I own nothing. All character/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
ELIZA'S POV
My body is so tired right now. Like, I actually can't move. If I do, I may lose a limb. I swear an arm or a leg will still be in the bed when I stand to stretch my body out. I may have even broken a hip…I can't be so sure right now. Last night was nothing short of magical, and honestly, I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Arizona just didn't stop. Something inside of her ignited last night and wow…It was amazing. Truly amazing. I don't know if we went to town with each other because Alexis is in the next room to us, but whatever it was, it's taking my breath away thinking about it. Like, I'm wet thinking about it. I could really use a bottle of water but I simply don't have the energy to move. I have nothing left inside of me and I don't even care. If I have to live the next week on the balcony, I can totally do that because Arizona rocked and ended my world last night.
Glancing to my right, I find my beautiful blonde sprawled out on her stomach, her ass on view for the world and his wife to see. It's a little humid in here today and I'm pretty sure we both smell of sex but I'm not concerned. I don't have anywhere to be right now so now…I'm not concerned. Groaning as I try to move my body in the bed, Arizona flinches and I smile as I lean over and place a kiss on her shoulder. "Good morning, Miss Robbins."
"Mm…" She mumbles against her pillow. "I think I'm dead."
"God, I hope not." I sigh as I lie on my back and smile. "I was hoping for another round of that tonight."
"N-No." She shakes her head. "No way. I cannot move, Eliza."
"Baby, I'm sure you will be fine once you are up and about." I laugh. "You have to go to work today, too. Sucks to be you, huh?"
"Kiss my ass." She groans.
"Mm, gladly." Climbing from the bed a little slower than usual, I sink my teeth into her ass and she gasps in shock. "That tastes pretty good."
"Eliza…" She breathes out. "I don't wanna go to work today."
"Suck it up, buttercup." I stand and move around to her side of the bed. "Can I get my beautiful lady some coffee?" Leaning down, I place a kiss on her forehead and she smiles before nodding in agreement.
"I'll be out in a few." She whines.
"I'm sure you will." Rounding the edge of the bed, I slip some shorts on and a tank top before moving out into the kitchen. Powering up the coffee machine, I put some on to brew and open the balcony doors. We could sure use a little air in here right now. Hitting the air con in the bedroom, Arizona moans in appreciation and turns her head to meet my gaze before giving me a thankful smile. "You okay?" I ask.
"Yeah, I will be." She nods, her eyes a little tired looking.
"Okay, I'm going to sit outside until our coffee is ready. I love you."
"I love you, too." She gives me a dimpled smile and I leave her to attempt to get out of the bed herself. I'm fully expecting a call back in any minute now, but God loves a trier, right?
Slipping out onto the balcony, I'm startled when I hear a pounding on the door and it only infuriates me. I swear to god if this is Alexis, I'm going to hit the fucking roof. She just cannot leave us alone. Heavy footed, I make my way through our suite and unbolt the door. I don't even bother to check through the peephole. Pulling the door open, my angry face immediately turns to one of complete joy. "Hey, motherfucker."
"Oh my actual god." I gasp. "I thought you would be a few more hours…"
"You own a cell, right?" Jo scoffs. "Maybe you could try using it more often."
"What?" I furrow my brow.
"I've been calling you, since like…forever."
"Sure you have." I roll my eyes, playfully. "Get inside before you cause a scene." Pulling her in, she drags her luggage behind her and I close the door. "I'm so happy you're here." My arms wrapping around her waist, she reciprocates and tightens her grip.
"Lize, I've missed you so much." She sighs. "Detroit is awful without you."
"If you wanna get out of there…just say the word and I'll make it happen." I pull back and smile. "Just leave your luggage there and head on out to the balcony."
"Where is Arizona hot ass?" She asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh my god…shut up!" I laugh.
"Arizona hot ass is right here, Jo." My heart sinking into my stomach, I turn around to find my girlfriend standing in nothing but a robe. "Good to finally meet you." She gives my best friend a dimpled smile.
"Uh….."
Giving my best friend a smile, her mouth hangs open and I have to close it for her. I don't want or need my girlfriend to think that my BFF is a crazed fan, and right now…she is doing exactly that. "Jo?" I wave my hand in front of her face. "Are you with us?"
"Uh….."
"Okay, 'uh' isn't going to cut it right now." I laugh. "Just get your ass out on the balcony." Guiding her through the room, Arizona stops me as I'm approaching the balcony.
"Is she okay?" She throws her thumb over her shoulder, her tone low.
