Friendly, huh? Keep telling yourself that when you keep wondering about more.
Oh, I would. A friendship was all this could ever be. Sure, Chris watched my puppy while I worked. Yes, I was attracted to him—I did have eyes. No, nothing would go past the thoughts in my mind. They couldn’t, because I couldn’t even be relied upon to pick up my own dog on time. What kind of girlfriend would I make as a doctor? Ell’s words echoed in my head, but I ignored them. I hadn’t actually promised, so I would stick to my friendship mantra.
“How are you?” Chris asked. The crinkles alongside his eyes became prominent. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. There was another emergency surgery, but that happens sometimes.” I’d given the patient the best outcome toward recovery. His rehab would be extensive but not insurmountable.
“Then I’m glad. I’ll pray for their speedy recovery.”
“What?” I blinked. “You don’t even know him.” Whowasthis man?
“God does.” He shrugged. “I’m just adding a prayer to the ones I’m sure his loved ones are already saying.”
Who did that? Who prayed for someone they’d never met?
I eyed Chris. “You’ll really pray for him?”
“Yes. I’ll do it right now if you want to join me.” He smiled.
“Uh...” I pointed toward my living room, and we went to sit. I’m not sure myuhwas really assent, but Chris bowed his head, nevertheless.
“Dear Lord, we come to You today thanking You for the talent You’ve blessed Erykah with. That talent was able to help save a couple of people these past two nights.” Chris cracked an eye open and looked at me. “Is that right?”
“Yes,” I croaked. Was this really happening?
His eye closed once more. “Thank You for sending Erykah to save them. We ask that You bring full healing to their bodies. Please help them through any rehab they go through, and continue equipping Erykah to be Your hands and feet. In Jesus’s name, amen.”
I’d never heard anyone pray before, and it wasn’t at all what I’d imagined. Not that I’d necessarily imagined people praying. Still, I couldn’t believe Chris would pray for a perfect stranger. Part of me was in awe. This man exuded kindness in a way that made me want to get closer. Only now I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt we weren’t meant to be. How could someone pray to an invisible being and believe wholeheartedly that he was heard and that God would answer him? That wasnotpossible.
You’re too opposite. Friendship is all this could be.
Charlie wagged his tail and lay down on my shoes. As I looked down into his black eyes, his tongue lolled out. He seemed to be smiling.
“Can dogs smile?”
Chris glanced at him. “Sure looks like it.”
“That can’t be possible, right?”
Chris shrugged. He ran a hand down his face, and I suddenly realized he looked tired. But also...
“Your glasses are gone,” I whispered.
“Oh, yeah, put my contacts in today.” He smiled.
His eyes were so blue, almost matching the clear azure color of the sky from my earlier peek outside. Why did I have to notice everything about Chris Gamble?
I cleared my throat. “Guess I should let you get back to your day.”
“You want to grab lunch first?” Chris offered. “There’s a barbecue place nearby that’s phenomenal.”
Before I could decline, the doorbell rang. “Sorry. Let me see who this is. I’m not expecting visitors.”
“Sure thing.” He sat back down.
A squint through the peephole showed someone in a uniform, but I couldn’t make out what kind. “Hey, Chris? Could you stand nearby just in case?” I wasn’t comfortable opening my door to a stranger. No one ever knocked on my door, well, except for Chris.
“Sure.” He moved off to the side and motioned for me to go ahead and answer the door.
