Page 49 of Love at a 7-Eleven

"She did?" I asked making a face at the thought.

"Yes. It was either that or she was tracking me, and either one of those options is bad. She had excuses for everything. She was obsessed. She kept being frantic. She saw us kiss earlier. She said specific things. I was out of answers, honestly." He paused and smiled, shaking his head. "And then it was like a miracle happened."

"What? What happened? The Jesus thing?"

"Yes. I prayed out loud."

"You prayed?"

"Yes. It was a two-minute prayer, and it turned her off like a light switch. I don't even remember what I said. Somehow, she didn't want me after that."

"It turned her off? A prayer?"

"Yes. She lost interest."

"You said it out loud?"

"Yes, and I realized I had never really prayed with her before. I think she disrespected me afterward. I could see the change. She saw me as a weird Jesus freak. Too religious, maybe. It was unbelievable. She went from begging me to love her to awkwardly wanting to leave and telling me that she thought it was better if we didn't work together anymore. It was like a dream, honestly."

"I bet. What happened? She just left?"

"Yes. She drove away and she was looking at me like she wanted nothing to do with me—almost like she felt bad for me."

"What?"

"I promise. That's how it seemed."

"How did it surprise her that you prayed? That's what your job is. That's the whole point of your channel."

"I know, but I guess I've just never prayed with her before. I don't know what happened. She was begging me, and then I prayed, and when I finished she lost all interest. She said 'I think it's best if we part ways'."

"And what did you say?"

He shook his head. "I said I agreed, and I thanked her for everything she had done for me. I have to be in touch with her to get some of my passwords and accounts straight, but I think she's going to be cool and help me out with all that." He touched his face like he was dreaming, and then he looked at me like he was confused. "Do I still look the same? Am I the same Caleb? Part of me thought I might have changed physically. Am I repulsive now?"

"Not even close," I said.

"Well, whatever I prayed, it worked. We hugged. It was clinical and non-emotional, and we said goodbye. It was like, that's-that."

"That's unbelievable," I said, staring at the side of his face.

"It is unbelievable. It was like she was one person and then I prayed, and when I finished, she was a different person. I'm still trippin' over it."

"Are you sad about it?" I asked, wondering if he would miss her affection.

"No. No, I'm relieved. Why, areyousad about it?" he stared at me.

"What, no, why would I be sad about it?"

"I don't know. That's how weird and sudden her change was."

"You were hoping that I was still attracted to you?"

"Yes. It's crazy how abruptly things turned around with her."

"Do you think she pretended not to want you because she was embarrassed about being caught following you?"

"No. I could actually tell in her eyes. The attraction was gone."

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