TBBT 4B Apartment.
"Good night."
"Good night."
Only after the awkwardness in Penny's eyes had practically exploded did they finally exchange good nights.
The moment she lay down, Penny turned onto her side with her back to Leonard, looking shocked and speechless.
This was the first time she had encountered someone saying he loved her after the fact.
It completely ruined the mood.
The next day.
At the hospital.
"Leonard, aren't you working?"
Seeing Leonard come by during work hours, Adam asked in surprise, "What's bothering you?"
"My heart."
Leonard complained as he recounted what had happened the night before. "Adam, what did she mean by 'thank you'? Was 'thank you' really the right answer at a time like that?"
"What else?"
Adam teased, "Should she have said 'I love you too'? Did you forget Penny's first rule for dating you—that she reserves the right to replace you at any time?"
"..."
Leonard's mouth twitched. "She can't say 'I love you too' just because of that? I've seen her say those words very casually about other things!"
"Oh, Leonard~"
Adam looked at Leonard sympathetically, seeming as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
"What is it?"
Leonard looked at Adam uneasily, baffled.
"You're still too naive."
Adam smiled. "Let me ask you: does Penny have a rich romantic history?"
"...More or less."
Leonard gave a bitter smile.
"That isn't what Sheldon's calculations say."
Adam said playfully, "In the three years he has known Penny, she was single for two of them. During those two years, she dated seventeen suitors.
Working backward, Penny started dating at fourteen.
If the left half of the bell curve reached its peak now, then the total would be 193, plus or minus eight—roughly 200.
Leonard, you're merely one of those 200. And from