The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

“SBD is something to look forward to, at least.”
Olive nodded. She usually wasn’t a fan of academic
conferences, given how prohibitively expensive registration,
travel, and lodgings could be. But Malcolm and Anh were
going to be at SBD, too, and Olive was excited to explore
Boston with them. Plus, the intradepartmental drama that
always happened at academic functions with open bars was
sure to be A+ entertainment.
“I am organizing this outreach event for BIPOC women in
STEM from all over the country—I’m going to get Ph.D.
students like me to talk face-to-face with undergrads who are
applying and reassure them that if they come to grad school
they won’t be alone.”
“Anh, this is amazing. You are amazing.”
“I know.” Anh winked, sliding her arm through Olive’s.
“We can all share a hotel room. And get free gadgets from the
exhibit booths, and get sloshed together. Remember at Human
Genetics, when Malcolm got wasted and began hitting random
passersby with his poster tube— What’s going on there?”
Olive squinted against the sun. The parking lot of the
biology building was uncharacteristically jammed with traffic.
People were blowing their horns and getting out of their cars,
trying to figure out the source of the holdup. She and Anh
walked around a line of vehicles stuck in the lot, until they ran
into a group of biology grads.
“Someone’s battery died, and it’s blocking the exit line.”
Greg, one of Olive’s lab mates, was rolling his eyes and
bouncing impatiently on his feet. He pointed at a red truck
stuck sideways in the most inconvenient turn.
Olive recognized it as Cherie’s, the department secretary.
“I defend my dissertation proposal tomorrow—I need to
drive home to prepare. This is ridiculous. And why the fuck is