(no subject)
Title: How Did This Happen?
Author: serene_ray
Rating: M but NC-17 eventually.
Notes: Addison and Alex-centric with other characters involved.
Disclaimer: I don`t own Grey`s Anatomy, but if I did Addy and Alex would be together.
Summary: The growing dynamics of a friendship/relationship between Addison and Alex.
Read Chapter 4 if you haven`t already done so. Thanks for all the feedback and kind words.
Chapter 5: This Too Shall Pass
This too shall pass, she thought as she stared into the eyes of her husband, silently wondering what this was all about.
Correction, her soon to be ex-husband, who she had just filed divorce papers from, her selfish, arrogant, yet one-hell-of-a-surgeon ex-husband. She was done, she was tired of feeling broken and taken for granted.
“You’ve got 20 minutes,” she said eyeing him.
“Did you ever love me?” he asked her, a look of tension in his face.
“Derek…” she ventured but he cut her off.
“Did you ever love me?” he repeated raising his voice slightly. “Yes or no.”
Addison looked at him, completely uneasy about the direction this conversation was heading, he seemed sad, abrasive, angry even. She felt torn between asking him what was wrong and actually answering his question.
“Yes. I do,” she said gently, “I’ll always love you, Derek.”
“Because I remember loving you. I remember it. Everything about it. It’s subsistence. It’s depth and sometimes I feel pangs of it when I look at you, and I’m not sure if it’s because I remember or if it’s because I still feel that way.”
Addison stared at him, her heart was pounding and she felt the unsteadiness within her hands.
Why is he doing this? She thought, I can’t have this conversation with him; it’s too hard.
“But what? How you feel about Meredith obviously outranks it right, because she’s the mistress, and wives don’t ever get to really keep their husbands. Or maybe that was just me.”
“This isn’t about Meredith.” he said firmly, taking a step nearer to her. She noticed it and tensed up.
“Oh please, everything’s about Meredith. The underwear I found in your tux was about Meredith. You sleeping with her at PROM was about Meredith. You walking around here flaunting your relationship while you have a wife is about Meredith. Why should our divorce be any different?”
“Addison…”
“I know how you used to love me,” she said, her voice breaking, all of her emotions slapping her in the face with such intensity. “I used to feel it, it used to make breathing easier, it made my life okay, and I know, you love her now but I just can’t…” she trailed off dropping her head, she swallowed trying to keep her sadness at bay. She felt him near her. She quickly stepped back.
“Don’t,” she warned lightly.
“I do love Meredith,” he admitted slowly, trying to look in her eyes, she was completely diverting him. “But it’s not the same way I loved you.”
“What are you even saying?” she asked him, raising her voice, her words laced with bewilderment. She wasn’t putting these pieces together, her anguish was escalating and hearing him say these things after everything that had happened sounded like a cruel joke.
“I don’t know if I want this divorce,” he said.
WHAT? Thought Addison, completely shocked.
“I don’t care,” Addison said painfully; tears starting to fall, she quickly brushed them away and kept talking. “I need this divorce Derek, I can’t do this with you anymore. This back and forth is making me insane. I can’t function at work; I’m tormented because I’ve done everything…”
She suddenly felt dizzy, putting her hand to her head and a hand on her hip.
“Addison…” He said, reaching his hand out. She dodged it lightly, as to not throw herself off balance.
“Stop. Just stop. I can’t do this anymore.”
“We’ve gotten passed Meredith before,” said Derek calmly.
“Listen to yourself! Before! Yeah, I thought I owed you one, but you said you wanted it to work with me, but you really didn’t. You just couldn’t get over it, you just couldn’t forgive me. Fine, if you couldn’t forgive me then WHY did you even lie to yourself? Why did you waste your time and energy? Why weren’t you just honest with me? I‘m sorry but I can‘t do it.” She finished off, sighing tiredly.
Her brain was aching, she felt like she was being pulled in several different directions, the severity of her emotions and the rawness of her nerves was making this whole situation entirely too volatile.
