Page 181 - The Love Hypothesis

years, but he was concerned about being in the same department, and you

know how he is . . .” He shrugged and waved his hand. “I’m glad he finally
managed to pull his head out of his ass.”
Olive’s brain stuttered. Her neurons went sluggish and cold, and it took

her several seconds to process that Adam had been wanting to ask her out
for years. She couldn’t wrap her head around it, because . . . it was not

possible. It didn’t make sense. Adam didn’t even remember Olive existed
before she’d Title-IXed him in the hallway a few weeks ago. The more she

thought about it, the more she grew convinced that if he’d had any
recollection of their bathroom meeting, he would have said as much. Adam

was famously direct, after all.
Holden must have been referring to someone else. And Adam must have
feelings for that someone. Someone he worked with, someone who was in

their department. Someone who was “amazing.”
Olive’s mind, half frozen until a few seconds ago, began to spiral with

the knowledge. Setting aside the fact that this conversation was an utter
invasion of Adam’s privacy, Olive couldn’t stop herself from considering

the implications of their arrangement for him. If the person Holden was
talking about was one of Adam’s colleagues, there was no chance that she

hadn’t heard about Adam and Olive dating. It was possible that she’d seen
the two of them get coffee together on a Wednesday, or Olive sitting on
Adam’s lap during Tom’s talk, or—God, Olive slathering him with

sunblock at that godforsaken picnic. Which couldn’t be good for his
prospects. Unless Adam didn’t mind, because he was sure beyond any

doubt that his feelings were unrequited—and oh, wouldn’t that be funny?
About as funny as a Greek tragedy.

“Anyway.” Holden pushed away from the wall, his hand coming up to
scratch his nape. “I think we should go on a double date one of these days.

I’ve been taking a break from dating—too much heartache—but maybe it’s
time to dip my toes in again. Hopefully I’ll snatch myself a boyfriend
soon.”

The weight in Olive’s stomach sank even lower. “That would be lovely.”
She attempted a smile.