The Love Hypothesis is a romance novel by Ali Hazelwood, published September 14, 2021.Originally published online in 2018 as Head Over Feet, a Star War fanfiction work, the novel follows a Ph.D. candidate and a professor who pretend to be in a relationship.

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Fun fact about Nathan Callahan(FFANC): He didn't like sharing fun facts about himself. Also, what the hell is a love hypothesis?

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Chapter Eleven: The Love Hypothesis

“I heard they are gonna show ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ today,” Nathan told me.

“Seriously!” I squealed, “That's perfect. Rom-com genius. One of my favorite movies. Heath Ledger was so hot, I could die.”

The movie was starting. So I picked up the box of my plain popcorn (Nathan got himself salted caramel popcorn) and we watched the opening credits roll.

The title appeared on the screen in a very old font and bright green color. I cheered, and so did a few people around us. It was a classic movie. It deserved all the cheers.

“You probably don't care,” I said, looking at the screen, “But out of all types of romance, I love Enemies-to-Lovers, the best. The angst gets me every single time.”

I’d started babbling. I spared him a glance. His body was turned towards me, as if to give me attention easily if he wanted. Currently, he was looking at the screen.

“Which type do you hate the most?”

“Friends-to-lovers,” I said, “It's just not for me.”

I turned back to the screen and mouthed the words to the song Bad Reputation. Nathan glanced my way once.

Next, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's face appeared along with the office lady.

Nathan spoke, “Look at that. That lady could be your friend. She writes the stuff you like to read.”

I picked up a piece of popcorn and threw it at him. He caught it between his teeth. I saw his tongue dart out as the piece disappeared into his mouth.

“Bland,” Nathan muttered. I rolled my eyes and looked away.

Cameron, Jospeh’s character, walked around with his friend Michael, who showed him around the school.

“I just love his baby face,” I said, looking at Joseph, “It gets me every time. He was so young.”

“Wasn't he in Inception?” Nathan asked.

“Yes, and 500 Days of Summer,” I said.

“Hmm, something about The Smiths,” Nathan murmured. My eyes widened.

“No way.”

“It's a famous movie,” He said like it was no big deal that he knew a ‘Days of Summer’ reference.

That went on for a while. I shrieked, danced in my seat, munched on my popcorn, tried not to make a fool of myself and failed. The movie brought me a different level of comfort. It was so familiar; the plot, the dialogues, Heath Ledger dancing in the bleachers, the prom, Bianca’s punches, and Kat Stratford reading her sonnet of hate. It always ended too soon for my liking. 

As the credits rolled, I sat there in the dark, remembering how I embarrassed myself throughout, but Nathan didn’t comment on it. He didn't make fun of me or the movie.

I finally found the courage and looked at him. I found him, with his back leaned on his seat, looking at me.

“That wasn't half bad,” He smiled slightly.

I shook my head, “It was like the best movie ever.”

He folded his arms behind his head. It made the button down stretch over his biceps. Not that I noticed.

“Why do you like romances so much? Is there any particular reason other than usual flares of seeing people kiss?”

I rolled my eyes, but I did consider his question.

Why did I love it so much? Why did it make me feel so warm and gooey on the insides?

“Maybe because...” I didn't know how to talk about it without sounding cringe, “it made me feel a little less empty on the inside?”

Nathan contemplated my answer. I continued.

“Kissing scenes are hot, but romance is so much more than that. It's the fluff, the connection, the understanding between the characters and all that, you know.”

I sighed, “I just love to see people fall in love and find their other halves.”

Nathan decided it was a good time to attack, because he turned to meet my eyes and said, “And your other half is Landon McArther?”

I considered whether to be angry at him. But then I decided against it.

“Yeah, exactly,” I said, “When he looks at me, I think like he gets me.”

Nathan laughed, “Sure. Are you hungry now, Kingsley?”

I buckled my seatbelt and said, “Yeah.”

