I might not have a date with Emma, but I’d made a connection.
Chapter Nine
Emma
“You did what?” Becca asked with a look of confusion mixed with disbelief.
We sat on the sofa in our apartment, waiting for our regular Friday night show to start.The weekly ritual had started in middle school. Back then, we’d added a sleepover, licorice, and enough soda to swim in.
“I invited Dr. Mitchell to go to the Field Museum with me. It’s not a big deal.” I tried to sound as nonchalant as possible. This wasn’t a big deal. At least, that was what I’d told myself over and over again as I’d stretched out from running. I couldn’t believe I’d issued the invitation—er, challenge.
The way his eyes had bugged out told me he’d been just as shocked as I was. Did I really give the guy the impression that I was some sort of man-hating ogre or something? I would have invited anyone new in town to the museum. Well, notanyone,but a coworker.
“Okay, wait a second.” Becca waved her hands as if she could erase what we’d already said from the air and start over. “Two weeks ago, you couldn’t stand being around this guy, and now you are spending free time with him? What did I miss?”
Becca had on her detective face—the one she’d earned readingNancy Drewin elementary school. There was no way I was getting out of this without giving her details. Maybe I should have kept it to myself, but we were best friends and we held nothing back. She was one of the few people who had seen my ugly. That was what we called it when we griped about a coworker or a mean girl back in school. With Becca, I could be totally honest and she didn’t judge me for it. I loved that about our friendship.
“Turns out I may have been wrong about him … and maybe you were right.”
Becca cocked an eyebrow, leaned back, and folded her arms like she didn’t believe a word I said.
I adjusted my seat, getting ready to lay it all out there for her. “Okay, you remember that night when I took Gina’s graveyard shift?”
Becca nodded.
“Well, I ran into Dr. Mitchell that night. He wasn’t overly friendly, but he took the time to explain his clinical decision-making process to me and … you were right. I think he’s more direct—like a New Yorker.” I tried to ignore the grin spreading across her face. I hated when she was right. I wouldn’t hear the end of this for weeks.
“But that still doesn’t explain why you ended up asking him out. We like a lot of our coworkers, but that doesn’t mean we spend our free time with them.”
“I didn’t ask him out. I offered to show him around. That’s different.” She went to protest, but I spoke right over the top of her. “I don’t know how to explain it. When I ran into him this morning, he seemed so … lost. Normally, he is so confident, borderline cocky, but on the Riverwalk, he seemed human.”
Becca gave me a grin as she tossed some popcorn in her mouth. “You do like to take care of lost puppies.”
I threw one of the red pillows at her. “It isn’t a date, and he isn’t a lost puppy. I’m just trying to help him get used to Chicago. We talked about what it’s like to move here, and I realized that it was an adjustment for me. What kind of a Christian would I be if I didn’t help out a fellow transplant?” I replied, exaggerating the last part.
“A horrible one,” Becca replied without making eye contact.She quickly added, “He’s so handsome, I don’t know if I would ever be able to stop staring.” She chuckled and said, “Good luck seeing anything in the museum.”
I rolled my eyes.
Trumpets blasted from the television, telling us our show was about to start. I turned to the screen, grateful I didn’t have to agree with heragainthat Dr. Mitchell was a fine specimen of a man.
If we’d kept talking, I’d have to tell her that Dr. Mitchell’s smile, the one he probably didn’t even realize he’d given me, sent butterflies all through my stomach.I had a feeling that not many people got to see that smile, and I felt special being in an exclusive club.
Just me and him.
There was more to Dr. Mitchell than I’d originally thought, and I looked forward to finding out more.
Chapter Ten
Alex
It was Friday night, and as usual, I was alone. Not that I minded. This was my time to relax, exercise, or read up on the latest medical studies. But tonight I found myself sitting on the couch, searching through Amazon Prime Video forThe Ghost and the Darkness,wishing I had Emma sitting next to me.
Which was a strange thing for me to wish for, because I’d never had a hard time being by myself before. Then again, it wasn’t the fact that I was unhappy with my current company, but more that I yearned for her sweetness. She was like that dusting of powdered sugar on a doughnut. The doughnut was fine without it but oh so much better with it.
I popped a bowl of popcorn and pushed play, hoping to take my mind off Emma. As the story played out on screen, I found myself drawn into the hunt … and also wondering why happy Emma liked a movie about man-eating lions?
There was definitely another side to her—an adventurous, daring side that I’d yet to see in person. I didn’t dare hope that she’d ever give me a chance to adventure with her, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she liked kayaking. I’d watched a YouTube video about the basics, and it sounded fun.
