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.

help but laugh, half in disbelief. "You're serious? You actually

"Yes. And show me

made it

he really

seconds, his expression growing

South, isn't she? And southerners always make a fuss over

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

"I'll

Stoddard: "Wait, seriously?!"

just gave

man." His eyes

"Spit it out. All at

holidays coming

yet, so I was planel

time off over New Year's. That okay with

Reynolds: "Pushing

say yes or no. Those are my terms,

"Deal."

Let's go, time to play in

Forty minutes later-

It's-look, watch me: like this... and then

for what felt like the hundredth time: "Got it

Owen: "Yeah."

half hour crawled

the deal, okay?

"No. Keep

learn it? It's not like Roseanne's going to