“Good, because I'm gonna take you somewhere crazy expensive, we’ll have a feast. You will pick up the bill, just like you’ve promised.”

I swallowed and hoped I wouldn't have to wash dishes at some random five-star restaurant tonight.

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If this was Nathan’s definition of crazy expensive, I didn't want to know how broke he was. Because we were in no five-star restaurant. Nope.

I was standing in front of a narrow door with a red-yellow sign over it that said ‘Dumpling House’. Nathan pushed the door open and stepped inside. I followed him.

I was immediately taken to some other world. There were crinkles of pots, steams coiling out of bamboo steamers, the rich aroma of spices wafting in the air, along with a constant chatter of words, a buzzing of sorts, making the whole place technicolor.

The kitchen was open. I could see people tending the dough, someone putting in fillings, the sizzle of the pan as food went in, and the fire dancing on the side of the woks. The place was packed, every table holding customers who were raising their hands. A woman was running all around supplying food.

We found a small table for ourselves in one corner. When we sat down, Nathan’s legs bracketed mine. My legs were wedged between his, and I could feel the fabric of his pants against my knees.

“Ready to be blown away, Kingsley. It's gonna be the best meal of your life,” Nathan said as he settled down. He was unfazed by everything that was going on around him.

I looked at the prices, five dumplings for one dollar and such. I looked at Nathan, who was talking about food items on the menu, and asked him, “Is this your idea of crazy expensive?”

He shook his head, “This is my idea of good food,” he said, “unlike your boring food court.”

He was right. The food court would have been extremely boring compared to this. There was something alive about this place. At the same time, I didn't feel the least bit self-conscious, like I would have if we were in some high-strung, high-priced restaurant. The chaos gave me the freedom to sit a little loose and dive into a culinary journey.

I smiled and looked back at the menu and paid attention this time.

“There are so many variations,” I commented, looking at the dumplings.

Nathan nodded. He decided what we’d have tonight. He raised his hands. We ordered Soup Dumplings, Chicken Siu Mai, Cabbage Bun, their special Noodles, and Spring Rolls.

When she was gone, I could feel Nathan bumping his knees against mine, and when I looked at him, he made no acknowledgement but was looking around the place instead. So I decided not to bring it up either.

“You know,” Nathan spoke, “if I could get this every time you get an A, imagine all the places we could go to.”

I smiled to myself, “Yes, Nathan Callahan, I have stashes of money underneath my bed.”

He waved like it was no big deal. But the problem really wasn't money. It was the quizzes. We didn't have many left, with the finals drawing closer.

“We should go somewhere with good desserts next, maybe good coffee too. I already have a few places in mind,” He brought out his phone as if to Google those right now.

I leaned back in my seat and watched him. “You sure are dreaming a lot.”

“I'm just playing into your hands, Kingsley.”

I almost choked on air. I had no idea why he would say that. So I pretended he didn't. And completely changed the subject.

“Say, we were watching a movie of your choice, what'd we watch?”

Nathan smirked, “Trying your hand at 20 questions?”

I was exasperated. He never let me down easily.

“Fine,” he said and turned off the screen of his phone, “Can we watch a movie with murder and gore next time? Like with loads of guns and bombs and explosions.”

“You're talking like I would talk about you if I were to explain what you watch,” I said, “I actually like murder mysteries though.”

“No shit?” He asked, “Really? So you are actually a real person with different preferences.”

It was unfortunate that sass couldn't be sold. I would steal all of his and sell that in the black market. I would become a millionaire overnight.

“I love Agatha Christie. I also liked watching Sherlock. I watched the Benedict Cumberbatch one, the Robert Downey Jr. one too.”

Nathan nodded. So I asked, “And what's your favorite movie?”

“Why?” He smirked, “You don't know? The Godfather, obviously.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Gotta stay original to my mafia bearings. Roots and all that.”

“Oh please,” I waved him off. “Be honest, for a second.”

He was laughing, “Alright, it's the Shining.”

