@neonatals: “how did you know i'd be here?”
the surrounding bar is quaint, and for a new york bar, you rarely see it often. it sat between a fine space between being busy enough to blend in with the crowd on weekends and half of that on weekdays where a familiar face stands out almost immediately. coming here is routine for him—the same grueling shifts with precise hands that pick up a drink shortly after, needing to let the tension of the day bleed off. there was a time derek joined him, back when they were younger, and at least, when some of their priorities aligned. his best friend is happily married in the present day, truly settled in. it’s rare to see the couple after a shift—rare enough to register when either show up at a bar, no less, but specifically her. addison has always stood out from the rest—charismatic and gentle wrapped up into one surgeon, composed and disarming all at once.
she’s always been an inner contradiction for him—coworkers or not, derek or not.
he takes a slow sip from his glass, liquor burning its way down as he leans just the slightlest bit closer, “we're more alike than you think, addie.” he lifts his glass in a lazy salute, the curve of his mouth harmless if one didn’t know better. “dare i ask why you’re here?”