AN: Sorry about the formatting … I tried to upload the story In a different way. This is the fixed version. Hope you enjoy!
*** Arizona POV ***
The coldness of the ice is soaking into my body, it hurts but feels so good at the same time. I'm so exhausted. Today's training was brutal but it feels great to be here and to be a part of such an amazing group of athletes.
I close my eyes and lean my head back, letting the coolness soak into my body. As I lay there, soaking, I hear commotion around me. The voices are all recognizable and non-recognizable at the same time.
"Phoenix, what are you doing after?" I hear her ask me, I cringe at the nickname, I hate when she calls me that.
With my eyes still closed I respond with a sharpness in my voice, "Leah, don't."
"Sorry, so wanna grab a bit to eat when you are done with you soak?" she then asks.
"Sure," I respond knowing that a bit to eat will transition to a late night drinking and then either her spending the night or me going to her place and me leaving in the midst of the night.
"Great!" she says, she is always too chipper even for me. I hear her walk away and I exhale a breath I didn't realize I was holding. At the same moment, I hear my name ringing out from the other side of the locker room.
"Robbins," Bailey yells and then continues, "get your ass over here when your done freezing yourself."
"Yes, Chief," I respond knowing that I better get my ass up and dried off and hustle it over to her, what I did now who knows.
Dr. Miranda Bailey, the head of the medical team. She is a no-nonsense type of person, there is no sugar coating any crap, I like her but she pisses me off too.
I finally hear my timer go off and remove myself from the tub. I dry off and get dressed in shorts and a team training shirt and then stroll into her office.
"Cheif, you wanted to see me?" I say to her. We call her Cheif because basically, what she says goes, regardless of what we want or even what the team needs. But in all honesty, she has our backs and cares about each of us in our own way.
"I have your recent scans, tomorrow a new ortho starts, you need to be here first thing in the morning because she needs to clear you," she says. Then looks up at me and asks, "Questions?"
I just shook my head no, a little bummed out, I thought I was cleared. If this new ortho didn't clear me I will stay on the injured list and I may miss the cup. That means I won't get to play, ugh, if I continue like I am worried that the team will drop me. I walk out of Bailey's office and into the open room grabbing my bag from my space I decided to just go home, sending a quick text to Leah canceling our dinner and drinks.
### Later that Night ###
I never did like eating dinner alone in a restaurant. Something about it just seems so pathetic, that is why when I did eat out I always ate at the bar. Chatting with the staff was almost like having company while I ate, but the best part is there was no commitment. Just good times.
Finishing up my appetizer and getting ready to start on my main entree, I notice a very attractive woman walk up to the seat next to me. Long dark hair, olive skin, chocolate eyes that you could get lost in and her smile, wow what a smile. Ok perhaps I didn't take a glance, perhaps it was more of a long hard look, still, the woman is drop dead gorgeous. It's funny as confident as I am on the pitch or in the gym, I am so out of my element talking to women. Or at least that is how I feel, but if you looked at my track record you would never know it.
"Hi," I say to her. As she gets situated in the seat next to me.
She smiles at me and replies, "Hi."
Smooth Robbins, very smooth.
"Flagstaff, want another," Mark the bartender asks as he walks over and hands the goddess sitting next to me a menu.
"Yeah, hit me," I say in response.
"Your name is Flagstaff, that is unusual," I hear her say out of nowhere with a slight chuckle. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. It's just that is one unique name."
"It's a nickname the ass wipe gave me a few years ago, so it stuck," I say with a smirk plastered on my face. Sticking out my hand, "I'm Flagstaff, what's your name?" I ask.
"Callie," she replies taking my hand shaking it, "nice to meet you."
"Well, Callie, welcome to The Mark, not to be confused with McSteamy here," I say to her still shaking her hand. Mark chuckles behind the bar as he walks away at the nickname.
She just laughs, regardless, she is nice to look at, I think my night just got better.
As we sit and chat about just casual everyday things the conversation is easy, she seems fun, but honestly, she doesn't give off that vibe. For one she was checking out Mark a bit too much at the beginning, which I think he noticed too. But hey, she is flirting back and it's all fun and games right. Right.
As we are sitting there having a few drinks, I notice that she keeps silencing the buzzing coming from her phone.
"Do you need to get that?" I ask her.
"Probably but I am having too much fun and really don't want to deal with it, ya know," she says plainly.
"I get it, totally," I say in response. We continue to chat for a few more minutes. However, her phone continues to vibrate some more, and again she looks at it. She takes what seems like an exhausted breath.
"I am sorry, let me just deal with this and then we can continue our night, ok," she says laying her hand on my knee this time. I'm speechless, I just nod my head in response and smile at her. As I watch her walk away towards the bathroom, I realize perhaps I read this all wrong, hmm, who knows.
"So Blondie, I see you are back in action," Mark says freshening up both of our drinks.
"Mark you are a pig. She is nice, we are laughing and having fun," I reply. Then continue with, "I don't even know her, please."
"No, but it seems she continues to check you out, it's funny what you see from behind here. Yeah, she checked me out at first but she has been mesmerized by you, your laugh, and definitely your rack," he says wiping the counter.
