaned softly. “Please, Evan.”

  He broke their kiss and glanced over her. “Which one’s your room?”

  Alex gazed over her shoulder and noticed that the bedroom doors were closed. “The master bedroom.”

  Evan bent his knees, his palms finding the back of her thighs, and lifted her so that her legs wrapped around his waist. “I assume it’s this one,” he said. He walked to the door on the right as Alex peppered his lips, cheek, and jaw with kisses.

  When they reached the door, he whispered, “Hold on tight, baby,” before one palm left her leg to open the door. Alex squeezed her thighs as he stepped inside, carrying her. She glanced over to her left to find her bed and a new mattress with its plastic still on. Evan set her down, and she turned to find that the view from her bed was stunning. Their corner apartment came with perks.

  “A set of brand-new sheets are on that chair,” Evan pointed out.

  Alex glanced over to find him picking up a sheet set and tearing away the plastic seal. He pulled out the yellow sheet and walked over to her brand-new bed. Evan laid it down over the plastic covered mattress and then returned to her.

  �
�Should we just make your bed now?”

  She let out a laugh and then shook her head. “No way,” she said as she grasped his hand and walked them toward her bed.

  When the mattress hit the back of her knees, she stopped, and Evan said, “Sit down for me.”

  Alex did as instructed, her eyes never leaving his as she lowered herself down, feeling the soft sheet against her skin. As Evan got on his knees, he pressed his lips against her neck, her breath hitching in her throat as his tongue traced unrecognizable patterns. Her pulse quickened as his palm settled on her bare knee. Unable to stop her fidgeting hands, she threaded her fingers through his hair, desperately needing to touch him.

  “Alexandra,” he whispered as his kisses moved to her collarbone and then to her cleavage exposed by the dip of her short-sleeve, V-neck summer floral dress.

  “Please, Evan,” she begged, his hand trailing up her thigh.

  His hand left her leg and returned to unbuttoning her dress. He had managed to get three undone, revealing her black lace bra. Evan pushed the dress apart and tugged at her bra, exposing her naked breast to him. His thumb gently swiped across her nipple, hardening it. She ached so badly to have him. He leaned forward, his breath was a soft whisper against her skin before his tongue licked across her hardened bud.

  A soft moan escaped her as she pressed her palm to the mattress, offering more of herself to him. Evan used one hand to pull on her bra while the other returned to her leg. Trailing up until his thumb brushed along the top of her lace covered core, he caused Alex to gasp.

  “Evan, please, I need you.” It was a plea. She should be embarrassed, but she wasn’t. Her body was hot, needy for the release her beautiful boyfriend could give her.

  “Unbutton the rest of your dress for me, baby,” he ordered in a hoarse voice, his light brown eyes darkened with lust and desire.

  Alex bit her lip as she reached down and unbuttoned the remaining buttons, leaving her exposed in only her bra and panties. She was about to shove the dress off her shoulders when Evan shook his head.

  His palm settled on her stomach as he said, “Lie back.”

  Once she did, she felt his breath on her core, causing Alex to widen her legs farther, her message clear.

  She needed him to touch her.

  To put her out of her misery.

  And she knew he was torturing her. She sensed it as his thumb brushed along her mound, just missing where she ached to be touched the most.

  She got on her elbows, looking down at her boyfriend between her legs. He had gone down on her many times this summer, but right now, it felt different. It was different because they were in no rush. They could savor the moment and get lost in their pleasure like they truly wanted to. His eyes met hers as his fingers dug into the sides of her panties. For a second, he didn’t move as she panted. Then he watched as he pulled her underwear down her hips and along her legs until they reached her ankles. He yanked them off before he grasped her ankles and lifted her feet onto the mattress, spreading her so he could see her. All of her.

  Evan scooted closer, his arms cradling her thighs as he leaned forward. She had expected him to continue his teasing game, but to her sheer relief, he ran his tongue along her wet slit, causing Alex to fall onto her back, consumed by the feel of his warm tongue on her.

  He continued his soft, lazy licks.

  Up and down, generating hot heat between her legs.

  Alex reached down and grasped his head, angling her hips a little higher to get more friction. Understanding what she really needed, Evan flattened his tongue on her clit and stroked, alternating between soft circles and licks.

  “Oh, God, Evan,” she cried as her pleasure built.

  She felt her body tense.

  Her chest heaved as she gulped for air.

  He didn’t let up as her hips bucked for more.

  To reach the crescendo she knew Evan could give her.

  “AJ,” he murmured against her, the vibrations causing her to jerk with pleasure.

  “Evan, please. Please, I’m so close,” she begged. He pulled her clit between his lips and sucked, causing Alex to let out a moan. “Evan,” she whimpered before she pressed her lips together to stifle her cries.

  “That’s it, baby.”

