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.

but laugh, half in disbelief. "You're serious? You actually want to go outside

And

made it clear

he really wanted

of seconds, his expression growing oddly thoughtful,

southerners always make a fuss

I won't even charge. But― well, I've got two experiments to finish

"I'll do

Stoddard: "Wait, seriously?!"

just gave him

good man." His

expression darkened. "Spit it out. All at

the holidays coming up,

I was planel

over New

"Pushing your

yes or no. Those are my terms, take it or leave it. Three

"Deal."

time to play in

Forty minutes later-

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

felt like the hundredth

Owen: "Yeah."

hour

just forget about the deal, okay? No

Reynolds: "No.

learn it? It's not like Roseanne's going to agree to be your girlfriend just because you know how to make a snowball! That's not how it