"Pig," I exclaim, as I knock back my drink. I realize she has been gone for some time now. "Mark, I'll be back," I say. No, I am not going to look for her, I need to use the lavatory. I cross the pub and walk into the women's restroom.
"Oh, sorry," she says, with her back towards me leaning over the sink.
"No I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," I say and quickly add, "I didn't realize you were in here."
"No no no, it's ok. I just came in here for a minute and well, I just didn't leave," she says in response.
At that point, I notice that her eye makeup is slightly smudged and it looks like she has been crying.
"You ok," I ask, "I mean you seem upset when just a few minutes ago we were laughing and all."
"Yeah, No. Ugh," she says with a heavy sigh. "I will be. Just I moved here for a fresh start, and it always seems like no matter what I always bring crap with me, even when I don't want to."
"Yeah I know, happens to the best of us," I say with a laugh and moving closer to her, trying to look at her eyes by way of the mirror.
Callie looks up and realizes she just rambled about stuff, turning around to face me and leaning on the sink she folds her arms over her chest and takes a deep breath. " Sorry, I don't ... just I am so pissed."
I nodded my head in agreement. Who or what the hell is she talking about. I think I drank too much, but I know I didn't. Then it happens Mt. Callie erupts. I just stand there and watch the beautiful fury that is this gorgeous beauty before me explode.
"I mean seriously when you say bye it's over why can't they just let it go. She is the one who walked away from me and that was three months ago, but now that I have moved on, now she calls wanting to work it out. I get it, I know I am a great catch, but really I am not waiting around for her to get her shit together. Again she walked out on me, I am tired of being a lapdog, I am tired of her shit. I want to live my life," she rants and when she is done she takes a deep breath and exhales.
"Christ, I don't even know you and I am laying all this out there, you must think I am a hot mess or something," she says softer almost in a shy manner dabbing her eyes. And looking down at her shoes that she scuffing against the bathroom linoleum.
I am not sure if it is the alcohol hitting me all at once or if its the passionate fury that just erupted from her but I find myself walking towards her. Stopping just inches in front of her, leaning forward I brace an arm on the sink behind her to help give me sturdiness. With my other hand, I brush some errant strands of hair and tucking them behind her ear. Running my fingers down her jawline and pulling her chin up so that I can look at her, look into her eyes.
"No I don't think you are a hot mess, I think you are amazing and beautiful. I think if you look up you will see there are a ton of people standing in line waiting for a chance to get to know you better," I say to her with a smirk on my face still holding her chin.
"Oh really, right, wanna give me some names," she says with a scoff.
With that, I lean in pressing my lips to hers. Gently tugging at her bottom lip and then swiping my tongue over it. I pull away with a smile.
"I think when you are ready, you'll know," I say. And with that, I turn around and walk out of the lavatory. As I make my way back to the bar to pay my check, I realize I never went to the bathroom which was the whole point of going in there. But whatever, I will wait till I get home. Taking care of the check, I leave. Walking out of the pub and into the January night air, not too cold not too hot here in Florida. The way I like it. I decide to just walk the few blocks to my loft apartment.
I am about a block away when I hear quicken footsteps behind me. I turn suddenly prepared to be ambushed, but instead, I find an out of breath Callie.
"God, you walk fast," she says trying to catch her breath.
"Did you just run the two blocks?" I ask.
"Yeah I was trying to catch up to you and I was calling out to you, but apparently you didn't hear me. Hang on let me catch my breath," she responds with, as she is bent over trying to breathe deep.
"Ok .. but," I start to say but was completely cut off with her pushing me up against the wall of the building and pressing her whole body into mine. Her lips landing on mine with a just force it takes my breath away. My back is up against the wall, her body is warm and strong as it presses into me. I am melting as her hands find their way into my hair and she lightly tugs it. As much as I am loving this, we can not do this on the street.
I pull back and slightly push her away.
"I'm sorry, I didn't," she starts to say, but I cut her off by placing my finger over her lips.
"My place is around the corner, if you wanna go there we can continue this, but I don't think a random street corner downtown is the place to continue," I say.
She smiles stepping back giving me more air, "yeah I would like that," she states.
We walk the block to my place in silence taking quick glances at each other. Standing in the lobby waiting on the elevator is like excruciatingly painful. A side glance to her with a smirk and the ding of the elevator brings me out of my fantasy of everything that I want to do to her over the next eight hours. We step inside and I hit the button to the 5th floor. As soon as the doors close, she is on me. I am pushed back into the side of the elevator, my hands are in her hair pulling her closer. Her lips are pushed into mine and I can't breathe, but I don't care. Before we know it, the elevator dings and we pull apart. We are on the 5th floor. We walk out of the elevator, I lead us down the hall to my apartment door. I am trying to find the keys in my pocket as she has moved my hair to the side and is slowly kissing up the back of my neck. Her hands on my hips.
We make it inside. I turn around in her grasp and push her up against the door as it shuts. My lips are on her, I am pulling my own sweatshirt off and unbuttoning her shirt. For a night that I just wanted to be alone, this is the best alone I can imagine.
