Page 57 of (Mostly) Human Resources

Alexys looked him dead in the eye and wrinkled her nose. She slowly opened her mouth, allowing half-chewed granola to fall out and into the cursed flora below.

She frowned. “Gross.”

Nic’s lips twitched with amusement. “You have horrible table manners.” He flashed her an expression of reproach.

“Table manners only apply if there’s atable,” she retorted quickly.

“You should still pick up your spat-out food. Or better yet, have the decency not to spit it out in the first place. It’s practically littering.”

She shoved the rest of the bar in her mouth. “Not if it’s food.”

Nic shook his head and finally let himself smile. “You’re ridiculous. Must you always be so contrary?”

“Only with you.” Alexys shrugged and shoved the wrapper into her backpack, mindful to avoid any actual littering. “Are you done playing with plants?”

“Of course.” He considered pointing out that they’d be there already had her physical fitness been better, or had she avoided the endless botanical foot snares, but he had picked enough fights. They carried on walking.

“The most impressive aspect of thepueraria montana,” Nic continued, “is its root system.”

Alexys huffed behind him. Groaning at his lectures was better than getting caught up in her worry over Elliot.

“I think that’s all the plant talk I can handle,” she said. “Can we pick a different topic now?”

“But there are still so many interesting facts I’ve yet to tell you. No one lets me talk about plants in the office.”

“That’s because plants are boring.”

Nic looked over his shoulder and stuck out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.

Her eyes dropped to his lips, and something warm sparked in his chest.

Nic gave her his most charming, mischievous smile and was rewarded with a pretty blush.

“Fine,” she relented, looking quickly away. “One more fun fact, and then you’re done.”

Grinning triumphantly, he cleared his throat and put on his most professional airs. He even stopped walking to ensure he had her undivided attention for the final delivery: “Kudzu is officially classified as a Federal Noxious Weed.” Alexys rolled her eyes, but he could see the smile fighting through her annoyance.

“You’rea federal noxious weed.” She was so busy rolling her eyes and insulting him that she neglected to notice the raised tree root in her path.

Nic opened his mouth to warn her, but it was too late.

Her toe caught, her eyes flashed wide, and then she fell flat on her face. She collided hard enough to knock the breath out of her in an audible whoosh, and then she lay still.

He pressed his lips tightly together, struggling to keep the laughter at bay.

“Not a word,” Alexys choked out. She pointed a threatening finger at him before reluctantly accepting his hand to pull her up from the ground. “I just can’t get even a moment of peace.” Nic gave her the once over before carrying on walking.

He checked his watch again. He had to give her credit, theyhadbeen at it for hours—the whole day, in fact. But they needed shelter, and fast.

“Maybe the trees heard all your insults and decided to fight back.”

She snorted a laugh and said, “That’d be the day.”

He looked back to find her still glaring at the plants while adjusting her backpack into a more comfortable position. “Come along, Scully,” Nic called over his shoulder. “Onward to glory.”

CHAPTER 32

“Never spend a night alone in the woods. No matter the District, no matter the Quadrant. No matter how safe you might feel. Too many things go hunting at night.”