"Just a little starstruck, I think."
"Um, why?" She furrows her brow.
"She's got some weird love going on for you." I shrug. "Not quite as much as I have going for you, though, so don't worry."
"O…kay." She draws out. "I, uh…I'll let you guys get caught up."
"No, come and join us. I want you to." I give her my very best puppy dog eyes and she gives me a nod in agreement. "Thanks."
"I'll get us all some coffee and then I'll be out."
"Let me get it." I offer.
"No, you go and see your friend." My girlfriend laughs. "Besides, I think she may have some sort of nervous breakdown if I go out there instead of you."
"Y-Yeah, you're right." I nod. "Thanks, beautiful."
"Don't mention it." Waving me away, I step out onto the balcony and Jo is already sitting down. A little shaky, I'll bet.
"You good now or are you just going to drool for the entire trip?"
"N-No, I'm good." She smiles. "I should go and apologize, right?"
"No, it's okay." I wave off her suggestion. "She will be out in a few."
"Oh god, she's not coming out here, is she?" Complete horror on Jo's face, I furrow my brow and she shakes her head. "Sorry….I just, you've no idea how much I love her. Now I love her even more for making you happy."
"Yeah, she's coming out. She's bringing us coffee." I smile. "Jo, I need you to not be weird. You cannot scare her away, okay?"
"Weird? Who's being weird?" She scoffs. "I'm cool. I'm awesome. Good to go." She nods. "Bring her out."
"Okay, seriously?" I ask, my eyebrow raised.
"No, okay." She nods. "I swear I'm good."
"Promise?" I can see Arizona approaching with some coffee cups and I really don't need Jo to freak out and burn my girlfriend.
"I promise." She sighs as she clasps her hands together.
"Coffee, Ladies?" Arizona steps out onto the balcony and throws me a wink. "Jo?"
"T-Thanks." Unable to even lift her gaze right now, I take the coffee from my girlfriend and set it down on the table beside Jo.
"You got this?" Arizona asks. "I need to make a few calls back to the office and check up on things."
"Sure." I smile. "Go do your thing, beautiful."
Settled down on a lounger with my best friend next to me, Arizona figured it would be best to keep her here for the day before showing her to her own room tonight. I've seen her room and I swear Jo is going to drop dead when she sees it. We are the same people. Cut from the same cloth. We don't do this lifestyle. I know this will be like winning millions for her, and when she sees it, I have to be there with her. I have to be the one to hold her in an upright position whilst she takes in the view. The room. The life she is about to live for the next few days. We are unsure how long we will be here for right now, but Arizona has already her expressed her desire for Jo to still join us in New York if it's possible for her to do so. Honestly, I'd ask her to leave her job back in Detroit and move her out here given half the chance but it's her decision. I know she hates her job, but I still don't have the right to interfere. Just because I was brave enough to move away doesn't mean that everybody else is. Jo has family back home.
Our Bluetooth speaking playing out around us, Jo glances my way and gives me a smile. "How the hell did you end up with this lifestyle, Lize?"
"Honestly, I don't know." I smile. "You're good here, though. We will look after you, okay?"
"We?" She raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah." I nod. "We."
"Thanks for paying my rent, Lize. I'll get it back to you ASAP."
"No problem and don't even bother paying me back. You've looked out for me plenty of times, so let's just call it quits on that, huh?"
"No, I can't do that." She shakes her head.
"Um, yeah you can." I furrow my brow. "Sisters, right?"
"Sister's." She smiles.
"Can I get you another drink? Pick your poison."
"Oo, surprise me." She smiles.
"Mm, Arizona I'll be there in a moment." The sound of Alexis' voice breaking us from our conversation, I place my finger over my lip and Jo sits as still and as quiet as possible. "No, stop being so desperate. Give me a moment, beautiful. I'm just running late."
I swear I'm going to kill this fucking woman before I leave Cuba. Climbing up onto my lounger, I find Alexis staring back at me with a dirty grin on her face. "You're not for real…surely?" I laugh, my eyebrow raised.
"Arizona, I have to go." She smiles. "I'll see you soon, gorgeous."
"You are pathetic, you know that, right?"
"Mm, I may be pathetic, but I'm the one who is spending the day with your supposed girlfriend…maybe even the night if dinner goes to plan." Throwing me a wink, I almost throw up in my mouth.
"Hey, you fucking bitch!" Jo pops up next to me. "Go fuck someone else since it's what you are good at." Flipping her the finger, she pulls me down onto my lounger and the anger in her voice is evident. "Sorry, Lize. I couldn't help it. She's over there fucking laughing at you."
