Cristina's words continued to float around Meredith's mind. Or, if you asked her yourself, she might say they pounded away mercilessly at her insides. She liked Finn, she really did. He was sweet and kind and didn't play the games of teasing grins and seductive glances. He was one hundred percent upfront with her, so why did an uncomfortable feeling come over her every time she looked at him?
Shame, she thought to herself. You're having second thoughts.
She couldn't help herself, not when her senses were being barraged on all sides by Derek all the time at the hospital. Just yesterday evening, she had opened up her locker to find a bottle of her favorite red wine sitting there. They had discussed wine one night while watching the sunrise over the ferry boats and she had mentioned her affinity for this wine's particular flavor.
He remembered, her inner voice whispered.
Derek's barrage of gifts and surprises hadn't stopped there either. When she was going through the cafeteria line at lunch, the lady smiled and winked at her before handing her a grilled cheese sandwich, chips, and a diet coke with a note on top of it.
"Already paid for," she said, before turning her attention to the next person in line.
When she sat down at the table, Izzie and Cristina's voices filling the air, she finally took a glance at the note.
Grilled cheese is much better warm and served at lunch. I am sorry. About everything. I'm an idiot for giving you up and hurting you along the way. I never meant for that to happen, please believe me when I say I'm sorry. I'll be waiting for whenever you want to talk. I love you.
She sighed and stuffed the note into the pocket of her scrubs and tore into the potato chips with a snap. Izzie glanced at Cristina, an eyebrow quirked in question.
"McDreamy," Cristina said simply.
If there was something to be said for Derek Shepherd, it was that he was able to woo a girl quickly and efficiently, Meredith thought to herself before turning her attention back to the present. In the hours after her shift had ended, she went out to dinner with Finn. He was a gentleman through and through, opening doors for her and pulling out her seat at the restaurant. She tried to split the bill with him, but he waved her hand away.
"Not often a pretty lady accompanies me to dinner. I'm paying for this," he said with a wink.
A blush colored her features, but she wasn't sure exactly what to attribute it to; the fact that a good looking gentleman had just complimented her or the shame that constantly hung around her because she was thinking about another man on her date. Finn noticed a chance in her eyes and raised an eyebrow briefly, but otherwise didn't mention it.
They headed back to her house, filling the time with light conversation and jokes. Meredith did her best to keep her attention turned toward Finn, but it wasn't an easy task as her mind kept flitting back to Derek's persuasive 'nature.' Pulling up to her house, the lights were off except for the porch light, which was illuminating a tall package sitting by her door. Finn walked her up to the door, glancing curiously at her when she picked it up.
"Expecting anything?" he asked.
"Actually, no," she said, picking up the package after unlocking the door.
Finn helped her move the package inside to her dining room table, where she started to open up the box. Pulling it open, she gasped when she saw what was inside.
"What is it?" he asked as he saw her facial expression change.
"It's a painting. Of ferryboats."
