Page 58 of Summer L.A.W.

He gave her a look that could sterilize glassware. “I’m here because Chad seems convinced your— hobby has destabilized basic natural law. I specialize in explaining such claims.”

Magda let the word ‘hobby’ go. He’d see the error of his ways in time. “And do you have a good explanation ready?”

“Not yet,” he admitted. “But I’m confident one exists.”

“Adorable,” she said.

Voss ignored the jab, pulling a small sensor from his bag. “If I could take a few readings⁠—”

The moment he switched it on, every heart-shaped vine in the room turned to face him.

He froze. “Is it supposed to do that?”

Magda smirked. “Oh yes. They like skeptics. It’s like catnip for those who enjoy a challenge.”

Wally hopped out from under a table and landed on the scientist’s shoe. Voss startled, nearly dropping his instrument.

“What is that?”

“My familiar. He’s harmless unless provoked. Or hungry.”

Wally sniffed the satchel.

Magda tapped her chin. “He’s probably both, actually.”

Voss straightened, reclaiming his composure. “I’d appreciate it if we could maintain a professional environment.”

“Then you shouldn’t have brought snacks in your bag.”

He exhaled through his nose, clearly recalculating his evening’s choices. “All right, Ms. Bloomer. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that what I’m seeing isn’t an elaborate prank. What exactly is your goal with these… experiments?”

Magda considered that. “To bottle the essence of affection. Not lust, not obsession. Just the quiet, steady warmth that makes people care about each other.”

He regarded her in silence, the kind of silence that came from a man used to equations, not confessions. “That’s remarkably admirable.”

“I’m remarkably lonely,” she said before she could stop herself. Then she straightened her shoulders. “But mostly, it’s academic curiosity. In other words, I want to see if I can do it.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Of course.”

“Don’t patronize me, Doctor.”

“Not at all. I’m simply wondering whether your affection field could be quantified.”

She narrowed her eyes. “If you try to measure love with math, I will see how you like chasing after muffins in zero gravity.”

He gave a short, genuine laugh, then quickly smothered it, but it had happened. “Duly noted.”

For a heartbeat, the air between them softened. Then a vine crept down from above and looped itself gently around his wrist. He glanced at it, startled, as the glowing tendril pulsed once, then released him.

He looked back at her. “It reacted to me.”

Magda tilted her head. “Don’t take it personally. It reacts to those who need a cuddle. Not Chad, though.”

“Why not him?”

“Because he has Brianna for that.”

Wally chirped approvingly, as if punctuating her point.