"Oh, I know." I laugh. "I'm well aware of that."
"So, what are you going to do?" She asks, her eyebrow raised. "She won't fuck with my friend, that's for sure."
"It's okay." I place a hand over Jo's and give her a reassuring smile. "We are stronger than that."
"I hope so because that bitch is prepared to fuck it up for you."
"Uh, how do you know?" I furrow my brow.
"She did an interview a few days ago. Said she had recently met up with an old flame and things had gone on from there…"
"Oh, she did, huh?"
"Look, I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't think it would matter, but clearly…it does." Jo shrugs. "I just figured you should know.".
"I fucking knew it, Jo. I knew she was trying to get between us." Throwing my hands up, I shake my head and stand from my lounger. "I told her. I told Arizona I knew her game but she just couldn't see it. Why doesn't anyone but you and I see it?"
"Hey, don't take this out on your girlfriend." Her tone lowered, she pulls me inside and shuts the door. "This isn't Arizona's fault, Lize. Does she look like she wants to be anywhere near Santiago? Really?"
"No." I sigh. "I still don't like it, though."
"Of course, you don't." She scoffs. "Why would you?" Jo asks.
"I just hate how she is behaving. I've never done anything to her, Jo. She just fucking hates me. I don't know why."
"Because she is just that kinda person, Lize. Don't let her get to you…."
"You know, you sound a lot like Arizona right now." I roll my eyes and Jo gives me a hard stare.
"That's because we are both awesome and we know what we are talking about…" She shrugs. "And your girlfriend is going to be my new BFF soon. Don't worry, though, I'll still love ya."
"Oh, you're too kind." I laugh. "Come on, I need a strong drink." Pulling my friend into the kitchen, I prepare us a couple of cocktails and think about everything that has just happened. I guess it's good that Jo is so caught up in Arizona's world. I wouldn't know what magazines to read where architecture is concerned so she is a good friend for keeping up to date for me. I know she will only tell me the important bits and pieces that she learns, but still…she knows when she needs to speak up and when she doesn't. Thankfully, she saw what has just happened to be one of those times.
ARIZONA'S POV
I've spent most of the day working on plans for Alexis' hotel and honestly, it's going to look amazing. I know people want my work in their properties, and I love my job, but something is telling me that this particular job wasn't worth it. Something is telling me that I should have stuck to my guns and refused to work with my ex. She's done nothing but piss my girlfriend off and I'm tired of it now. I'm tired of the smart ass comments that constantly come from her mouth. I'm tired of her thinking that it's acceptable to speak to Eliza how she wishes. She isn't some kid. She's not just my assistant. The sooner Alexis realizes that, the better. She is just pushing and pushing and it really has to stop. The fake phone calls my girlfriend can overhear are just childish. She hasn't even called me today, and my records show that.
I returned back to our suite a little over an hour ago, and now I have to get ready to go to dinner with a woman I'm finding it harder and harder to be around. Her attitude is disgusting, and tonight will be the night I end her little games once and for all. When I got home, Jo was trying to calm my girlfriend down, as well as herself. For some reason, Eliza's best friend finds it hard to be around me, and I've no idea why. My girlfriend says she is a massive fan but I'm just me. I'm just an architect. I'm not some celebrity. Well, I kinda am in our world, but not really. I just…I'm good at my job is all. There really isn't anything else to it.
Stepping out onto the balcony, I figured I'd give myself a few minutes to get to know Jo whilst my girlfriend is taking a nap. Between the heat and the exchange of words she had earlier, she's a little fried right now. "Hey, Jo." Taking a seat beside her, her face reddens and she attempts to stand but I stop her. "Okay, this is ridiculous." I laugh.
"I'll go." She gives me a smile. "I'm sure you guys want some privacy and I'm sitting here like some sort of queen. I just wanted to make sure Eliza was okay. Is she okay? Like, I don't know why she wouldn't be, but she was so mad before and I've never seen her like that. She wasn't mad at you, though. Oh my god, now you think that she's mad at you and I've messed this up and I'm so sorry and I'll leave."
"Have you finished?" I smile. "Your little rant?"
"Y-Yeah." She sighs. "Sorry."
"You don't have to leave. I have to head out soon, anyway, and you guys are going for drinks tonight, right?"
"Yeah, if that's okay with you."
"Why wouldn't it be?" I furrow my brow. "Eliza can do as she pleases. I may join you guys after dinner if that's okay with you, though?"