“Well I know it’s not because of Mark, what happened Addy? Did he show his true colors?” asked Derek bitterly, obviously rattled by Addison’s seemingly sincere declaration of being done with him.
“I didn’t ask him to stay here, Derek. I didn’t want that.” She said, gently taking a breath and trying to calm her anxiety.
“But obviously you called him,” he scoffed lightly. “I mean that’s how he showed up in the first place right? You should have just quit while you were ahead.”
“That sounds rich coming from you.” She countered, bitterly.
“So it’s not Mark, so it must be the intern,” Derek replied loosely.
Addison’s jaw almost hit the floor. “What?” she questioned, raising her voice, demanding an immediate response.
“The attitude doesn’t surprise me. You always liked them incredibly cocky.”
“Well, look at you,” she offered firmly, verbally throwing another blow at him.
“Just answer me this. What are you thinking?” he asked her, furrowing his brows as he looked at her. Trying to break her down with his eyes, with his displaced resentment, with everything he had in him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about but I’m not with Mark and I’m not with said Intern.” She responded aggressively, using her hands to further illustrate the seriousness of her point.
“Did you forget our little run in?” He asked her seriously. “You know, the one where Karev came to your defense. Oh poor Addison, you’re husband’s such an asshole, he doesn’t want to divorce you because he’s not sure he can ever love another woman the way that he loved you.”
“I really enjoy this past tense spin you keep putting on everything.” She said, sounding dejected. “And, I hate to burst your bubble but that small act of kindness that you witnessed was a direct result of your outlandish display of rudeness. He was merely being kind.”
“I bet he is real kind to you…” he started but she cut him off.
“Shut up. You don’t even know what you’re talking about, even if anything was going on between me and Karev, and it’s not, it couldn’t possibly trump the ever-nausea-inducing tryst of Meredith and McDreamy.”
“I don’t know who you’re trying to fool, I have eyes, I see what’s going on. Come on, be honest with yourself!” He exclaimed, folding his arms.
“You’re absolutely delusional. Alex Karev is an intern, I don’t sleep with interns, that’s your specialty.” She said quietly, feeling the tears start to well up again.
I’ve got to get out of here, she thought to herself, he makes me too weak.
“Addison, please…”
“Please what? You’re completely out of your mind. This is about some ridiculous residual jealousy that you felt when you saw another man try to protect me from you. You don’t really not want this divorce. You just want it on your terms, I’m too tired to do this anymore Derek. I really don’t want to.” She exclaimed, sounded incredibly defeated.
“I just don’t know if I can divorce you Addison.”
“Well, go ask your girlfriend if you can. I’m sure she’ll say yes. I’m done.” She started off in the direction to walk past him, she almost reached the door when he called out to her.
“Addison…”
She hesitated and turned around.
“…I’m not.” He finished convincingly.
She turned back around and walked out.
________________________________________________________________________
Addison walked into her hotel room, kicking the door shut with the bottom of her heel. She threw her keys on the floor and dropped her bags on the table by her bed. She immediately walked to the shower and turned it on.
I need to wash away this sadness, she thought completely riddled with misery.
She tested the water and turned to take off her clothes, she caught sight of her reflection; looking at her tear-stained face. She saw the stress and the anguish in her eyes and that told the entire story of the end of her day events.
She stepped in the shower, as the hot water fell; covering every inch, she instantly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the water consume her. She had so many different thoughts running through her head she couldn’t keep up. One would play out but before it was even done, another one came out of no where and smacked her in the face. She hadn’t even realized that she was crying, her tears and the water all just mixed together, undulating over her.
I need a drink, she thought tiredly.
________________________________________________________________________
“Joe, can I get another?” Addison asked sweetly. Joe turned around and looked at the doctor, she seemed much more relaxed now but when she had first arrived that wasn’t the case, she obviously had a lot going on.
“Another?” he asked curiously. “How many of those things have you had?” he questioned curiously.
Addison sat up straighter, quickly uncrossing and crossing her legs in the other direction, she picked up three small straws that had been sitting on the bar on her napkin.
