Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 815

“That's not—wait, why are you asking? Is this one of our annual lab performance metrics now? No way..."

Is snowball making some kind of required research skill these days?

Owen Reynolds: "Can you be serious for once? Stop messing around. I'm asking you something important, so quit joking."

Stoddard just stared at him, baffled. "Seriously? Who up north doesn't know how to make a snowball? Don't tell me you can't?"

Owen Reynolds: "..."

"You really don't know how?"

"So what exactly do you want, then?" Stoddard folded his arms, waiting.

Owen Reynolds: "The snow outside's piled up pretty deep."

"And?"

"We go out, and you teach me how to make a snowball."

Stoddard blinked, wondering if he'd heard wrong for the umpteenth time today.

You've got to be kidding.

No, really-this can't be happening.

Owen Reynolds, the notorious workaholic and academic bloodhound, was actually trying to drag him out during work hours, just to... make snowballs?

"Owen, do I look like a snowball to you?"

Owen said nothing.

couldn't help but laugh, half

And show me

it clear

really

couple of seconds, his expression growing oddly thoughtful, then

southerners always make

won't even charge. But― well, I've got two experiments to finish today, and I'm pressed for time. Sorry, pal, can't

Reynolds: "I'll

Stoddard: "Wait, seriously?!"

gave him a

"Deal! You're a good man." His

it

holidays coming up, I haven't taken

yet, so I was planel

over New Year's. That okay

Reynolds: "Pushing

my terms, take it or leave it. Three seconds,

"Deal."

to play in the

Forty minutes later-

me:

felt like

Owen: "Yeah."

hour crawled

"Look, let's just forget about the deal, okay? No

"No. Keep

making is some incredible life skill. So what if you learn it? It's not like Roseanne's going to agree to be your girlfriend just because you