Basic Chemistry: LOVE 101 - WILLOW BAY NOVELLA

by Layne, Harlow

  Pulling her on top of me, I relish the weight of her body and the feel of her breasts pressing into me. “What are you in the mood for?”

  Hiking her leg up on my hip, Roxie nuzzles into me. “Indian sounds good.”

  It does, but I know for certain Willow Bay doesn’t have an Indian restaurant, and I’m not sure if one of the other towns that do will deliver. Would Roxie be willing to go with me to pick it up?

  “Hey,” she calls quietly and runs her hand down my arm until she reaches my hand. Taking my hand in hers, she laces her fingers through mine. “What’s got you tensing up?”

  Looking up at the ceiling, I explain to her what I was thinking, ready for the rejection.

  “You’re right,” she says, and I tense again, knowing I’m right that she doesn’t want to be seen out with me. “Stop it,” she scolds. “No, you’re right in the fact that they don’t deliver. I wasn’t thinking, but if you’re willing to drive, then I’ll happily ride along.” Letting go of my hand, she crosses her arms over my chest and places her chin on her hands to look up at me. “It’s not like I think you have the plague or anything. If there were no repercussions to me… dating a student, I would happily be seen with you anywhere and everywhere, but that’s not the world we live in.”

  “I know,” I let a sigh. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  “I don’t like it either, but it won’t be forever.”

  It certainly feels like it. The closer we get to the end of the semester, the more I feel like we’ve got an expiration date.

  16

  JANUARY

  The two days I spent with Roxie in my bed and in my arms over Thanksgiving break were the best and worst days of my life. They were only the worst because it caused me to want more from her, and since both my fucking roommates decided to come back to Willow Bay right after Christmas, I haven’t had the house to myself.

  Roxie and her brother went to see her parents for Christmas, and by the time they came back, my roommates were back as well. Since my family lives right outside of Willow Bay in Loganville, I came home to an empty house after spending the day with my family and no Roxie to enjoy it with. I could have stayed at my mom’s, but the house felt too crowded with my brother and sister both home from school. It didn’t help that my mom has been questioning me about whether I have anyone special in my life. I don’t want to lie to her, but I also can’t tell her the truth because then she’ll want to meet Roxie.

  With school out on break, Roxie and I have been reduced to parking lot meetups and only once or twice a week.

  Sitting in my car, I watch as Roxie pulls into the parking lot of the deserted park. She quickly gets out of her car and slides into my backseat. I’ve made it as comfortable as possible by cleaning out the back and placing a blanket across the seats. It’s not much, but how romantic can you make the backseat of a car?

  “Hey,” she grips my shoulders from the backseat. “I’m sorry I’m late. Declan and I had a fight, and it was hard to get away.”

  I open the driver's door and then get into the back with her. I barely sit down before she’s in my lap and laying her head on my shoulder. My arms go around her and hold her to me.

  “What was your fight about?”

  “He’s wondering where I’ve been going and why I have to go to the grocery store so many times when we have a kitchen full of food.”

  I hold my tongue, knowing I can’t mention her telling her brother about us.

  She lets out a frustrated puff of air. “Just say it.”

  “Say what?”

  “What you want to say. I can feel that you have something to say.”

  She asked for it.

  “Would it really be so bad if your brother knew? The semester’s over, and I’m not going to be in any more of your classes. You can tell him I’m busy if you’re worried that he’ll want you to spend more time away from the house. I’m sure we can come up with something where you’re not lying to him.”

  And I’m not your dirty little secret.

  She’s quiet for so long that I think she’s not going to say any more on the matter or possibly fell asleep, but then her head pops up, and she smiles at me.

  “You know what, I think you’re right. I’ll tell him that I’m seeing you, but that you have a very busy schedule. That should appease him and you.”

  The amount of happiness I’m feeling can’t be explained. I actually feel like I might combust with the thought of her brother finally knowing about us.

