@kingdonmicrofic | july 22: connect | 495/257 words | warnings: none | ao3
It takes a while for Mel to meet Adam. If you asked her why that is, she would say that their schedules just don’t line up for a long time, but the truth is that she’s scared to meet him – scared that she won’t like him, scared that she’s going to lose Becca, scared that she’ll end up alone. But she also knows that it’s important for Becca that the two people she loves most meet and connect.
So, eventually, Mel decides she can’t avoid it anymore. But she doesn’t think she can do it on her own, so in her desperation, she asks Dr. Langdon to join her. To her surprise, he immediately agrees.
Which is how she finds herself in a fancy restaurant on a Saturday evening with Becca, Adam, and Dr. Langdon. Adam’s parents are also there, sitting a few tables away to give them privacy, but they have offered to pay for everyone’s dinner and Mel understands their worries – and is even slightly relieved –, so she doesn’t mind.
She’s glad to find that she does like Adam. He’s sweet and goofy and he looks at Becca like she hung the moon. Dr. Langdon is great company too, kind to Becca like he was when she was under his care, and interested in getting to know Adam. Everything is going well, and after an hour or so, Mel finally feels herself relax a little, not as scared anymore that disaster is about to strike.
That is until Adam asks how long she and Dr. Langdon have been together. He looks at them earnestly, seemingly unaware of how awkward the question is, while Mel freezes and Dr. Langdon nearly chokes on his piece of steak.
“Mel and I aren’t together,” Dr. Langdon utters after a series of coughs, eyes wide and cheeks slightly flushed.
Mel tries to regain her composure in the meantime, quickly nodding and laughing awkwardly as she points to the ring on Dr. Langdon’s finger. “Yeah, Dr. Langdon is married.”
Adam’s eyebrows furrow and he cocks his head, not unlike a confused puppy dog, as his eyes flick back and forth between Mel and Dr. Langdon. “Oh, I thought you were. You look at Mel like how I look at Becca, Dr. Langdon.”
Dr. Langdon’s gapes at Adam like a fish, while Mel wishes for the ground to swallow her whole. And of course, that is when Becca decides to make things even worse, grinning widely as she pipes up, “Yeah, and Mel constantly talks about how much she likes you.”
“As a friend, Becca,” Mel bites out, her face bright red with embarrassment as she sends Dr. Langdon an awkward, apologetic smile. Dr. Langdon’s own responding smile is equally uncomfortable, but the look in his eyes is soft and reassuring.
“Well, I like her too,” he says, something indecipherable flashing in his eyes. It feels like there’s something between the lines when he softly adds, “As a friend.”
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