Maybe, in the future...
Teddy stood in front of her wardrobe in her bra and panties, yanking clothes off their hangers at random and thrusting them in the general direction of the bed that was too big for just one person. She hadn't properly chosen something to wear since the months after she married Henry, when she was internet dating!
Wear something pretty, Addison had texted. Well, Teddy was definitely going to try. She pulled a simple low-necked t-shirt over her head and draped an olive-green shawl around her shoulders, finishing her outfit with that pair of skinny jeans she never got a chance to wear. Her steady surgeon's hand allowed for the most delicate and painstaking application of subtle eye shadow, mascara and lip gloss – that was as good as it was going to get, though, because Teddy wasn't one for the garish blush or lipstick.
The knockoff knee-high boots she finally decided on clattered against the stairs leading down from her apartment; the staccato rhythm quickened as she let the excitement flow through her freely. Just where would the night take her? Teddy was about to find out.
Meanwhile, Addie clutched her phone in her hand, going over Teddy's text in her head. She'd stared at the blonde throughout the surgery they'd done earlier in the day, and her interest was still burning strong; she couldn't get that exquisite face out of her mind. Overhearing the nurses talking about how Altman had kissed a girl a few nights ago sent excitement shooting through Addie's heart – this girl, she was available? It was hard to believe.
Addison hurried towards the locker room where her clothes were after signing her last chart. She took off her scrubs and changed into a white pencil skirt and a flowery blouse, then took a real pearl necklace out of her purse and put it against her neck. Too sophisticated? In the end, Addie just had to put it on. Smiling lightly to herself, she grabbed her Prada handbag and headed out.
Where was she? Nearly half an hour had passed since Addison had texted, and Teddy still wasn't here. Had she bailed?
Teddy kept stealing glances at the leather-banded watch slipping about her wrist. She knew she was late, and the shoes she wore didn't make for a speedy pace – she hoped Addison wouldn't mind too badly.
As she rounded the corner to where the hospital entrance was, Teddy spotted the redhead just as Addison spotted her. Addison's unmistakable mane of fiery curls basked in the illumination of a streetlamp, bearing stark resemblance to an open flame. Drawing nearer to her, Teddy could see a string of pearls glinting around her neck and couldn't help but feel self-conscious in her cheap clothes and accessories.
"Hey, you." Teddy opened her mouth before Addie could. "I'm so sorry I'm late!"
"Oh, don't worry about it." Addison didn't mind, because Teddy was here and that was the only thing that mattered. "I haven't been to Joe's in a long time – unless you want to go somewhere else?"
Giving the blond a once-over, she was amazed by how effortlessly beautiful Teddy was. The green shawl she wore matched her eyes exactly…
"Joe's sounds awesome." After a second's deliberation, Teddy bashfully added: "You look… you look really nice."
The damp, drizzly walk to Joe's bar was uneventful, all stolen glances and very few words. Teddy's hand remained in the pocket of her jeans, desperately drawn to the wedding band strung onto a conservative piece of black twine hidden under her shawl – the one meant for the waitress Henry was going to propose to before Teddy came into his life. She despised herself for wanting to unclasp it in the presence of the redhead beside her, matching her pace.
This was déjà vu; Teddy had done this just a few nights before – going to Joe's with another girl – but this time she had time to think. No, Teddy wasn't gay, because she really did love Henry with the entirety of her being, and she knew she'd never go out with another man ever again. Yet, there was just something so different, so intimate about being more than friends with another lady…
Addie pulled out a bar stool for Teddy first before she herself sat down. Smiling lightly, she waved Joe over.
"Cherry wine for me, please." Addie said.
"Hey, I remember you! It's… Addison. The girl with the cupcakes." Joe said.
"Nope. That wasn't me. Must've been another red-head." Addie lied.
"Okay, then. What does the other pretty lady want?" Joe asked, looking at Teddy.
Teddy dropped her head and looked up through her lashes, observing Addison's banter with Joe awkwardly. Addison's touch still lingered fresh upon her shoulder, and Teddy could think of little else.
"Apple martini, thanks." The same thing always ordered. Folding her hands in her lap, she chewed a little on her glossy lips.
Joe tilted his head in recognition at the sound of her voice. "Oh… you're the one who sent that other blond doctor chick running, aren't you?"
Cursing mutinously under her breath, Teddy managed a small grimace. "Guilty."
So, the rumors about Teddy were true! Hmm… Addie wondered if Teddy knew that she knew. She also wondered if Teddy was available. Addie had known she was bisexual for a while, since she became obsessed with her colleague Violet Turner. Now it was Teddy's turn.
"So, I heard you kissed someone the other night." Addie wanted to know who.
