CHAPTER 28
Arizona was on her way to The Mazatlán. It was Friday night and she'd had a great day at work. She couldn't wait to tell Callie about it.
They had both been busy the past few weeks but had managed to have quick lunches or short walks in the park together between surgeries and business meetings.
But today the latina had invited her over for dinner. And Callie had promises to cook.
The blonde met Tim by the entrance to the hotel.
"Miss Robbins, you look marvelous" he said and guided her through a crowded lobby to the elevators. She was expecting him to ride up with her, but instead he handed her a small card with five numbers on it.
"She wants you to be able to go up alone. Press the T-button and then this five-digit code" he said and pointed at the small card in her hand.
She paused for a second, looking at the card, knowing how big a gesture this was, how much trust Callie had in her to give her this little piece of paper. These five numbers gave her direct access to Callie's place and the thought made her heart skip a few beats. She knew that Callie had asked Tim to give the code to her so that it wouldn't seem like such a big deal, but Arizona knew exactly how big a deal it was. For someone as private as Callie to let her have this, it really blew her mind.
She pressed the button and typed in the code.
When the doors opened and let her into Callie's place, the wonderful smell of cooking and the sound of latin music greeted her. She hung her coat and walked to the kitchen. She leaned against the wall and watched the latina.
Callie hadn't noticed that Arizona had arrived, and she seemed pretty absorbed in the cooking.
She was also moving her hips to the music, causing Arizona's breath to hitch.
The blonde cleared her throat which made Callie turn around with a loud gasp.
"You shouldn't have given me the code if you scare this easily" she said with a smirk.
"It's okay. I'm pretty strong. I'm sure I could take you down" Callie said while walking over to Arizona and pulling her into a warm and strong hug.
Arizona pressed herself up against the tall brunette, their slight height difference suddenly making Arizona feel vulnerable and protected at the same time.
Callie smelled good. Of spices and lavender shampoo and…Callie.
The latina pulled back a little without letting go of Arizona. She leaned down her head and placed her lips on Arizona's.
Arizona had been waiting for that moment all day, and she was pretty sure that it was the thought of Callie's lips that made her rock all four surgeries that day.
She smiled into the kiss.
"Good day?" Callie mumbled.
"The best"
"Well, tell me all about it while I try to finish this" Callie said and pointed towards the kitchen counter. She poured Arizona a glass of wine and the blonde sat down at the breakfast bar.
"It smells delicious, Callie"
"So far, so good. I hope it tastes good too. I've had long distance cooking-for-a-date supervision from my mom"
"Your mom?" Arizona was wondering if Callie had told her mom about her.
"Yeah. I told her I was having a date over for dinner and that I REALLY want to make a good impression" The brunette winked at Arizona.
"You…you told her about me?" Arizona was suddenly feeling nervous.
"Not in detail, no. We have this unspoken agreement. My parents weren't…overjoyed…when I came out as a lesbian, so the deal is that I won't talk to her about anyone until I'm calling home to tell her that I'm getting married" Callie laughed.
Arizona chuckled in relief.
"Why? You don't want to be known about?" Callie smirked.
"Uh…no…well, yes, but…I haven't…told anyone. Yet" Arizona stuttered.
The brunette walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek before she took a sip of the blonde's wine.
"Arizona, I'm not expecting you to announce this to the world right now. We're still new. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it"
Arizona gave a small smile and nodded. How was Callie so perfect? Everything about her was…miraculous.
While Callie cooked, Arizona told her about her day until they were interrupted by a Facetime call from Callie's mom who wanted to make sure, that Callie remembered to put chili in the batter for the chicken piccata.
The iPad screen was lodged into the door of one of the kitchen cabinets, which meant that Arizona had a clear view of Callie's mom. She enjoyed listening to Callie speaking Spanish, engaging with her mom.
Once the cooking questions were out of the way, Mrs. Torres looked behind Callie and locked eyes with Arizona.
"Es ella?" Callie's mom asked and nodded towards Arizona.
(*Is that her?*)
"Uh…sí mama. Es ella"
(*Yes mom, that's her*)
"Dejame verla"
(*Let me see her*)
Callie bit her lip, suddenly feeling like a teenager being interrupted by her mom. She tilted the screen slightly and motioned for Arizona to come closer while mouthing 'Sorry!'
Arizona hesitated, but got up and walked closer to the image of Mrs. Torres.
The older woman studied her.
"Rubia, eh?"
(*A blonde, huh?*)
"Mama, por favor" Callie whined and rolled her eyes.
(*Mom, please*)
"Hey, it's your mom you're talking to" Arizona said and gave Callie a light slap on the shoulder.
At the sight of this, a small smile tugged at the corner of Mrs. Torres' mouth.
She looked Arizona into the eyes.
"Yo creo que tu me vas a gustar" the woman then said while nodding.
(*I think I'm going to like you*)
"I'm sorry" Arizona said "I…I don't speak Spanish, Mrs. Torres"
"We'll teach you" the woman deadpanned in a thick accent "Tell Calliope that she should come to Mexico. She never takes vacations anymore. Never visits her old mother. I gave birth to her here. She needs to visit. Maybe it will help if you get on the plane too"
"Mom! I'm going to turn this off now" Callie rolled her eyes again.
"I'll try, Mrs. Torres" Arizona laughed, and then the connection was turned off.
"Sorry about that" Callie said "My mom can be a little...intense"
"Don't worry - I think she seems pretty cool" Arizona didn't feel as nervous anymore. She didn't know if it was because of the wine or because Callie's mom had just suggested that she go to Mexico with Callie.
She liked the thought of travelling with Callie, Callie speaking Spanish, sleeping under foreign skies with Callie. She kept those thoughts to herself though. Not wanting to seem clingy or needy.
And still, she couldn't help but imagine Callie walking across a beach somewhere, in a bikini, skin wet and full of goose bumps.
The blonde had seen Callie in a bikini in the spa at The Mazatlán but that was from afar and before she started having feelings for the latina. Now Arizona wondered what it would feel like to run a hand across Callie's stomach and what Callie would look like naked on a bed, tanned skin and dark wavy hair against white sheets.
Arizona shook her head and forced herself to focus on dinner with Callie instead.
The food was delicious and Callie was happy she had managed to pull off putting together a meal for Arizona.
During dinner they talked non-stop.
After dinner they were both on the couch leaning their head against opposite arms rests. The talk continued and at one point Arizona nearly killed Callie with a story about a patient who had swallowed condoms because he 'liked the way they tasted' and had subsequently earned himself a bad case of volvulus.
Callie had to hold onto the couch so she wouldn't fall off laughing and ended up grasping for air.
"Of all things he could decide to swallow, he goes for condoms?!" Callie managed to get out between fits of laughter.
Arizona laughed too, but couldn't help staring at the brunette. She was falling hard for the latina.
