Well, I wouldn't... [ Even though Meredith isn't looking at him, Chris ends up looking down at his food too. There's gotta be a better way to do this, but whatever it is, his severe lack of romantic anything in life makes him completely blind to it. ] I wouldn't say I'm not into it.

[ He peers up then, and his smile is softer when he does it, even if it remains sheepish. It's not a bad sentiment, actually, and maybe in time, maybe when he isn't more worried about Meredith's well-being over everything else, maybe when he isn't struggling with his own grief leftover from his last mission back home-- ]

There's no rush, though, yeah? We can go one step at a time, do the friend thing... and, uh, [ Chris chuckles, rubbing at the side of his neck again ] it'd be nice to have more meals like this. And more getting to know each other in-between.

[ Hope, right? ]