Page 274 - The Love Hypothesis

“I’m not . . . I’m not hungry, actually.”

“Oh.” His expression was teasing. Gentle. “I didn’t know that was
possible.”
“Me neither.” She chuckled weakly, and then forced herself to continue.

“Today is September twenty-ninth.”
A beat. Adam studied her, patient and curious. “It is.”

She bit into her lower lip. “Do you know what the chair has decided
about your funds?”

“Oh, right. The funds will be unfrozen.” He seemed happy, his eyes
brilliant in an almost boyish way. It broke her heart a little. “I meant to tell

you tonight at dinner.”
“That’s great.” She managed a smile, small and pitiful in her mounting
anxiety. “That’s really great, Adam. I’m happy for you.”

“Must have been your sunscreen skills.”
“Yeah.” Her laugh sounded fake. “I’ll have to put them on my CV. Fake

girlfriend with extensive experience. Microsoft Office and excellent
sunscreen skills. Available immediately, only serious callers.”

“Not immediately.” He looked at her curiously. Tenderly. “Not for a
while, I’d say.”

The weight, the one that had been pressing into her stomach since she’d
realized what needed to be done, sank heavier. Now—this was it. The coda.
The moment it all ended. Olive could do this, and she would, and things

would be all the better for it.
“I think I should be.” She swallowed, and it was like acid down her

throat. “Available.” She scanned his face, noticed his confusion, and
clenched her fist in the hem of her sweater. “We gave ourselves a deadline,

Adam. And we accomplished everything we wanted. Jeremy and Anh are
solid—I doubt they even remember that Jeremy and I used to date. And

your funds have been released, which is amazing. The truth is . . .”
Her eyes stung. She closed them tight, managing to push the tears back.
Barely.

The truth, Adam, is that your friend, your collaborator, a person you
clearly love and are close to, is horrid and despicable. He told me things