  Leaning forward, I take her bottom lip in between mine and suck before letting it go. “I think it will make your life a hell of a lot less stressful. I can also help you relieve a little of the stress you’re feeling now.”

  “Is that right?” She bites her bottom lip that’s still wet from only a moment ago. “How is your stress level?”

  “Over the top, out of this world,” I joke with her as I slide my hands up her thighs and under her skirt. “Have I ever told you how happy it makes me that you wear skirts most of the time?”

  “Why do you think I wear them?” She wiggles her ass. My cock is rock hard and begging to be inside of her from the movement. “Now, if we could only figure out a way to make your dick as easily accessible, we’d be golden.”

  I like the way she thinks.

  “Why don’t you pull him out, so he can greet you properly? He’s missed you,” I say as I pull the fabric of her underwear to the side and slip one finger deep inside of her. I pull my finger out and suck her juices off as she hastily unzips my jeans and wraps her tiny hand around my shaft.

  “Fuck, baby, I love feeling your hands on me almost as much as I love being balls-deep inside of you.”

  Never one to disappoint, Roxie rises onto her knees and places the tip of my cock at her entrance. I don’t wait for her to sink down. I need her now. Thrusting my hips up, I slam into her from below.

  Roxie groans out my name as she throws her head back.

  Leaning forward, I kiss up her neck as she starts to move on top of me.

  I pump faster, excited by the notion that this might be the last time we have to meet up in a parking lot and hook up in a car. Once her brother knows about me, I can go over to Roxie’s house—a place I haven’t been to yet.

  I spill deep inside her, my hands cupping her tits and squeezing as I groan long and deep.

  Roxie follows after, stilling above me, and bites her bottom lip as her pussy milks me of my essence.

  “Wow, what got into you?” She laughs breathlessly.

  I nip along her collarbone. “That we might not have to keep meeting up in parking lots.”

  “Hey, it’s not like we can do this at my house while my brother is awake. That’s… eww. No, we won’t be having sex with him listening.”

  “I never said that,” I laugh. “Do you want me to be there when you tell your brother?”

  “Ah, no. I think that should be a private conversation between him and me.”

  “Okay,” I hold my hands up. I’m not sure why it’s such a big deal, but she knows her brother.

  “He’s just a little sensitive about the subject matter right now. He had a girlfriend before he graduated, and I thought they stayed together, but…” she shrugs. “I don’t know what happened between them except that they’re not together anymore.”

  “Being injured and broken-hearted can’t be easy. It’s nice that you care so much about him. I can say for certain that my little sister wouldn’t spare my feelings. In fact, she’d probably rub it in.”

  “That’s because she’s a little sister and not a big sister. You wouldn’t do that to her, would you?”

  I might want to, but she’s right; I wouldn’t purposely hurt Avery or Maverick.

  “You’re right. I wouldn’t,” I admit.

  Lifting her hand, she runs her fingertips along my jawline. “Why don’t you talk about your siblings much?”

  “We’re not close. Never have been. But they are, even though it doesn�
�t make sense with the age differences. I’m a year older than Maverick and four years older than Avery. He’s a junior here, and I never see him. He’s busy with football, and when I tried to ask him about it when I saw him at Christmas, he didn’t want to talk to me about school or anything, really.”

  Roxie lays her head on my shoulder. “Declan and I haven’t always been close, but once I graduated high school, something happened. I thought we’d grow further apart, but it was the opposite.”

  “Maybe the same will hold true for them once they’re older. At least they have each other, even if they’re not close to me.”

  Roxie’s phone beeps and she lets out a sigh. I know that it means our time is almost up, but I’m not upset now that Roxie is going to tell her brother about us.

  Slipping off my lap, Roxie leans forward to grab her shirt that I threw into the front passenger seat when a flash goes off.

  “What was that?” She yells and covers herself up with her arm over her breasts.