“Three!” she said proudly.
“Did you drive here?” he asked her carefully.
“No, I took a cab. I’m a doctor, I’m not reckless, well I’m emotionally reckless but that’s neither here nor there.” She exclaimed rather bluntly.
“Another Vodka Tonic coming up.” He said as he started to make Addison’s requested drink.
Addison looked around the bar briefly before resting her elbow on the bar, tapping the side of her face lightly in rhythm with the tapping her black heel was doing on the foot bar under her feet. She felt the alcohol cursing through her veins as she closed her eyes momentarily to steady her slightly spinning head.
Suddenly she felt the presence of someone sitting on the stool next to her, she quickly glanced to her left to see who it was and met rather familiar eyes.
“Hey,” said Alex softly, his eyes dancing over hers, her face, her presence. He found himself holding his breath at the mere sight of her, he exhaled silently. She looked amazing; she’d always looked good because she was so beautiful but how she looked now, as she sat right in front of him: it was completely different than the hospital. Maybe it was the absence of the white coat but he was enthralled, just when he sensed his complete fascination was becoming obvious, Joe walked up and set Addison’s drink in front of her.
“Hey, yourself,” said Addison, eyeing Alex, smiling slightly. “Let me buy you a drink…or seven.” she said , as she took a sip of her fourth.
“How many is that for you?” he asked her, gesturing to her drink in hand. She looked at her glass and then looked at him. “Doesn’t matter.” She said softly as she took a long sip from her straw. Alex’s gaze caught her mouth and it lingered there momentarily. “So what’ll it be?” she asked him, referring to the drink.
“A beer,” said Alex directing it at Joe, not quite clearly grasping the entirety of this situation. “What’s that?” he asked, referring to what she was drinking.
“Vodka Tonic,” she said slowly, “Want some?” she asked, tilting her head at him slightly, raising an eyebrow. Holding the glass gently with her index finger and thumb she extended her hand slowly in his direction.
Some of what? You? Sign me up, he thought suggestively. He cleared his throat, shaking his head.
“Vodka? You do have work tomorrow right?” he questioned her, as he quickly said thanks to Joe who handed him his beer.
“Well to tell you the truth,” she said seriously, then she lowered her voice slightly, “I was gonna bring out the shots but mixed drinks don’t usually yield extreme hangovers.” She said lazily.
“How many is that?” he asked her again casually, looking into her eyes, assessing from her behavior that she was already drunk.
She looked at him strangely, fixing her lips in a pout momentarily and then offering, “Are you repeating yourself?” teasing him gently.
He took a sip of his beer. “I don’t know why you don’t just answer the question. I’m curious, you probably don’t even know. Have you lost track?”
She looked at him, and mocked disproval. “I do too know how many I’ve had…” she said convincingly, returning his eye contact. He watched as she ran her right hand through her hair, exposing the turquoise stone earrings that hung gently from her ears; the contrast of it’s color against Addison’s hair was staggering. Right under her earrings he saw the lingering curve of her neck. “…I’ve got a system.” she said matter-of-factly, breaking into his thoughts.
Alex took another sip of his beer, glancing at her. “Oh, yeah? What system?” he asked. Addison pointed at the three straws nearest her napkin.
“Three straws; three previous drinks.” She said, smiling.
“That’s your fourth?” he asked, she could hear the surprise in his voice. His subtle concern made her warm inside. Addison nodded as she took another sip of her drink.
Alex reached for the other side of the cup when the straw fell out of her mouth, she looked at him, and then at their extended arms holding her glass, she almost let it go but had a second thought.
“Are you gonna try it?” she asked him, studying his face, gripping the glass a tad bit tighter.
“I think you should take a little break,” he offered, referring to the alcohol, he left her glass go.
“Oh, I’m just getting started.” she countered seriously. “Okay, how about this, if you try it, then I’ll take a break. A little break.”
“Define little,” he said, finishing off his beer.