"Oh my god, yeah." She nods. "That's totally fine."
"Awesome." I can see Jo's nerves are getting the better of her, but I want her to relax around me. She has no reason to be worried and she has no reason to ramble on like she just has. It was kinda funny, though. "Eliza says you are into my work?" I ask as I sit back in my seat.
"Yes!" Her eyes widen. "Some of the buildings you've designed are amazing." She smiles. "Well, not some…all. Your attention to detail is something else."
"So, you're into architecture, huh?"
"Yeah." She shrugs. "It was what I'd planned on doing as a career but financial reasons stopped it from happening. My mom just couldn't afford it."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Giving her a sad smile, she nods in agreement and settles back in her seat a little. "Did you not ever think about pursuing it now? I mean, you're a little older and you are working…"
"No. I gave up that dream a long time ago."
"Why?" I ask, her lack of determination making me a little sad. "Anything is possible, Jo."
"Yeah, for some people but I just work at the local store now and scrape by. Eliza hit the big time, not me. I'm so happy for her, Arizona. For both of you."
"Thank you." I smile. "You know, she's really happy that you're here."
"I still can't believe I'm here." She scoffs. "Not only am I in Cuba, but I'm here with you."
"You're coming back to New York with us, right?"
"Undecided right now." She shrugs.
"You don't have to worry about the cost of it all, Jo. You can either stay with us, or I can get you a room at one of my hotels. Whichever you'd prefer."
"That's super kind of you, but I think I'll take a few days to think about it."
"No problem." Standing, I give her a smile and she blushes a little. Oh for God sake. "I should get ready."
"Sure. Enjoy your evening."
"Thanks for being there for her today, Jo. She needs someone like you around her."
"Yeah, I'll always be here for her. Don't worry about that." She smiles. "I'll hang out here if that's okay? I can leave if you guys want a little while alone?"
"No, no." I wave off her comment. "Stay. Relax. Do whatever you like."
Stepping back inside our suite, I head for the bedroom and quietly open the door. Eliza looks adorable sleeping so peacefully, but I have to wake her. I want to see her before I leave for dinner and I want to just have at least ten minutes with her in my arms. Closing the door behind me, I slip into the bed and pull her body up into my arms. Mumbling against my chest, I run my fingers through her hair and she moans in appreciation. "That feels nice." Her voice filled with sleep, I graze her scalp with my fingernails and she shudders in my arms. "I missed you today."
"I missed you, too."
Her eyes finding mine, she gives me a small smile and studies my face. "How was it?"
"The hotel?" I ask. "Fine. Shouldn't have any problems implementing my plans and it looks pretty straightforward right now."
"That's good." She smiles. "She wants you back, you know?"
"Eliza…" I breathe out. "We aren't doing this. Not right now, anyway."
"No, I'm not trying to cause a fight between us, Arizona. I'm just telling you." She shrugs. "I figured you should know."
"Did she say that to you?" I question her as my heart slowly sinks into my stomach. I don't feel the same way, so it doesn't really matter, but if I ever came face to face with one of Eliza's exes and she said she wanted her back, I can imagine how hurt I'd feel. I could imagine that anxious feeling settling within me.
"Pretty much." She nods. "She said she planned on spending the night with you, but that isn't what I'm worried about. It's the interview she did for a magazine a few days before we flew out here. Said she had met with an old flame."
"O-Oh." I drop my gaze. "I'm sorry she's acting this way, Eliza."
"It's okay." She sighs. "I'm the one lying in your arms right now while she is lonely and miserable next door."
"You are." I give her a dimpled smile and she leans up to place a soft kiss on my lips. "You definitely are."
"So, what time are you expecting dinner to be over?" She asks.
"Depends."
"On what?" Her brow furrowed, I simply shrug.
"On how long it takes me to throw my food at her." Both of us laughing, she lifts her body from the position she is in and climbs on top of me. Her hips grinding down, I close my eyes and bite my lip. Pulling her tank top up and over her body, she throws it to the other side of the room and leans in a little closer.
"Do you have a little time for me or do you have to rush off?" Her eyes darkening, I can't help the smirk that appears on my face.
"Baby, I'll always have time for you." Pulling her down into a kiss, I shift my body a little and it only creates an even better sensation between my thighs. Who'd have ever thought I'd have this gorgeous woman making me feel good whilst lying in a super king bed in Cuba? Not me, that's for sure.
Thanks for reading, guys. Your reviews have been amazing. I look forward to reading more.