  “I’m not sure,” I answer as I scan the area even though I have a pretty good idea. It’s then I see someone in the parking lot beside one of the trees that line the park. “I think I see something. I’m going to go check it out. Stay here and lock the doors.”

  Tucking myself back in my pants as I get out, I head in the direction of the tree line. The closer I get, the more my heart rate picks up. There’s someone standing there, and whoever it is seems to be waiting for me or doesn’t care that I’m walking up on them.

  “Who’s there?” I call out.

  “Just your friendly fellow Willow Bay student,” a guy answers back. He doesn’t say anything more until I get close enough to see it’s that Jeremy guy from class.

  What the hell is he doing here?

  “I bet you’re wondering why I’m standing here?” he smiles and waves his phone in the air.

  “Something like that,” I reply as I try to see what’s on his phone screen. “Not many people come to the park at night.”

  “Oh, don’t I know it. Only those who are trying to hide what they’re doing,” he cackles.

  Does he know something, or is he just insinuating he does?

  “Merrick, is everything okay over here?” Roxie quietly asks as she comes up from behind me.

  “Everything’s fine. Why didn’t you stay in the car?” As she comes up beside me, I grab her wrist and pull her behind me. I don’t want Jeremy to see her, even though I have a feeling it’s already too late.

  “Because you were gone too long,” she yanks on her wrist, and I let go, not wanting to hurt her. “Jeremy?” She asks in surprise as she comes up beside me.

  “Good evening, Ms. Hart. Sorry to interrupt your… night,” he grins, letting us both know he is very much enjoying ruining our night.

  “What are you doing here?” She asks, clutching my arm and then quickly letting go.

  “Oh, I think the jig is up, Ms. Hart. I seem to have caught you at an inopportune moment—one I even got to capture with my camera.” He wakes his phone up and turns it toward us. Right there on the screen is a picture of Roxie in the backseat of my car with only her skirt on.

  “Really, Merrick, I don’t know what you’re thinking. Why bag the fat teacher when you could literally have any girl you want?”

  Roxie shuffles behind me, and I hear her take in a strangled breath. I see red. Who the fuck is Jeremy to call Roxie fat? She’s perfection.

  “You need to shut your fucking mouth right now and apologize before I slam your face into the pavement and give you a little makeover.”

  “You see, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m the one holding all the cards here. I have pictures of one of Willow Bay’s teachers half-naked in a student’s car. Don’t you think the Dean would find it very interesting how that came to be?”

  “Are you threatening me?” I growl and step closer, getting in his face.

  Roxie grabs onto my arm and tries to pull me back, but I don’t budge. I’m not letting this pencil dick threaten us.

  “It’s not a threat. It’s a promise of what will happen if you don’t give me what I want,” he sneers.

  “And what’s that?” I have nothing to give to this guy. I’m a broke-ass college kid. It would be different if I drove some sweet-ass car that he caught us in, but no, if Jeremy had done his due diligence, he’d know by the way I live, I can’t give him anything. The only thing I have or am close to having is my degree, and it’s not like I can give it to him.

  The right side of his mouth curls up. “Money, what else?”

  “Sorry to break it to you, but unless you want my student loans, I’ve got nothing to give to you.”

  He laughs, and the picture of Roxie shirtless flashes for me again, nearly sending me over the edge. “It’s not your money I want. It’s hers.”

  “Jeremy,” Roxie says softly. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but teachers here don’t make a lot of money. At least I don’t. I’ve only been here for two years, and—”

  “I know you don’t have any money, you stupid, fat cunt. It’s your brother’s I want. Why didn’t you mention in class, he was a big deal?”

  Unable to hold back any longer, I lunge for him. Pulling back my arm, I let go with everything I have in me and clock him in the cheek.

  He goes down and stays down, much to my astonishment. I’m not a fighter, and I’ve never even punched anyone before.

  “Oh my god, Merrick. What did you do?” Roxie shrieks from beside me as she tries to pull me away.