“Little, as in, I’ll wait at least 20 minutes to order another one after this one’s gone.” She suggested plainly.
“Deal,” he said seriously.
“Deal,” she replied gently.
Addison handed him the glass, he took the straw out, brought the glass to his lips and finished the rest of her drink in one chug. He put the glass on the bar and looked up at Addison’s face. It was one of positive disbelief.
“I can’t believe you just did that.” She said, her mouth still slightly agape.
“You’re right. Those are good. I think I want one.”
“Well, get me another one…” She began.
“Oh, no I think you’re mistaken, you have 19 more minutes, remember?” he said. “Joe can I get a Vodka Tonic over here please.” He said to Joe who was close by.
“You completely tricked me.” She whined, still eyeing him in shock. “That was utterly and totally not nice.”
He stuck out his bottom lip at her suddenly, mocking her juvenile whining.
“Stop,” she said smiling, referring to his teasing.
Damn, when did you become so unbelievably adorable? She thought as she glanced at him, enter-lacing her fingers together as they rested on the bar in front of her.
“I think one of the rules should have been, if I share mine, you have to share yours.” said Addison eyeing the ice cold drink that came into such close proximity with his mouth. She forced her eyes away from his mouth, finding his eyes and held his gaze.
“No dice. No outside rules were put in place. 17 minutes. Why are you trying to drown in Vodka anyway?” he asked her.
Addison looked away from him quickly, her eyes looking over all the alcohol bottles behind the bar. She felt that wave of sadness overtake her as she remembered Derek. She didn’t even answer Alex. She thought maybe he’d do her a favor and change the subject. Alex just studied her, noting her sudden change in attitude when he asked her what was prompting this alcohol binge.
“Addison,” he said softly. Addison’s heart leapt and she almost felt as though her ears were deceiving her, it was like she’d never heard her name before, but then she realized it was because he’d never said it before. This was the first time he called her by her first name.
She looked down, took a breath and then met his eyes.
“What?” she said softly, equalizing his tone. Their eye contact lingered.
“Talk to me.” he stated gently.
Author: serene_ray
Rating: M but NC-17 eventually.
Notes: Addison and Alex-centric with other characters involved.
Disclaimer: I don`t own Grey`s Anatomy, but if I did Addy and Alex would be together.
Summary: The growing dynamics of a friendship/relationship between Addison and Alex.
Read Chapter 4 if you haven`t already done so. Thanks for all the feedback and kind words.
Chapter 5: This Too Shall Pass
This too shall pass, she thought as she stared into the eyes of her husband, silently wondering what this was all about.
Correction, her soon to be ex-husband, who she had just filed divorce papers from, her selfish, arrogant, yet one-hell-of-a-surgeon ex-husband. She was done, she was tired of feeling broken and taken for granted.
“You’ve got 20 minutes,” she said eyeing him.
“Did you ever love me?” he asked her, a look of tension in his face.
“Derek…” she ventured but he cut her off.
“Did you ever love me?” he repeated raising his voice slightly. “Yes or no.”
Addison looked at him, completely uneasy about the direction this conversation was heading, he seemed sad, abrasive, angry even. She felt torn between asking him what was wrong and actually answering his question.
“Yes. I do,” she said gently, “I’ll always love you, Derek.”
“Because I remember loving you. I remember it. Everything about it. It’s subsistence. It’s depth and sometimes I feel pangs of it when I look at you, and I’m not sure if it’s because I remember or if it’s because I still feel that way.”
Addison stared at him, her heart was pounding and she felt the unsteadiness within her hands.
Why is he doing this? She thought, I can’t have this conversation with him; it’s too hard.
“But what? How you feel about Meredith obviously outranks it right, because she’s the mistress, and wives don’t ever get to really keep their husbands. Or maybe that was just me.”
“This isn’t about Meredith.” he said firmly, taking a step nearer to her. She noticed it and tensed up.
“Oh please, everything’s about Meredith. The underwear I found in your tux was about Meredith. You sleeping with her at PROM was about Meredith. You walking around here flaunting your relationship while you have a wife is about Meredith. Why should our divorce be any different?”
