They reached an empty workstation near the back of the department. Liam slid into the chair and immediately opened a drawer, rummaging through its contents. When his hand emerged, it held a small square packet—the distinctive silver-white packaging of a pheromone suppressant patch.
Neville's eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat.
Liam didn't meet his gaze directly, instead scratching at his cheek in a gesture that seemed almost embarrassed.
"I'm a little more sensitive than most," he explained, "The leave—is it because of that?"
For a moment, Neville couldn't speak. He couldn't help but stare at the patch Liam held out. His fingers trembled as he reached for it, and he couldn't quite suppress the slight tremor in his hands as he accepted it.
"It's a little irregular lately," Neville managed, forcing his voice to sound casual.
Liam nodded, his attention already turning to the quantum computer holographic display and pulling out Neville's personnel file.