  His thumb now spun circles. As his tongue found her entrance, she could have sworn she heard a door close. Alex’s froze, her hips off the bed as she tried to listen for more movement. Evan was too lost in giving her pleasure that he continued his tongue’s stroke on her. When she didn’t hear anything, she turned her head away from the door and concentrated on her boyfriend.

  He licked.

  Nipped.

  Softly bit.

  And sucked.

  His tongue thrust.

  His tongue stroked.

  On and on.

  Hard and soft.

  Close.

  So close.

  “Evan,” she whispered her warning. “I’m going to—”

  And just before she could finally explode into euphoria, her door swung open, and her roommate screamed, “Surprise—Oh my, God!”

  Alex squealed as she covered her breasts with her dress, her impending orgasm dwindling as Evan stopped all movement to cover the lower half of her with the rest of her clothing.

  “I am so sorry,” Savannah mumbled as she scrambled out of Alex’s bedroom.

  Once the door clicked close, Alex covered her face with her palms, horrified that her roommate had caught her with a man between her legs.

  And it wasn’t just any man who was giving her pleasure.

  It was Evan Gilmore.

  To Savannah, he was Alex’s best friend.

  And best friends didn’t have oral sex in the middle of the day.

  Alex lowered her hands the moment she felt Evan sit on the bed next to her. “I can’t believe that just happened,” she said in horror and embarrassment as she sat up. Then she glanced over to see the amusement on his face. “It’s not funny, Evan. That was definitely not how I wanted Sav to find out about us.”

  The humor faded from his face as he brushed his hair back. “How did she even get in? I thought she was coming tomorrow.”

  “You heard her. She yelled surprise. My parents must have sent her a key.” Alex sighed. “I have to go talk to her. If we pretend it didn’t happen, it’ll be weird.”

  “Okay,” Evan said as he got off the mattress and held out his hand. Alex set her palm in his as he helped her up from the bed.

  Alex bent down, picked up her panties and slipped them on. She didn’t bother with her ballet flats that had fallen on the floor as she buttoned up her dress. Once she ran her fingers through her hair, she made her way to the door and opened it. Alex stepped out to find her best friend in the kitchen, staring out the large windows.

  Sheepishly, Alex approached the kitchen counter with a lot of caution. Savannah might lash out at her. She might tell her she was an idiot for getting involved with Evan Gilmore. Hell, Savannah might not even want to be her roommate after walking in on Alex and Evan. She was sure it wasn’t the kind of housewarming Savannah was expecting.

  “I am so sorry, Sav. I thought we were alone. I didn’t know you’d be home,” Alex said once she reached the counter.

  Savannah shook her head. “It’s called a surprise for a reason, Alex.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Alex repeated, voice tight with guilt. “That’s not how I wanted you to find out about us.”

  Her roommate finally turned and faced her. She squinted as if she were trying to understand Alex. Then she yelled out, “Evan!” Moments later, Evan walked out of Alex’s bedroom. “Right.” Savannah pushed off the marble countertop and faced them once Evan stood next to Alex. Savannah’s face was serious. Taut and unrevealing. Alex was expecting the worst. To hear Savannah’s wrath and disapproval of them. “I KNEW IT
!” she declared.

  Alex flinched in surprise. “What?”

  Savannah let out a laugh. “I knew something was happening between y’all during the summer. I’m not an idiot. I must admit, when I walked into my apartment for the very first time, I did not expect Evan Gilmore between my best friend’s … y’all know what you were doing. Hot, of course, but I’m scarred. I saw bits of you, Alex, that I’m not supposed to. Lucky I didn’t interrupt y’all having sex.”

  Alex’s fast heart rate eased. “So you’re okay with us?”

  “Are y’all fuck buddies?”

  “No!” Alex and Evan said in unison, causing Savannah to flinch.

  Alex sighed as she reached down and grasped Evan’s hand with hers. “We’re together, Sav. As in really together. Evan’s my boyfriend.”

  A smile spread across Savannah’s lips. “And this is … love?”

  “I’m in love with AJ, yes,” Evan announced.

  “And you, Alex?”

  Alex looked over at the way Evan stared at her with those light brown eyes. Soft and absolutely beautiful. She knew in her heart what she felt. “I love him, too.”

  “That’s all I need to know.” Savannah began to walk out of the kitchen, causing Alex to pull her hand from Evan’s and chase after her roommate. Savannah picked up her purse next to Alex’s suitcase as Alex came to a stop.

  “Sav, do you … do you not approve?”

  Her roommate winced. Then she spun around, annoyance flared in her eyes. “Seriously, Alex?” She let out a laugh. “Of course, I approve. I’ll just let y’all finish. I’m gonna pick up some groceries and maybe a few beanbags to sit on.”

  Relief poured into her chest and relaxed her tense limbs.

  Her parents approved.

  And now Savannah.