“Addison…”
“I know how you used to love me,” she said, her voice breaking, all of her emotions slapping her in the face with such intensity. “I used to feel it, it used to make breathing easier, it made my life okay, and I know, you love her now but I just can’t…” she trailed off dropping her head, she swallowed trying to keep her sadness at bay. She felt him near her. She quickly stepped back.
“Don’t,” she warned lightly.
“I do love Meredith,” he admitted slowly, trying to look in her eyes, she was completely diverting him. “But it’s not the same way I loved you.”
“What are you even saying?” she asked him, raising her voice, her words laced with bewilderment. She wasn’t putting these pieces together, her anguish was escalating and hearing him say these things after everything that had happened sounded like a cruel joke.
“I don’t know if I want this divorce,” he said.
WHAT? Thought Addison, completely shocked.
“I don’t care,” Addison said painfully; tears starting to fall, she quickly brushed them away and kept talking. “I need this divorce Derek, I can’t do this with you anymore. This back and forth is making me insane. I can’t function at work; I’m tormented because I’ve done everything…”
She suddenly felt dizzy, putting her hand to her head and a hand on her hip.
“Addison…” He said, reaching his hand out. She dodged it lightly, as to not throw herself off balance.
“Stop. Just stop. I can’t do this anymore.”
“We’ve gotten passed Meredith before,” said Derek calmly.
“Listen to yourself! Before! Yeah, I thought I owed you one, but you said you wanted it to work with me, but you really didn’t. You just couldn’t get over it, you just couldn’t forgive me. Fine, if you couldn’t forgive me then WHY did you even lie to yourself? Why did you waste your time and energy? Why weren’t you just honest with me? I‘m sorry but I can‘t do it.” She finished off, sighing tiredly.
Her brain was aching, she felt like she was being pulled in several different directions, the severity of her emotions and the rawness of her nerves was making this whole situation entirely too volatile.
“Well I know it’s not because of Mark, what happened Addy? Did he show his true colors?” asked Derek bitterly, obviously rattled by Addison’s seemingly sincere declaration of being done with him.
“I didn’t ask him to stay here, Derek. I didn’t want that.” She said, gently taking a breath and trying to calm her anxiety.
“But obviously you called him,” he scoffed lightly. “I mean that’s how he showed up in the first place right? You should have just quit while you were ahead.”
“That sounds rich coming from you.” She countered, bitterly.
“So it’s not Mark, so it must be the intern,” Derek replied loosely.
Addison’s jaw almost hit the floor. “What?” she questioned, raising her voice, demanding an immediate response.
“The attitude doesn’t surprise me. You always liked them incredibly cocky.”
“Well, look at you,” she offered firmly, verbally throwing another blow at him.
“Just answer me this. What are you thinking?” he asked her, furrowing his brows as he looked at her. Trying to break her down with his eyes, with his displaced resentment, with everything he had in him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about but I’m not with Mark and I’m not with said Intern.” She responded aggressively, using her hands to further illustrate the seriousness of her point.
“Did you forget our little run in?” He asked her seriously. “You know, the one where Karev came to your defense. Oh poor Addison, you’re husband’s such an asshole, he doesn’t want to divorce you because he’s not sure he can ever love another woman the way that he loved you.”
“I really enjoy this past tense spin you keep putting on everything.” She said, sounding dejected. “And, I hate to burst your bubble but that small act of kindness that you witnessed was a direct result of your outlandish display of rudeness. He was merely being kind.”
“I bet he is real kind to you…” he started but she cut him off.
“Shut up. You don’t even know what you’re talking about, even if anything was going on between me and Karev, and it’s not, it couldn’t possibly trump the ever-nausea-inducing tryst of Meredith and McDreamy.”
“I don’t know who you’re trying to fool, I have eyes, I see what’s going on. Come on, be honest with yourself!” He exclaimed, folding his arms.
