Page 65 of The Law of Attraction
“Do you think people are naturally monogamous?” she asked. “That we’re meant to pair off like swans or penguins or whatever?” It was something she’d always wondered. Was her perfect match still out there somewhere waiting for her? Or was she too broken to see a good thing when it was right under her nose?
Adam’s brow creased, and she felt an overwhelming urge to smooth it with her fingers. “I don’t think people are naturally meant to do anything, and I definitely don’t believe in soul mates. Do you?”
“Not if you mean some sort of creepy predestined coupling you have no control over.” She’d seen enough soul mate fan fiction to be put off by the whole idea. “But I want to believe it’s possible to find someone who fits you perfectly. I think it sounds nice, actually.”
His mouth curved in a semi-smile. “So you’d like to find your matching penguin?”
“I’d just like to fall in love.” She wasn’t sure she’d ever admitted that to anyone before—not even Penny. She’d always tried to pretend she was tougher than that, that she didn’t need anyone else to complete her.
“You don’t think single people can live a happy, fulfilling life?”
“No, I totally think they can. I just…I’d like to see how the other half lives, I guess.”
His face had gone strangely still, and she wondered what he was thinking. Was he remembering happier times when he’d been in love, or was he so scarred and embittered he’d given up on the whole idea? She wanted to ask him, but she was too afraid of poking another sore spot.
“It’s your turn to ask a question,” she said to break the silence, which had started to feel too weighty. The longer it went on, the more she felt like she was going to explode and do something she might regret.
“Okay.” He was quiet for a moment, thinking about it. “Do you still hate me?”
Her insides crumpled themselves into a tiny ball. “I never hated you.”
His eyes darkened with disbelief. “You did a little.”
“I was pissed at you, but that’s not the same as hate.”
“Okay, maybe you don’t hate me, but you don’t like me very much.”
She swallowed and looked away, so he wouldn’t be able to see how very, incredibly wrong he was.
“See,” he said in that know-it-all voice of his. “I’m right.”
“No.” She shook her head. He had no idea, and she desperately wanted to keep it that way. “You’re the one who doesn’t like me, remember?”
“You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?” He sounded distressed, and she couldn’t make herself look at him, because she couldn’t stand to see his face looking the way his voice sounded.
“It’s fine.”
He touched her wrist. “Don’t do that. Don’t pretend not to care about something you obviously care about. You should hate me. I was an asshole to you.”
“I don’t hate you.” She couldn’t. She’d tried to hate him, but it was impossible.
“For the record, I think you’re amazing.”
Something cracked inside her chest, and she was pretty sure it was her heart. It was like it had been encased in a thin layer of stone, and he’d just reached out and tapped it, shattering the brittle shell into a million tiny fragments. She stared at him, unable to speak or even breathe.
“I was so wrong about you, Olivia. You’re clever and decisive and good with people. I think you’re going to make an excellent manager, and if you asked me again I’d give you that reference in a heartbeat.”
“Oh,” she whispered.
“But you don’t have to forgive me or lie to spare my feelings.”
“I’m not. I do like you.” She tried to stop there, but the words spilled out of her anyway. “A little too much.”
She thought he’d pull away after that, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “Why don’t you ever look at me, then?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You look everywhere in the room except at me.”
