Page 206 - The Love Hypothesis

Adam Carlsen, Ph.D.

Stanford University
Keynote Speaker

Her jaw dropped.

“Oh my God.” She looked up at him, wide-eyed, and . . . Oh God. At
least he had the grace to look sheepish. “How did you not tell me that you

are the keynote speaker?”
Adam scratched his jaw, oozing discomfort. “I didn’t think of it.”

“Oh my God,” she repeated.
To be fair, it was on her. The name of the keynote speaker was likely
printed in font size 300 in the program, and all the promotional material, not

to mention the conference app and the emails. Olive must have had her
head very much up her butt to fail to notice.

“Adam.” She made to rub her eyes with her fingers, and then thought
better of it. Damn makeup. “I can’t be fake-dating SBD’s keynote speaker.”

“Well, there are technically three keynote speakers, and the other two
are married women in their fifties who live in Europe and Japan, so—”

Olive crossed her arms on her chest and gave him a flat look until he
quieted. She couldn’t help laughing. “How did this not come up?”
“It’s not a big deal.” He shrugged. “I doubt I was their first choice.”

“Right.” Sure. Because a person existed who’d refuse to be keynote
speaker at SBD. She tilted her head. “Did you think I was an idiot, when I

started complaining about my ten-minute talk that will be attended by
fourteen and a half people?”

“Not at all. Your reaction was understandable.” He thought about it for a
moment. “I do sometimes think you’re an idiot, mostly when I see you put

ketchup and cream cheese on bagels.”
“It’s a great mix.”
He looked pained. “When are you presenting in your panel? Maybe I

can still make it.”
“No. I’m exactly halfway through.” She waved a hand, hoping to seem

unconcerned. “It’s fine, really.” And it was. “I’m going to have to record