The Solution to Unrequited
Page 28
Evan halted cutting into his steak and smiled. “I’m good, Mr. Parker.”
“That’s good. How is Stanford?”
AJ watched as Evan nodded at her father. The way he looked at AJ’s father was still with respect and admiration, and that caused her chest to tighten. He still adored her parents—even after what had happened between them.
“It’s good. It was an adjustment at first, but I like it. How was the drive to Durham for Alexandra’s move-in day?”
She stiffened at Evan’s question. She had no idea how her father would take Evan’s question or how he’d even reply. She glanced over at her mother who in turn was just as intrigued and cautious of AJ’s father’s behavior.
“It was good. The drive was easy, but we didn’t have a storm to race like you and my daughter did. We stopped in Scarsdale to visit my wife’s brother and see my nieces and nephew. But move-in day wasn’t so bad. I did build a few bookcases.”
“You did?” Evan asked, abandoning his steak.
Her father nodded, no doubt proud of his carpentry skills. “Yeah. You met Savannah while you were at Duke?”
Evan grinned. “Yeah, I met Savannah. I like her. She’s good to Alexandra.”
AJ sat in amazement as she watched Evan and her father converse as if nothing had happened. Evan had done the impossible, and that was to completely change her father’s stance when it came to him. He glanced over at her, smiled, and continued to discuss her life at Duke as if he had known all along she was in North Carolina for college.
Peeking over at her mother, AJ noticed the awe-like expression on her mother’s face as if she, too, was stunned to see how normal AJ’s father and Evan were together.
Hope exploded in her chest.
Maybe it might just work out between them after all.
“Are you sure you don’t need help with the dishes, Mrs. Parker?” Evan asked at the front door.
AJ shook her head at him. It was a stupid question. There was no way her mother would ever let Evan wash their dishes. He was a guest in their home and guests—other than her uncle Julian—never washed dishes.
“No, Evan. Noel’s got it. Thank you for bringing Alexandra home from college!” her mother yelled back.
Evan stepped away from the door and cupped AJ’s face. “Thank you for letting me bring you home from Duke, Alexandra,” he whispered.
AJ saw the flicker of need in his eyes as he glanced down at her mouth and then back at her eyes. She wanted to kiss him just the same. But she knew he wouldn’t. Not in her parents’ home. Her parents still had no idea where she and Evan stood.
And frankly, neither did AJ.
“Thank you for not making it awkward at dinner. I know my parents were pretty worried that you’d yell at them or something.”
His thumb swept across the surface of her cheek. “I don’t hold any grudges against your parents. They did what was best for you. I better go. I should catch up on all the work I’ve missed.”
“I’ll walk you to your house,” she said.
He opened his mouth to argue but shut it the moment she shook her head and opened the front door. When they stepped out, she closed the door behind them, and he led her down the short steps and toward his house next door. When they passed her father’s car, Evan reached over and linked his fingers with hers, holding her hand firmly with his.
It felt so right.
So natural to have him hold her hand.
It felt as natural as him sitting with her parents and having dinner together.
When they made it across the Gilmore driveway and up the path to his house’s steps, Evan released her hand. He sat down, staring out at their neighbors’ houses across the street. AJ sat next to him, also staring at the houses.
As much as she loved Evan, during their dinner, she realized one thing.
Their time was limited.
“So,” he said, gaining her attention.
AJ took in his fearful expression and set her hand on his thigh. “So …”
The smile he made wasn’t complete.
It was barely a curve.
He knew it.
Just like she knew it.
Their road trip from Duke to Brookline had been their solution to unrequited.
To save them, they went on the road. Not knowing what would happen and not having all the evidence but a concept to investigate.
To answer the future of them, they had to hypothesize, and they had reached their answer.
The end of their road trip.
The end of their science experiment.
The Solution (h1) to Unrequited:
Road trip (Duke to Brookline) = distance (d) x time (t) = AJ (p1) + Evan (p2)
∴ distance (d) x time (t)
= AJ + Evan
In conclusion, the hypothesis (h1) that a road trip from Duke University to Brookline, MA, would save participant 1 (p1), AJ, and participant 2 (p2), Evan, resulted in the hypothesis (h1) being inconclusive as a result of outstanding undocumented factors that weren’t yet recorded at the time of the experiment’s beginning.
Therefore, hypothesis 1 (h1) is deemed null.
“Alexandra? Be honest with me,” Evan pleaded.
She nodded, not wanting to keep any doubt from him. “We go to different colleges, Evan. Colleges on the other side of the country from each other. You go to Stanford in California, and I go to Duke in North Carolina.”
