Page 275 - The Love Hypothesis

that might be truths, or maybe lies—I don’t know. I’m not sure. I’m not sure

of anything anymore, and I would love to ask you, so badly. But I’m
terrified that he might be right, and that you won’t believe me. And I’m even
more terrified that you will believe me, and that what I tell you will force

you to give up something that is very important to you: your friendship and
your work with him. I’m terrified of everything, as you can see. So, instead

of telling you that truth, I will tell you another truth. A truth that, I think,
will be best for you. A truth that will take me out of the equation, but will

make its result better. Because I’m starting to wonder if this is what being in
love is. Being okay with ripping yourself to shreds, so the other person can

stay whole.
She inhaled deeply. “The truth is, we did great. And it’s time we call it
quits.”

She could tell from how his lips parted, from his disoriented eyes
searching hers, that he wasn’t yet parsing what she’d said. “I don’t think

we’ll need to explicitly tell anyone,” she continued. “People won’t see us
together, and after a while they’ll think that . . . that it didn’t work out. That

we broke up. And maybe you . . .” This was the hardest part. But he
deserved to hear it. He’d told her the same, after all, when he’d believed her

in love with Jeremy. “I wish you all the best, Adam. At Harvard, and . . .
with your real girlfriend. Whoever you may choose. I cannot imagine
anyone not reciprocating your feelings.”

She could pinpoint the exact moment it dawned on him. She could tease
apart the feelings struggling in his face—the surprise, the confusion, a hint

of stubbornness, a split second of vulnerability that all melted in a blank,
empty expression. Then she could see his throat work.

“Right,” he said. “Right.” He was staring at his shoes, absolutely
motionless. Slowly accepting her words.

Olive took a step back and rocked on her heels. Outside, an iPhone rang,
and a few seconds later someone burst into laughter. Normal noises, on a
normal day. Normal, all of this.

“It’s for the best,” she said, because the silence between them—that, she
just couldn’t stand. “It’s what we agreed on.”