Page 172 - The Love Hypothesis

close, too, but the relationship Adam had with Holden was something else,

and . . . and Olive had no idea what to do with this piece of information.
Maybe she should tell Malcolm. He’d either have a field day or go
completely berserk.

“Well,” Holden said, standing up. “This was fantastic. I’ll go get coffee,
but we should hang out soon, the three of us. I can’t remember the last time

I had the pleasure of embarrassing Adam in front of a girlfriend. For now,
though, he’s all yours.” He followed the word “yours” with a smirk that had

Olive blushing.
Adam rolled his eyes when Holden left for the coffee counter.

Fascinated, Olive followed him with her gaze for several moments. “Um,
that was . . . ?”
“Holden for you.” Adam seemed barely annoyed.

She nodded, still a little dazed. “I can’t believe I’m not your first.”
“My first?”

“Your first fake date.”
“Right. I guess prom qualifies.” He seemed to mull it over. “Holden has

had some . . . bad luck with relationships. Undeserved bad luck.”
It warmed her chest, the protective concern in his tone. Made her

wonder if he was even aware of it.
“Did he and Tom ever . . . ?”
He shook his head. “Holden would be outraged if he knew you asked.”

“Why doesn’t he want to drive Tom to the airport, then?”
Adam shrugged. “Holden has always had a very deep, very irrational

dislike of Tom, ever since grad school.”
“Oh. Why?”

“Not sure. Not sure Holden knows, either. Tom says he’s jealous. I think
it’s just a personality thing.”

Olive fell silent, absorbing the information. “You didn’t tell Holden
about us, either. That it’s not real.”
“No.”

“Why?”