He let out a heartbreaking sigh as if he knew that what she was leading up to would destroy them. “It would be too hard for us to continue to love each other from that much distance, huh?”
Tears quickly consumed her, and she nodded, freeing them. “Yes.”
All that strength her heart had gained since last night evaporated.
Pain revealed itself, hiding in the cracks that had not been sealed, easily escaping for her to feel all over.
“Wait for me,” he said, completely surprising her.
Her lip trembled as he cleaned her cheeks of her tears. “W-what?”
“Please, wait for me,” he begged in a small voice, eyes wide with fear and hope.
Sniffling, she moved her hand from his thigh to wrap around his wrist, her thumb brushing against his pulse. “Do you love me enough to warrant me waiting?”
A smile spread across his lips as he brought her face closer, his eyes shimmering with a thousand unsaid promises. She blinked, and Evan captured her lips with his, sealing them and his unsaid promises together. To let her lips feel the truth in all the promises they had not vocally made to each other at that moment.
He kissed her with love.
With passion.
With desire and need.
With the possibility of a future …
Someday.
When Evan pulled back, he pressed his forehead to hers and whispered the only words she needed to hear for her heart to wait for him and believe him.
“Eight protons. Eight neutrons.”
The end of
THE SOLUTION TO UNREQUITED
Book two in the Science of Unrequited series.
Find out what happens next to AJ and Evan in
THE RESULTS OF UNREQUITED
Book three in the Science of Unrequited series.
THE RESULTS OF UNREQUITED
Book three in the Science of Unrequited series.
Atomic number: 67
Name of chemical element: Holmium
Symbol: Ho
Every result can be manipulated … even between best friends.
COMING SOON
LATE-2018
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Solution to Unrequited was a journey in itself. Looking back, I remember writing it with so much excitement and I still have that excitement because I can finally share it with the world. Though you guys have waited three months, I’ve been anxiously waiting years. Weird, right? But finally we continue AJ and Evan’s story.
Yep, you don’t want to miss the next instalment of their story in The Results of Unrequited, coming late-2018.
Thank you to my lovely and supportive family. I would not have anything without you all.
Thank you to my best friend, Jaycee Ford. It’s not a book without you. You always believe in me when I don’t. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.
Thank you to Danielle Melo for beat reading and loving AJ and Evan as much as I do.
To Veronica Larsen, you are magnificent and wonderful. I want to be half as great as you someday.
To Cassie Chapman, Leigh Shen, and Saffron A. Kent, thank you ladies so much for giving AJ and Evan’s first book the chance. I am honoured to have you all read their story.
To my editor, Jenny Sims, thank you for continuing to edit my books. Thank you for making them great. And thank you for making it more American and still feel like a book by me. I would not have the book I have without you.
To my cover designer and book interior book designer, Najla and Nada of Najla Qamber Designs, I dedicated this book to you both because I had to. I look at this cover and feel everything this book is meant to make you feel. Thank you both for all your hard work, love, dedication, and professionalism. And most of all, thank you both for believing in my vision and your friendship.
Veronica Adams, you are incredible. You are so hardworking and I always want to do better for you the way you have made my career better. Without you, I don’t think AJ and Evan’s story would have reached the people it already has.
To the amazing authors, bloggers, and readers who shared The Solution to Unrequited’s cover, teasers, excerpts, and everything in between. Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness. I am speechless by your love.
To the amazing bloggers who reviewed AJ and Evan’s book. Thank you all so much for your love and support. I am in awe of all of you.
To my readers, thank you. Your love for my books and characters—especially AJ and Evan—has been incredible, and sometimes I sit and wonder what I’ve done to deserve such amazing, dedicated readers. You all changed my life. You don’t know it, but you all did. Thank you for your love and support. All of this, and all that I do, is for you.
To Leeann van Rensburg, you. I have no idea how I can express my undying gratitude to you. From beta reading, to your friendship, and your dedication to getting my books and my name out there. I am forever grateful to have you in my life and be part of my team.
To my Lenatics, the friends who are always there for me and the family I get to love. Without you all, I don’t know where I would be. And I don’t want to ever know what that life would be like. I love you, Lenatics!
And to you. Always YOU.
Thank you for continuing AJ and Evan’s journey.
Until our next adventure together in The Results of Unrequited.
Love,
Len
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Len Webster is a romance-loving Melburnian with dreams of finding her version of ‘The One.’ But until that moment happens, she writes. Having graduated with her BBusCom from Monash University, Len is now busy writing her next romance about how a boy met a girl, and how they fell completely and hopelessly in love.
She is also not a certified explorer, but she’s working on it.
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