“You’re absolutely delusional. Alex Karev is an intern, I don’t sleep with interns, that’s your specialty.” She said quietly, feeling the tears start to well up again.
I’ve got to get out of here, she thought to herself, he makes me too weak.
“Addison, please…”
“Please what? You’re completely out of your mind. This is about some ridiculous residual jealousy that you felt when you saw another man try to protect me from you. You don’t really not want this divorce. You just want it on your terms, I’m too tired to do this anymore Derek. I really don’t want to.” She exclaimed, sounded incredibly defeated.
“I just don’t know if I can divorce you Addison.”
“Well, go ask your girlfriend if you can. I’m sure she’ll say yes. I’m done.” She started off in the direction to walk past him, she almost reached the door when he called out to her.
“Addison…”
She hesitated and turned around.
“…I’m not.” He finished convincingly.
She turned back around and walked out.
________________________________________________________________________
Addison walked into her hotel room, kicking the door shut with the bottom of her heel. She threw her keys on the floor and dropped her bags on the table by her bed. She immediately walked to the shower and turned it on.
I need to wash away this sadness, she thought completely riddled with misery.
She tested the water and turned to take off her clothes, she caught sight of her reflection; looking at her tear-stained face. She saw the stress and the anguish in her eyes and that told the entire story of the end of her day events.
She stepped in the shower, as the hot water fell; covering every inch, she instantly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the water consume her. She had so many different thoughts running through her head she couldn’t keep up. One would play out but before it was even done, another one came out of no where and smacked her in the face. She hadn’t even realized that she was crying, her tears and the water all just mixed together, undulating over her.
I need a drink, she thought tiredly.
________________________________________________________________________
“Joe, can I get another?” Addison asked sweetly. Joe turned around and looked at the doctor, she seemed much more relaxed now but when she had first arrived that wasn’t the case, she obviously had a lot going on.
“Another?” he asked curiously. “How many of those things have you had?” he questioned curiously.
Addison sat up straighter, quickly uncrossing and crossing her legs in the other direction, she picked up three small straws that had been sitting on the bar on her napkin.
“Three!” she said proudly.
“Did you drive here?” he asked her carefully.
“No, I took a cab. I’m a doctor, I’m not reckless, well I’m emotionally reckless but that’s neither here nor there.” She exclaimed rather bluntly.
“Another Vodka Tonic coming up.” He said as he started to make Addison’s requested drink.
Addison looked around the bar briefly before resting her elbow on the bar, tapping the side of her face lightly in rhythm with the tapping her black heel was doing on the foot bar under her feet. She felt the alcohol cursing through her veins as she closed her eyes momentarily to steady her slightly spinning head.
Suddenly she felt the presence of someone sitting on the stool next to her, she quickly glanced to her left to see who it was and met rather familiar eyes.
“Hey,” said Alex softly, his eyes dancing over hers, her face, her presence. He found himself holding his breath at the mere sight of her, he exhaled silently. She looked amazing; she’d always looked good because she was so beautiful but how she looked now, as she sat right in front of him: it was completely different than the hospital. Maybe it was the absence of the white coat but he was enthralled, just when he sensed his complete fascination was becoming obvious, Joe walked up and set Addison’s drink in front of her.
“Hey, yourself,” said Addison, eyeing Alex, smiling slightly. “Let me buy you a drink…or seven.” she said , as she took a sip of her fourth.
“How many is that for you?” he asked her, gesturing to her drink in hand. She looked at her glass and then looked at him. “Doesn’t matter.” She said softly as she took a long sip from her straw. Alex’s gaze caught her mouth and it lingered there momentarily. “So what’ll it be?” she asked him, referring to the drink.
“A beer,” said Alex directing it at Joe, not quite clearly grasping the entirety of this situation. “What’s that?” he asked, referring to what she was drinking.
“Vodka Tonic,” she said slowly, “Want some?” she asked, tilting her head at him slightly, raising an eyebrow. Holding the glass gently with her index finger and thumb she extended her hand slowly in his direction.
