Hey guys! Here's another chapter. Thanks so much for all the reviews.
As usual, GA is not mine and thanks to Suz for the beta.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Miranda and Callie were waiting for Addison at their usual lunch table. The Nazi had already made hints to Callie about Nathan and Addison's strange behavior and the two couldn't wait to grill Addison for the details.
Finally, the woman in question arrived with lunch and hadn't even settled herself on her seat when Callie started her inquisition.
"So, I heard about the tall, dark and gorgeous man candy and the staring contest. Who is he, Add?" Callie eagerly asked.
"Wow, you are fast and I'm shocked Miranda. I thought you don't gossip." Addison teasingly said, her gaze shifting from Callie then to Bailey.
"Well, with the two of you staring like there weren't other people in the room and you practically forgetting how to practice medicine, tongues are sure to wag. And mine's no exception or at least not when I'm curious myself. Now, answer the question. Who is he?" Bailey demanded.
"Alright, alright." Addison agreed. "He's Nathan Ross. Dated him in college. Actually, he was my first boyfriend. He's a lot of firsts."
"Oh, wow. What happened between the two of you?" Callie asked.
"We started dating sophomore year but we've known each other since we were freshmen. We were together all throughout college but decided to break up before graduation because of our priorities. I was going to med school while he was offered a job in London, he couldn't refuse. Neither of us wanted a long distance relationship so we figured it'd be best to part ways. We remained in contact until, after a year, he met someone else. After that, our correspondence were few and far in between and then I met Derek. Once the both of us realized that we were happy with someone else, we both let go. I haven't seen or heard from him until now." Addison shared.
"You guys were pretty serious, weren't you?" Bailey asked softly.
"Pretty much." Addison answered. "Before I met Derek, I thought Nathan was the one."
Addison had a far away look on her face and her companions noticed. They have known each other well enough to know what Addison was thinking at that particular moment. Bailey decided to interrupt her musings.
"Addison, I hope you don't take this the wrong way but I hope you don't do anything stupid."
"What?" Addison asked, bewildered.
"I just wanted to point out, you're married. However messed up your relationship with your husband right now is, you need to sort it out before even thinking about what ifs or could have beens." Bailey explained.
"I'm not thinking about anything!" Addison defended herself, slightly offended at what Bailey was insinuating.
"I'm sorry if you're offended. I'm just worried about you. You're not exactly thinking straight when it comes to your husband and whatever game you two are playing" Bailey soothed.
"I know what I'm doing, Miranda. But thank you." Addison curtly said.
"Okay, guys, I'm not liking the vibes radiating so let's just drop this." Callie said after a tense moment. She looked at her friends then turned the other way and saw Nathan approaching. "Is that the guy? Damn, Addison. You sure know how to pick 'em."
The other women looked up in time for Nathan to arrive at their table, carrying a cup of coffee.
"Hello, doctors. Hi Addie. Do you ladies mind if I join you?" he asked with a charming smile.
The women, including Bailey, were mesmerized by Nathan's smile.
"Of course not" Addison answered when she recovered her motor skills. Nathan settled himself at the unoccupied chair and Addison made introductions.
They barely started small talk when the beeping noise of pagers interrupted them. The doctors reached for their respective devices. The two residents were the ones paged and immediately excused themselves to attend to their emergencies. Nathan and Addison were left at their table.
"How've you been, Addie? I thought you were in New York. What are you doing here?" Nathan began.
"I'm good. Why I'm in Seattle is a long story. How about you? Thought you've decided to stay in Europe. When did you go stateside?" Addison asked in return.
"I've been here in the West Coast about 2 years now. I'm a financial analyst in an LA firm."
"And you're here in Seattle because of Sara? What happened? And by the way, I'm still cursing myself for forgetting you have a sister named Sara and she's that sister!"
Nathan laughed. "Sara moved here with her boyfriend about 6 months ago then he left her and big brother's here to the rescue."
"You've always put your siblings first, Nate. I guess nothing had changed. Selfless Nathan to the rescue. Always." Addison said with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess."
"So, I'm assuming Europe was good for you?"
"It was great but I have my regrets" Nathan said, looking at Addison meaningfully.
"You could not decline that job, Nathan. You needed it. Your family needed it. If you didn't take it, you wouldn't have probably supported your siblings well and keep them all together. So there shouldn't be any regrets."
"I know. But I can't help but think about the 'what ifs', you know?" he answered, looking once again at Addison with such meaning. She broke eye contact and reached for her drink and Nathan noticed the tan line her rings had left. "I heard they call you Dr. Shepherd but I don't see any ring. Are you married, Addie?"
Addison took a drink before answering. "Yes. I'm married but it's complicated right now. How about you, Nate? Are you married?" she asked quickly, hoping to take the conversation away from her marriage.
"Got divorced about six years ago. Don't laugh but my ex-wife's name's Natalie." He said with another of his charming smiles.
Addison burst out laughing. "Nathan and Natalie. Nate and Nat. Didn't we have a conversation years ago about avoiding dating people with similar names?"
Nathan joined in her laughter. "I know but what can I say? I fell in love,"
While Nathan and Addison continued laughing over college memories, Derek was walking along the bridge way with Cristina jotting down his instructions.
"Order a complete MRI and then if it checks out, let's do brain mapping. The patient…" he broke off when he heard his wife's laughter. Derek stopped and looked over towards the sound. Cristina also stopped and looked.
"Who is that?" Derek said but not really asking Cristina.
"McGorgeous." Cristina said.
"Who?!" Derek exclaimed, turning to Cristina.
"Ummm…. I guess he's a friend of Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd?" the intern clarified.
Derek didn't say anything and continued observing Addison and her companion.