I start kissing down her neck and over her shoulder, all the while pulling her shirt off of her throwing it on the floor. The minute my hands are rid of her shirt they land on her bra-clad breasts. I kiss down one side of her neck and up the other side. She pushes me back, pulling the Orlando Pride t-shirt over my head and discarding it on the floor. Kicking my shoes off, I turn us around walking her back towards my bedroom.
"Hold on," she says pulling away from my lips. Shit, I know this would be too good to be true.
"Do you have water, I still haven't fully recovered from chasing you down the block," she says out of breath.
"Yeah, hang on," I say padding into the kitchen to get the waters. After pulling two very cold bottles out of the fridge I walk back over to her handing her a bottle and taking a deep drink of my own.
"Need to stay hydrated, you know," I say smiling at her. And with that, she lunges at me with her lips fully planted on mine.
We stumble into my bedroom and I throw my bottle of water on a chair, tugging at her belt buckle to undo it along with the clasp of her jeans. Meanwhile, she is undoing my bra, discarding it to the floor.
Pushing her back on my bed, she helps me remove her pants. While also undoing my jeans and shimming out of them. I climb up on her, straddling her hips, with only a pair of panties on. I reach down and undo the front clasp of her bra exposing her voluptuous breast. I smile.
"Beautiful," I mumble before diving deep into her.
### The next morning ###
I wake up as my alarm goes off, its 6 am already, feeling the cold air on my naked back. Wow, am I sore, but a good sore. I roll over and realize I am alone. Half expecting it and half wanting her to still be in my bed. I pull myself out of bed and stumble to the shower.
It takes me all but 20 mins to finish getting ready. I walk to the kitchen and grab my smoothie from the freezer and my hydration pack from the fridge. After, I pick up my equipment bag by the door and head off to work.
Walking into the training facility, I hear Bailey yell, "You're late, Robbins!"
"But I'm here," is my only response to her. I throw my bag in my cubby and finish my morning drinks. Putting my hair up in a messy ponytail I walk into her office, "So where am I supposed to meet this new Ortho so I can get on the field."
"She will be in the old head trainers office down the hall, she is already waiting for you. Robbins, when I say early I mean it, 10 mins before roll call is not early! I'll cover for you this time, but don't let it happen again," she says and ushers me out the door heading for the main meeting room, for roll-call.
I turn around and see the others coming in and putting their stuff down, and making their way to the morning meeting. I turn the opposite direction and head down the hall the other way. The door is slightly open, well the door to the office of our former head trainer.
Knocking lightly on the door frame as turn into the office, "Hello, I'm Robbins, I am supposed to be meeting with the Doc for review of my ... "
And then it happens, the air is pulled from every part of my body and I am frozen.
"Flagstaff?" Callie says in confusion.
"Callie, what are you doing here," I ask in complete confusion.
"I am the new Ortho, what are you doing here," she asks in response.
"I'm Arizona Robbins, number 32," I say with complete shock written all over my face. Well somewhere in my brain there are other thoughts going on like, well now I understand why she is so good with her hands. I shake my head trying to get the thoughts of last night, her lips, those hands, out of my head.
"You're the midfielder for Orlando Pride and you're one of the key players for the USWNT," she says as a rambling thought and less of a question.
"That's me, in the flesh," I say in an awkward manner still standing at the threshold of her office door.
Just then we are interrupted by Leah, "Hey Phoenix, I see you met Dr. Torres," she says as she walks into the office I still haven't stepped into.
"Here Doc here is her records of PT, OT, and all things Robbins, also known as The Robbin's Binder," Leah says to her handing her an extremely thick binder. "This is only the last twelve months, I think, If you need her entire record we have everything in the system. We only keep hard copies for twelve months. Hers like a few others would need to be put in several volumes if we had to keep hard copies of everything." She finishes her long-winded explanation and then turns to leave, stopping in front of me.
"Missed you last night, wanna grab something tonight," she asks in a hushed tone but loud enough for Callie to hear. Still looking at Callie who now has glanced up at me with a cocked eyebrow, I look over to Leah. Man, this is awkward and uncomfortable.
I have no idea what to say, "I don't know I will talk to you later, I need to focus on getting cleared."
She leaves the office and I finally take my first step in closing the door behind me. I feel stupid like I just got caught cheating or flirting with someone else. But I can't understand why, we aren't anything, hell I didn't even know who she was, she - Callie, was nothing more than a one night stand, right? So why do I feel ashamed of my interactions with Leah, nothing happened.
"Callie, I can explain," I start to say.
"Hey, no need, what you do in your own time is your business, but now you are on my time, so this is my business. I need you to head into the exam room next door and we need to go over your MRI and I need to examine you," she said with a flat borderline all professional tone.
I go to walk into the exam room that is connected to her office when she says one more thing,
"And Robbins, it's Dr. Torres."
A/N: Let me know what you think, this has been bouncing around in my head while watching the World Cup. Thanks, I may continue this, but at the same time, it could just be a one-shot, so let me know what you think. Thank you as always for your comments and reviews.