“No, it's not,” I shook my head, “If I didn't know you, I would have agreed. But I think it's something stupid, a kids' movie? A tearjerker?”

Nathan waited.

“How to Train Your Dragon? Cars? Toy Story 3?” I asked, “One of them, isn't it?”

His face didn't betray any emotion. As if to veer my attention, he replied, “I've been watching superhero movies a lot lately, with Bear.”

“Please say you watched Spider-Man,” I was sitting up straighter, staring right into his eyes.

He was amused, “Why, you're going to ask me whom I like best?”

“Of course, duh,” I said, “We have to settle that right here, right now.”

“I think you are 2–3 years too late to that conversation,” Nathan said, and somehow he seemed closer.

“It's Miles Morales, of course,”

Nathan opened his mouth and closed and then opened it again. I giggled.

“Whom did you expect me to say?”

He leaned back, “I don't know.”

“The Spider-Verse movies are masterpieces,” I breathed, still reminding myself of their sheer brilliance, “Everything about them was so perfect.”

“Cannot argue with that,” he shrugged.

“But if we consider the other Spideys, I'd say Andrew Garfield,” I said, “I liked him even before the internet decided he was cool.”

Nathan smiled knowingly.

“And he was so cute, and Emma was so cute, and I obviously cried,” I interjected.

He muttered, “And there it is.”

I huffed as he grinned.

The lady was coming our way with our orders. She set the dishes down. Nathan rubbed his palms together, looking more excited than I'd ever seen him before. I laughed to myself.

My mouth was salivating already from the aromas wafting from them. Nathan lifted off the lids one by one and described the dishes to me.

I was so ready. Nathan served before I had the chance and told me to wait a few minutes. I decided to pour chili oil on one of the dumplings.

“Hey, there, easy with that. This Chili oil is no joke,” Nathan warned.

“Thank you, but I think I can handle my spices,” I said as I loaded up.

I picked up one of the soup dumplings. As soon as I bit into it, the flavor bathed my mouth, an explosion of umami. I finished the dumpling and paused, taken aback by how amazing that was.

Nathan watched me bemusedly as he ate his portion. No words were said between us for the next few minutes as we scarfed down dumplings after dumplings, along with the noodles and the spring rolls. I had never eaten so much in such a short time before, but I'd never let him steal any of my pieces.

Finishing it all, I leaned back in my chair. I felt hot, and my lips were burning just a tad bit, and I might be breathing through my mouth because my nose was running (I loved the chili oil, hey, it was more savory than spicy), but it was one of the best things I'd ever had.

It was not like I was ever gonna tell Nathan Callahan.

Nathan asked for the bill as he kept glancing at me. I raised an eyebrow, “What?”

“Your lips are so red right now,” he said with his eyes focusing there, “I mean, they were red because of the lipstick before, but now it's different.”

I grew self-conscious and looked in my pocket mirror. My lipstick wasn't that smudged, but I should touch it up. Then I remembered, “Oh, I gave it to mom. She is definitely on a date.”

He looked at me in confusion. I debated my options.

“I downloaded Tinder for Mom,” I said as nonchalantly as possible, “And then she borrowed my lipstick. Wouldn't you say those events are connected?”

Nathan seemed like he was thinking it over, “Umm, yes?”

The bill arrived, and I paid quite comfortably. We left our seats. I followed Nathan to the register towards the exit.

He turned around and was about to say something when his eyes darted behind me, and he stopped. His eyes widened. He uttered a single word.

“Wong.”

I was instantly alerted, “What is he doing here? Is he following us?”

“That'd be so weird. But I think he's on a date?”

“Is everyone on a date tonight?” I muttered as I followed his line of vision.

I caught sight of Wong’s bald head, and even from his back, I could recognize him. But I also jumped because of who I saw with him.

“No, this cannot-” I was about to yell, but Nathan covered my mouth as people were starting to give us looks. He pulled me across the threshold, brought me out of the restaurant, and I almost collapsed on the pavement as soon as he let me go.

This couldn't be happening. No.

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