The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

He nodded, thoughtful. “You’re sure the starting sample
was good? And the gel?”
“Yep, not runny, or dried out.”
“It looks like the antibody might be the problem.”
She looked up at him. “You think so?”
“Yep. I’d check the dilution and the buffer. If not that, it
might also be a wonky secondary antibody. Come by my lab if
it still doesn’t work; you can borrow ours. Same for other
pieces of equipment or supplies. If there’s anything you need,
just ask my lab manager.”
“Oh, wow. Thank you.” She smiled. “Now I’m actually a
bit sorry that I can’t have you on my dissertation committee.
Perhaps rumors of your cruelty have been greatly
exaggerated.”
His mouth twitched. “Maybe you just pull out the best in
me?”
She grinned. “Then maybe I should stick around. Just, you
know, to save the department from your terrible moods?”
He glanced at the picture of the failed Western blot in her
hand. “Well, it doesn’t look like you’re going to graduate
anytime soon.”
She half laughed, half gasped. “Oh my God. Did you just
—?”
“Objectively—”
“This is the rudest, meanest thing—” She was laughing.
Holding her stomach as she waved her finger at him.
“—based on your blotting—”
“—that anyone could ever say to a Ph.D. student. Ever.”
“I think I can find meaner things. If I really put myself to
it.”