Page 303 - The Love Hypothesis

“Why not Thai?” Malcolm interjected, addressing Holden and ignoring

Adam.
Holden made a whiny noise and started saying something about the lack
of good larb in Stanford, something Olive would have normally been

interested in hearing, except that—
Adam was looking at her again. From several inches above Holden’s

and Malcolm’s heads, Adam was looking at her with an expression that was
half apologetic, half annoyed, and . . . all intimate, really. Something

familiar they’d shared before. Olive felt something inside her melt and
suppressed a smile.

Suddenly, dinner seemed like a great idea.
It will be fun, she mouthed at him while Holden and Malcolm were busy
arguing about whether they should just try that new burger place.

It will be excruciating, he mouthed back barely parting his lips, looking
resigned and put-upon and just so amazingly Adam that Olive couldn’t help

but burst into laughter.
Holden and Malcolm stopped arguing and turned to her. “What?”

“Nothing,” Olive said. The corner of Adam’s mouth was curling up, too.
“Why are you laughing, Ol?”

She opened her mouth to deflect, but Adam beat her to it.
“Fine. We’ll go.” He said “we” like he and Olive were a “we,” like it
had never been fake after all, and her breath caught in her throat. “But I’m

excused from any birthday-related outings for the next year. Actually, make
it the next two. And veto on the new burger place.”

Holden fist-pumped, and then frowned. “Why veto on burgers?”
“Because,” he said, holding Olive’s eyes, “burgers taste like foot.”

—

“ WE SHOULD START by addressing the obvious,” Holden said, chewing on the

complimentary appetizers, and Olive tensed in her seat. She wasn’t sure she
wanted to discuss the Tom situation with Malcolm and Holden before

talking about it with Adam alone.
As it turned out, she shouldn’t have worried.