Some of what? You? Sign me up, he thought suggestively. He cleared his throat, shaking his head.
“Vodka? You do have work tomorrow right?” he questioned her, as he quickly said thanks to Joe who handed him his beer.
“Well to tell you the truth,” she said seriously, then she lowered her voice slightly, “I was gonna bring out the shots but mixed drinks don’t usually yield extreme hangovers.” She said lazily.
“How many is that?” he asked her again casually, looking into her eyes, assessing from her behavior that she was already drunk.
She looked at him strangely, fixing her lips in a pout momentarily and then offering, “Are you repeating yourself?” teasing him gently.
He took a sip of his beer. “I don’t know why you don’t just answer the question. I’m curious, you probably don’t even know. Have you lost track?”
She looked at him, and mocked disproval. “I do too know how many I’ve had…” she said convincingly, returning his eye contact. He watched as she ran her right hand through her hair, exposing the turquoise stone earrings that hung gently from her ears; the contrast of it’s color against Addison’s hair was staggering. Right under her earrings he saw the lingering curve of her neck. “…I’ve got a system.” she said matter-of-factly, breaking into his thoughts.
Alex took another sip of his beer, glancing at her. “Oh, yeah? What system?” he asked. Addison pointed at the three straws nearest her napkin.
“Three straws; three previous drinks.” She said, smiling.
“That’s your fourth?” he asked, she could hear the surprise in his voice. His subtle concern made her warm inside. Addison nodded as she took another sip of her drink.
Alex reached for the other side of the cup when the straw fell out of her mouth, she looked at him, and then at their extended arms holding her glass, she almost let it go but had a second thought.
“Are you gonna try it?” she asked him, studying his face, gripping the glass a tad bit tighter.
“I think you should take a little break,” he offered, referring to the alcohol, he left her glass go.
“Oh, I’m just getting started.” she countered seriously. “Okay, how about this, if you try it, then I’ll take a break. A little break.”
“Define little,” he said, finishing off his beer.
“Little, as in, I’ll wait at least 20 minutes to order another one after this one’s gone.” She suggested plainly.
“Deal,” he said seriously.
“Deal,” she replied gently.
Addison handed him the glass, he took the straw out, brought the glass to his lips and finished the rest of her drink in one chug. He put the glass on the bar and looked up at Addison’s face. It was one of positive disbelief.
“I can’t believe you just did that.” She said, her mouth still slightly agape.
“You’re right. Those are good. I think I want one.”
“Well, get me another one…” She began.
“Oh, no I think you’re mistaken, you have 19 more minutes, remember?” he said. “Joe can I get a Vodka Tonic over here please.” He said to Joe who was close by.
“You completely tricked me.” She whined, still eyeing him in shock. “That was utterly and totally not nice.”
He stuck out his bottom lip at her suddenly, mocking her juvenile whining.
“Stop,” she said smiling, referring to his teasing.
Damn, when did you become so unbelievably adorable? She thought as she glanced at him, enter-lacing her fingers together as they rested on the bar in front of her.
“I think one of the rules should have been, if I share mine, you have to share yours.” said Addison eyeing the ice cold drink that came into such close proximity with his mouth. She forced her eyes away from his mouth, finding his eyes and held his gaze.
“No dice. No outside rules were put in place. 17 minutes. Why are you trying to drown in Vodka anyway?” he asked her.
Addison looked away from him quickly, her eyes looking over all the alcohol bottles behind the bar. She felt that wave of sadness overtake her as she remembered Derek. She didn’t even answer Alex. She thought maybe he’d do her a favor and change the subject. Alex just studied her, noting her sudden change in attitude when he asked her what was prompting this alcohol binge.
“Addison,” he said softly. Addison’s heart leapt and she almost felt as though her ears were deceiving her, it was like she’d never heard her name before, but then she realized it was because he’d never said it before. This was the first time he called her by her first name.
She looked down, took a breath and then met his eyes.
“What?” she said softly, equalizing his tone. Their eye contact lingered.
“Talk to me.” he stated gently.