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Part eight
It was a feminine, overly sweet kind of voice that had just called out his name. His hands were still firmly on her hips, not wanting to let her go now. He wanted to forget where they were and who was downstairs and just make her his one more time. He wanted to feel her one more time. He stared at her. Her eyes were wide, confused but dark with desire all at the same time. There were so many things he wanted to say to her at that moment but he couldn't find the words.
It wasn't until she heard the clicking of someone's heels as they made their way up the stairs that she jerked him away. She climbed out of the bed as fast as she could, and tried to find her clothes only to realize that they were downstairs, scattered across Mrs. Shepherd's living room. Derek stood up and slipped his boxers on and tried his hardest not to notice just how gorgeous she looked as she stood there, completely naked in his bedroom.
"Meredith, I..." he began, but she wouldn't let him finish.
"My clothes... they're downstairs... and I..." she was panicking. And the clicking sound of the heels approaching the room wasn't helping. He bent down to pick up his shirt from the night before so that she could cover herself.
"Meredith, I need to..."
"Honey, are you still asleep?" The door nub of the room turned and in a moment of panic Meredith ducked into the closet she'd been standing next to.
She was hyperventilating but tried to stay quiet and prayed to god that the tall redhead she could see through the closet door wouldn't hear her.
"It's noon and you're still in bed?" the woman inquired as she placed a kiss on Derek's lips. He just stood there. Dumfounded. He didn't say anything. He didn't kiss her back, but he didn't exactly push her away either. He just stood there and stared at the woman. Meredith wanted to cry as she was stuck there looking at their interaction. She was beautiful, dressed in a classy olive green knee-length dress. She wore black heels and a matching purse. The glossy red hair was pulled back in a flawless due. Her makeup was flawless, from the dark mascara to the flaming red lipstick. She had on expensive jewelry; a golden chain around her neck, matching earrings, platinum bracelet on her slim wrist and a diamond...
Oh god! She tried to fight the tears from forming in her eyes but it was as if she had lost all control over her tear ducts. There was no mistake. No one wore a ring like that unless they were engaged. They were engaged. He was engaged. The man she lo... No! She corrected herself. The man she had slept with, her best friend's brother was engaged. Incest and adultery. God, that was quite the track record.
"Addison," he finally found his voice. "What are you... why are you here?"
"Well, your mother called me and said she was going to come up here for the weekend and asked if I didn't want to come with her seeing as I haven't seen my handsome fiancé all summer," she smiled innocently as she searched for clean clothes for him in the suitcase he had thankfully yet to unpack.
"Addison, what are you doing?" he said with frustration evident in his voice, very aware of Meredith hearing every word they spoke.
"Finding something for you to wear," she shrugged as she handed him a pair of jeans and a dress shirt.
"That's not what I'm talking about and you know it!" He glared at her as he accepted the jeans, pulling them on and reaching for a t-shirt to go with it.
"Derek," she said with a sweet smile as she put a hand on each of his cheeks. "We need to start planning our big day."
"We broke up," he replied coldly.
"No, we had an argument," she said calmly.
"After I found you in bed with my college roommate," his voice was rising.
"And apparently you've used this summer to get back at me," she said as she picked up a black lace thong from the floor, waving it in his face. "Now, lets just move on. Get passed this. Call it even, okay?" she placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "Your mother and sister are waiting downstairs so we should hurry." She pulled on his arm as he reluctantly followed her to the door.
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She allowed herself seventeen seconds. Seventeen seconds to break down. Seventeen seconds to sit on the floor in his closet dressed in his shirt and let the tears fall down. And then she took a deep breath. If there was one thing Meredith Grey knew how to do, it was to act as if nothing ever got to her. So after seventeen seconds she sneaked back into her room, took a quick shower and changed into clean clothes before descending, pretending that everything was fine.
"Meredith," Mrs. Shepherd exclaimed as she saw her enter the kitchen.
"Hi, Mrs. Shepherd," Meredith smiled as the older woman pulled her in for a hug.
"I see that everyone slept in," Mrs. Shepherd said as she let go of her and pointed her to a seat. "I'm making soup for lunch."
"That sounds great," Meredith said with a small smile as she sat next to Allie across from the tall redhead. There was an awkward silence as she avoided Derek's gaze, penetrating as always and fiddled with the napkin in front of her. A few moments passed as Allie looked between her brother and her best friend who were acting a little strange in her opinion before finally Addison broke the silence.
"So, you must be Marilyn. I'm Addison, Derek's fiancée," she introduced herself with a big smile.
"It's Meredith," Derek corrected harshly, his eyes trying desperately to read Meredith.
"Oh, sorry," Addison apologized.
"It's fine," Meredith said. Her voice was shaking slightly but she hoped no one noticed. She cleared her throat. "That's a beautiful ring."
"Thank you!" Addison beamed. "It's three and half carat. We haven't set the date yet, but we're thinking next spring. That way we could have the reception outside if we find a suitable venue. There's so much planning to do so we have to start right away. I've already talked to a designer for my wedding dress ad talked to a goldsmith for the rings. Then I'd love to have red roses and tulips for the floral decorations and I'm thinking of either pale green or light blue for the bridesmaid's dresses. Which one do you like?"
"Addison," Derek cut in. "I don't think she wants to hear about bridesmaid's dresses."
"It's her wedding, she's allowed to be excited!" Meredith shot him a glare. "And I like blue."
"Are you okay?" Allie asked her in a low voice.
"I'm fine."
"It's just that you seem to be a little... uncomfortable, I guess."
"Well I'm not."
"Okay." Allie didn't push. That was the best thing. She knew her better than that. She always just waited until she was ready to let it out.
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Allie, Meredith and Derek ate their lunch in silence as Addison and Mrs. Shepherd talked about caterers and florists. Derek kept sneaking glances at Meredith. Although
she seemed unaffected by Addison's appearance he knew she wasn't.
When they'd finished eating Meredith excused herself, saying she needed fresh air.
He listened to Addison go on and on about colors and flowers and fabrics and entrées. God, that woman could talk. His mother and sister were politely listening and nodding, seemingly interested in everything she was saying. He wasn't. He just sat there, trying to remember a single reason why he'd asked her to marry him. He'd wanted a wife. Children. The white picket fence. Addison would no doubt make a flawless housewife. But as he sat there trying to reason with his head and his heart he realized that he didn't want flawless. He didn't want sophisticated. He didn't want high heels, bright red lipstick and hair tied up in a bun. He wanted free and careless and a little flawed. He wanted barefoot or socks that didn't quite match. He wanted someone who didn't bother to cover up the freckles on her nose or the rosy color of her lips. He wanted someone who'd let her hair down. He wanted...
"Hey, I'm going to run down to the hardware store," he said as he suddenly stood up.
"Okay, but you won't be long will you?" Addison asked in a whiny voice.
"Just until I find what I'm looking for."
