The Love Hypothesis

by Ali Hazelwood

the most handsome men I’d ever talked to last week, but now you look even better. Not that I care about these things. I don’t care at all. I rarely notice guys, and I’m not sure why I’m noticing you, or your hair, or your clothes, or how tall and broad you are. I really don’t get it. I never care. Usually. Ugh.

Shes starting to like him

“You know, when I have no more friends and everyone hates me because of this fake-dating thing, I’ll be super lonely and you are going to have to hang out with me every day. I’ll annoy you all the time. Is it really worth being mean to every grad in the program?” “Absolutely.”

“Now I’m actually a bit sorry that I can’t have you on my dissertation committee. Perhaps rumors of your cruelty have been greatly exaggerated.” His mouth twitched. “Maybe you just pull out the best in me?”

And then, when he walked past her, she had the impression of knuckles brushing against the back of her hand.

Olive threw herself at him and hugged his torso as tight as she could. She closed her eyes when, after a few seconds of hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her. “Congratulations,” he whispered softly against her hair.

Academia’s a lot of bucks for very little bang. What matters is whether your reason to be in academia is good enough.

“You smart-ass.”

“Olive. You are really…You are extraordinary, and I cannot imagine that if you told Jeremy how you feel he wouldn’t…”

Adam: Wish you were here, then.

“Yep. I’m so glad he finally scrounged up the courage to ask you out. He’d been going on and on about this ‘amazing girl’ for 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,” Dr. Aslan interrupted her with a stern tone. “What do I always tell you?” “Um…‘Don’t misplace the multichannel pipette’?” “The other thing.” She sighed. “ ‘Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man.’ ”

That no matter his reputation, or how rocky their first meeting, since the very beginning, Olive had felt that he was on her side. Over and over, and in ways that she could never have anticipated, he had made her feel unjudged. Less alone.

Adam had slept on the bed closest to the entrance—a

What a gentleman

he looked up and noticed Olive.

;)

She pushed him away. As forcefully as she could, she pushed him away with both her hands on his chest, until he stumbled back with a cruel, condescending laugh.

Atta girl

wish you could see yourself the way I see you.”

“If you say another word about the woman I love, if you look at her, if you even think about her—I’m going to fucking kill you.”

“And then I’ll come find you, and I’ll take care of you.”