A/N: Hope you're enjoying the story, so far. I really enjoyed writing this chapter; I'd love to hear what you think!
Best of Me
Chapter 3: Something to Talk About
"You're not Sam!" Amelia exclaimed.
"She's observant," Alex muttered dryly to Addison, who was still breathing heavily, recovering from their kiss.
"Uhh…Amelia…hello," Addison finally stuttered awkwardly. "This… this is my friend, Alex Karev. We use to work together in Seattle. We were just…"
"Oh, spare me!" Amelia interrupted. "I know exactly what you were doing. I walked in on you, remember? Weren't you supposed to be getting back together with…"
"Oh, how rude of me!" Addison exclaimed, cutting her off. "Alex, this is Amelia Shepherd, brain surgeon extraordinaire!"
"Shepherd? As in related to Derek McDreamy Shepherd?"
"McWho?" Amelia asked.
"Rule number one, Karev," Addison declared drunkenly, "in L.A. we don't Mc things. "But, yes," she continued in a more serious tone, "Amelia is Derek's younger sister."
"Dude, you're McSister! Wait until Meredith and Cristina hear that I met another McSister!" Alex declared. Oh, man, he silently scolded himself. Now you're giving people McNames. You must be drunker that you thought. Or turning into a chick.
"No Mc-ing people or things!" Addison practically shouted.
"Oh, it's really too bad that we can't Mc people or things," Alex teased. "Otherwise, I'd tell you what your McName was."
"Umm…" Amelia said, clearing her throat, trying to catch Addison's attention.
Alex and Addison both ignored her. "I had a McName?" Addison asked incredulously. "What was it?"
Alex pretended to think about it. "Hmm…I wish I could tell you, but I seem to remember a very strict no McNaming people or things in L.A policy. It's too bad, though," he continued, raising an eyebrow, "your McName was really good."
"Um…hey? Guys?" Amelia tried unsuccessfully to cut in.
"Seriously, you're not going to tell me, Alex?"
"Hey, who am I to argue with L.A. rules?"
"Okay! McMorons!" Amelia shouted, finally succeeding in catching Alex and Addison's attention. "As much fun as this little conversation is… Addison, I really need to talk to you in the kitchen."
"Uhh…yeah…sure…okay." Turning back to Alex, she assured, "I'll be right back."
"Umm…actually, it's getting late, and we drank a lot. I should probably head back to the trailer and get some sleep."
"Oh no!" Addison declared. "You are not sleeping in that trailer. That's another L.A. rule. I insist you sleep in one of my guest rooms."
Alex hesitated, "You sure?"
"Alex," Addison said a bit more forcefully, "you are not sleeping in the trailer. Got it?"
Alex smirked. "Got it."
xxxxx
"What the hell are you doing, Addison?" Amelia demanded.
"What do you mean?" Addison asked innocently.
"What do you mean, what do I mean? I mean, you told me that you were going to get back together with Sam tonight, and then I come home to find you making out with another guy – albeit a very hot guy – but another guy!"
"Amelia, calm down. Sam and I are expired milk, and that kiss with Alex…that was nothing. It was just two friends helping each other get over a bad day. That's all."
"That wasn't exactly what I would call a friendly kiss."
"We were drunk, Amelia. We're still drunk. Hell, I'm so drunk that if I had been drinking with you instead of him, I probably would have started making out with you."
"As flattered as I am, Addison, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"What, me making out with you? No, definitely not a good idea, especially…"
"Addison," Amelia cut her off, "I meant you making out with Alex."
"Oh. Amelia, as much as I would love to continue this conversation with you, I think it would be best if we had it some other time when I'm not seeing two of you."
"If you say so."
"I do. Good night, Amelia."
"Good night Addison."
"Hey, Addison," Amelia called out, just as Addison was leaving the kitchen.
"Yes?"
"Since Alex is just a friend, if he's going to be staying here for a while, would it be okay if, I mean, would you mind if I asked him out?"
"What?"
"I mean, you've obviously slept with him in the past, and I'm okay with that. I mean, he's really hot. You'd have to be crazy not to sleep with him. And it's been a while since, well, you know and, well, a girl has needs, sooo…"
"I'll think about it," Addison sighed.
"That's all I ask."
"Good night, Amelia."
"Night."
As she left the kitchen, Addison let Amelia's request sink in, and the more she thought about it, the more she hated the idea. Amelia and Alex? Well, they are about the same age, she thought to herself, but, still, something bothered her. It wasn't as if she and Alex would ever work as a couple. He had made it clear that he wasn't interested. But Amelia was right – her kiss with Alex was more than just a friend helping another friend through a rough time. There was way too much desire and intimacy – on both their parts. Still, nothing could ever come of it because, even on the off chance that Alex was interested, Addison still desperately wanted a child, and she couldn't drag Alex into that mess.
And this is why you're a surgeon and not a therapist, Addison thought to herself.
Making her way to her room, Addison noticed that the light in the guest room was still on. She knocked softly, and the door opened to reveal Alex dressed in a black tank top and a pair of boxers. Addison felt her cheeks flush as she let her eyes roam over his muscular body. Finally, breaking the silence, she stammered, "umm…hey…I just…I wanted to make sure you have everything you need."
"I do. Thank you, Addison. And thank you for letting me stay here tonight."
"Of course," Addison replied warmly, relishing in the way her first name sounded coming out of Alex's mouth. "Hey, look, I'm going to put a bottle of aspirin in the kitchen if you need it. We drank a lot and, well, if you get a hangover…"
"Thanks, but I actually feel pretty good. I think vodka was a much smarter choice than tequila," Alex grinned. "How are you feeling?"
"Surprisingly, okay. I could have done without the lecture I just got from Amelia, but I think it actually helped sober me up. Anyway, the aspirin's there if you need it."
"Thanks, Addison," Alex smiled. "Thanks for everything. See you tomorrow," he whispered, placing a soft kiss on her temple.
"Yeah, good night, Alex," Addison responded, and made her way out of the guest room and into the hallway.
She had only made it a couple of feet when she heard Alex's voice softly call out, "McHot."
Addison turned, and saw Alex standing in the doorway of the guest room. "What?" she asked in confusion.
"McHot." He repeated, with a soft smile. "That was your McName."
Addison raised an eyebrow, "McHot? I don't know if I should be offended or flattered."
"Be flattered," Alex assured her. "It was definitely a compliment."