Oh, god, can we not do this? Teddy tried futilely to blow it off. Looking down to allow her blonde tresses to veil her red-tinted face, she muttered: "Yeah. I was really drunk and that definitely wasn't one of my finest moments. I swear to God, if you tell Callie…"
The drinks came just as the words left her mouth. It was as if the glass was staring expectantly at her; should she lay it light on the booze, or should she get drunk and get brave? It wasn't even a choice.
"To... friendship." Teddy toasted, albeit a little lamely. Tipping her head back and pulling off her scarf, she exposed the delicate tendons of her neck – as well as the wedding band that was now swinging free and clinking against her collarbones, completely forgotten.
"You never told me who it was that you kissed. I know it was… you know. A girl." Addie said.
At Addison's prompting, Teddy could've withered in embarrassment. She didn't understand why Addie was questioning her, but the fact that the redhead showed even an inkling of interest was fascinating to her. As it was, Teddy was awed by how fast word travelled around the hospital, managing to reach even the newest addition of ears.
"You really want to know?" Sighing breathily, she took an oversized swig of her drink. "It was Arizona Robbins from pediatrics. Callie's wife." Teddy knew that Addison was a long-standing friend of Callie's, and she waited for the judgement to fall with trepidation.
"Oh." Hot! Addison face was blank as she thought this, but Teddy was still blushing. "Was she the first girl you kissed?" Addison found Teddy's embarrassment cute, and couldn't help but continue her questioning. "I've kissed a lot of girls before, you don't have to worry."
Did that mean what Teddy thought it meant? Teddy hoped her face was devoid of emotion bar the remnant of her blush as she looked up to meet Addison's eyes at last.
"Yeah. Yeah, she was." Teddy gave a melancholy smile, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger. "Who was your first?"
"Some girl I met in LA." Taking a sip of her drink, Addison blurted: "She's nothing compared to you though. "
Addison wished she hadn't said it. But since she had, she continued: "You're very pretty."
Teddy didn't know what to say. Addison… was she flirting? All Teddy knew was that she liked it very much.
"I… oh." Teddy averted her gaze, but this time she was smiling. "Thank you."
It was too ungrateful of a response, and Teddy was aware of that. She struggled to find a word that could encompass how Addison made her feel.
"You're gorgeous, too, you know." Teddy watched the clandestine progress of Addison's fingers on the pearl necklace.
Addie laughed at Teddy's cute attempt at flirting back. She noticed Teddy looking at her necklace, and asked: "Like my necklace? You can have it, if you want."
Addie was quite drunk at this point, and she took off the necklace and put it around Teddy's neck.
"Oh, Addie, I can't take this!" Teddy shied away from the generous gift, feeling inadequate. The pearls against her neck were a lot heavier than Henry's ring and her dog tags, and she couldn't help but run her fingers over the smooth, unyielding orbs. Her smile was apparent – the gift was the catalyst of a supernova-like explosion of excitement in her gut.
"Thank you." She'd heard enough from Addison to figure out that she liked girls, too. Reaching out a hand tentatively, she patted Addison on the cheek and took her hand. It wasn't surprising that Teddy was so shy; this was an entirely new venture for her.
Teddy was so sweet. Holding her hand tightly, Addie leaned in. Teddy's lips were so smooth, so perfect, so delectable… The many drinks she'd had told her that she didn't care what Teddy would think, and Addie listened.
The fire of the moment sent Teddy into a daze. For a moment, Teddy kissed her back with all the passion she could muster… but then the break came. Shoving Addison away rougher than she intended, Teddy put her hands up to her head and closed her eyes in horror. Henry's face swam behind her lids, as did Arizona's.
What the hell am I playing at?
"I can't, I'm sorry!" Teddy was near tears, because she yearned to give Addison what she wanted – it was the piece of her heart that still loved Henry that screamed no, no, no!
Addie felt so hurt when Teddy pulled away, but she quickly forgot about her own feelings when she saw Teddy nearly crying. Addie let out a small breath.
"Oh, honey…" Addie put her arms around Teddy. She could smell the shampoo Teddy used as she buried her face in her blonde hair.
Teddy hated herself for betraying Henry, and she hated herself for hurting Addison. As she tried to decide which she hated herself more for, the circle of Addison's arms found her shoulders and Teddy heaved a small, devastated sob. Moments later, Teddy sighed in defeat and near-painful longing… her arms crossed behind the redhead's neck, and she brought her lips to meet Addie's once again.
The taste of lipstick and cherry… Addie detested pulling away, but Teddy's tears had dampened both their cheeks and she couldn't stand feeling that pain. "What do you say if we get out of here?" Addie asked.
"That would be… great." Teddy laughed breathlessly and took Addie's hand in hers. She could feel the flush in her cheeks as many pairs of eyes bore into her back with their stares, but at that moment she didn't care. Finishing off her drink in one go, Teddy grabbed her shawl and raised it in a wave towards the bar at general and giggled. "Where to?"
Up next: Addie and Teddy walk down a darkened alley... vulnerable, helpless, incapacitated. What horror will befall them?