  “He had it coming. No one should talk to you the way he did,” I growl, circling him to see if he’s going to get up.

  “You need to leave. Now,” she says urgently, pushing me toward my car. “Get out of here before he wakes up and calls the cops.”

  “So, what, I’m supposed to go home and wait for the cops to come to arrest me there?” I don’t think so.

  “I’ll handle this,” she continues to push me further away from the scene.

  “I’m not leaving you here with him. Who knows what he’ll do once he comes to.”

  “He won’t hurt me if he thinks I’ll give him money.” Her hands come to rest on her hips. “Do you really think he found us here by accident?”

  I hadn’t thought about it before now, but it does seem strange.

  “I’d bet my life he knew something was up and has been planning on doing something like this for a while. Now, go, and I’ll call you later.”

  “I don’t feel right leaving you here.” I pull her body into mine and kiss the top of her head.

  “I promise I’ll be fine, but I need to handle this before you get kicked out of school with one semester to go, and I lose my job.”

  “Fuck,” I yell. “I’m sorry. This is what you’ve been afraid of the whole fucking time, and here we are. I should have been more careful. I should have—”

  “Stop, Merrick. I’m just as at fault as you are.” Placing her hands on my chest, she leans up on her tip-toes and kisses me like it’s the last time she’ll ever taste me. It’s hot and desperate and tragic. Pulling away, she starts to back up. “Go, please. I can’t be worried about you and control this situation.”

  “Fuck,” I growl out as I watch her walk back over to where Jeremy’s on the ground. He’s sitting up now and holding the side of his face while he watches us.

  With one last backward glance, Roxie gives me a smile that breaks my heart. It says everything she didn’t say.

  It says goodbye before I even know there’s an end to us.

  17

  It’s been hours since I left Roxie in the parking lot with Jeremy. Each time I call her, I get her voicemail, and all of the fifty texts I’ve sent are unread.

  The worst part is I don’t even know if she’s okay or not. Jeremy could have attacked her after I left, for all I know. I should have stayed and dealt with the consequences. Roxie shouldn’t be the only one who has to deal with him. With each noise I hear, I jump up to check to see if it’s the cops or Roxie.r />
  Throwing myself down on my bed, I cover my face with my pillow and scream into it over and over again until my throat is hoarse. It does little to help the pent-up frustration that’s coursing through my body.

  Slowly, I sit up. Pulling up Roxie’s number, I dial her knowing I’ll get her voicemail again.

  “Hello,” she answers, her voice low and full of tears.

  “Roxie? Why haven’t you called me back?” I ask, barely more than a whisper. I’m not sure if it’s because I can barely speak after screaming or because I’m afraid of what her answer will be.

  “I… I had a lot to deal with.” She sniffs and then clears her throat. “Everything’s handled with Jeremy, so you shouldn’t have to worry about him. If he bothers you, let me know, and I’ll handle it.”

  I sit up against my headboard and close my eyes. “What did you do?”

  “It doesn’t matter now. What’s done is done, but I need to go, Merrick,” she chokes out.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” There has to be more. First of all, how did she get Jeremy to forget about what he saw? And second, why is she crying and trying to get off the phone with me?

  “Not now, okay?”

  “Then when? When can we meet up?”

  “I don’t know,” she says so softly I barely hear her.

  “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “Well, we don’t always get what we want, now do we? Life isn’t fair, Merrick, and it’s about time you wake up and realize that,” she angrily says, her tone sharp.

  “I do know that, but you can’t leave me hanging here. You won’t give me any answers, and you’re telling me you don’t know when I’ll be able to see you. Give me something.”

  She’s quiet for a long moment, so quiet in fact that I pull my phone away and look to see if she’s still on the line. “At least tell me, did you get him to delete the picture?”

  “Yes, okay? I told you that you have nothing to worry about. Now enjoy the rest of your break.”