Chapter 10 – Getting Out There Again
"Addison, if you don't give me that card back I'll break every bone in those hands!"
"Ouuuu Callie's got a crush on a big German lady" Addison was waving the number around the house teasing Callie. "Ouu, I got G's number maybe I should call her, I bet she's a good lay."
"Enough!" Callie snatched the number from Addison, "I am not going to call her."
"WHAT? After all that, you clearly like the woman, just friggin' call her." Addison was in the kitchen pulling together a dinner for the two women.
"I can't Addison, I can't." She started cutting vegetables at the counter. "It's just, what if I actually like her? She's in the Navy and will be for the next two years."
"Callie, you clearly thought about dating this woman if you've already put this much thought into it. Just call her. Maybe she just wants a friend?" Addison started to cube chicken for their stir-fry.
"Maybe, but still. I can't call her yet. It's too early. I need to wait at least like 48 hours."
"Who the hell made that stupid rule?"
"I don't know, but wouldn't I look a little desperate if I called her with 24 hours from the time she gave me her number? I am not desperate. YOU, you are desperate."
"Easy – I have a knife in my hand and I know what to do with it. I think you should call her tomorrow afternoon, it'll be 24 hours by then and maybe she won't answer right away."
"Well, what if she wants to go on a date? I know I'll be working around the clock for the next year. What do I do?"
"You stop being a sissy whiney little girl, and you pick up the phone, and you call her."
"That's the best advice you have Addison?"
The red head made way to the sizzling hot wok and began cooking. "No, but I'm sure it doesn't actually matter when you call her Callie. Technically she's on borrowed time in the states and you, well you're a surgical resident at the busiest hospital in the states. So, call her tomorrow morning."
"Like as in what time tomorrow morning?"
Addison turned around from the stove and threw a broccoli floret at Callie.
"HEY! What was that for?"
"That was for asking redundant questions, this" another floret flies across the kitchen, "this is for day dreaming instead of cooking with me. Now CHOP! CHOP!"
Despite Callie's qualms about calling the other woman the following morning she did. Callie sprinted into Addison's room so she could hear the conversation and provide some much needed moral support.
"Now, Callie, breathe. This is only a phone call. She probably won't answer seeing it's 10AM on a Sunday."
"Is that too early? It's too early. I'll call her later on, that'll be more suiting and it won't be rude. What if she's still sleeping? What if she's working? She could be working. Or what if she's still with some other woman from the night before." Callie paused and shook her head. "She's definitely sleeping with another woman. I just know it."
"CALLIOPE! Will you shut up and dial that damn number?"
"What do I say Addison?"
Addison rolled her eyes at her friend. Despite being so confident in everything else she does, like singing, dancing, breaking bones, oh and being a badass surgeon, she had enough of Callie's indecision. The red head took the phone from Callie's hand and called the number.
"There, now talk like you were talking to me"
"ADDISON!"
The line rang five times, and went to voice mail. Callie immediately hung up.
"All of that and you didn't even leave a voice message?"
"I-I-I choked okay?"
Her phone began to ring again, it was G.
Addison mouthed to her, "Pick it up – put it on speaker."
"Good morning, did someone just call this number? I have a missed call from it."
Callie froze and just stared at the phone.
"Hello?"
Addison snapped a finger in front of Callie's face to bring her back to earth.
"Uh-Hi! Hi Gia, it's Callie, from yesterday. We uh, meet at the restaurant. Um"
"Oh! Hey Callie! I'm sorry I missed your call, you're up early on a Sunday."
"Yeah, I am I guess."
"What are you up too today?"
Callie froze again. Was this woman potentially asking her out on a date after the first day of meeting one another?
"Um, nothing. I have nothing to do today. I have work for the next week or so. So I was probably going to hang around."
"Hmm, would you be up for grabbing a late lunch or early dinner?"
"Uhh…" Her mouth was moving but nothing was coming out.
Addison was losing her patience with Callie, so she answered for her.
"Absolutely G"
"Brilliant. I'll text you a few places I have in mind. Let's say I pick you up around 230?"
"230? Uh 230, yeah. Yeah that works for me."
"Awesome, I'll see you then!"
And the line went dead before Callie could further embarrass herself.
"Addison, what am I going to wear today?!"
"Why don't you wait and see where she wants to take you. You really are bad at this aren't you?"
Callie's phone begins to buzz, it's G.
"Ok, so she suggested seafood, if I'm not deathly allergic of course. There's a place in the Seaport district she suggested. The Crab Shack. What do I wear Addison?"
"Callie, you're going to eat crabs and lobster, I don't know. Something that doesn't say I'm here for the ball but doesn't scream I'm a homeless bum?"
"That's literally NOTHING! You, you're really bad at this. No wonder why you don't have sex anymore. OW!"
Addison throws her pillow at Callie's head, "Actually, I choose not to have sex. You, are just." The woman gets out of bed and shakes her head at Callie, "You really, really confuse me sometimes. Let's go to your closet okay?"
It took roughly 60 minutes before Callie could settle on an outfit. It was simple but cute, didn't show too much skin but enough to keep a person's attention. With Addison's help she decided a purple colored halter top, beige shorts and flip-flops. Cute and casual and not over the top. Prefect.
It was right around two and Callie was on edge for her date.
"Addison, what if I'm boring her? She's like a freakin' military medic, under taker, who probably has all these cool war stories or stories about work. I'm a spoiled brat from Miami who ran away from home because she couldn't stand her ex's and her family kicked her out."
"You are driving me insane Calliope. Re-lax. You need a shot to settle your nerves, let me go see if Meredith is home.. MER!"
Callie was pacing the kitchen until she saw the two women emerge from the hallway.
"Hey Cal, looking good! Heard you need some liquid courage though." Meredith was smirking at the Latina.
"Here, Callie, take a shot of tequila, you'll be fine."
The three women gulped down a shot and resumed pep talking with Callie.
"It's cute how nervous you are Cal, who is this mystery woman anyways?"
"Cal and I met her yesterday in Boston, at her aunt's restaurant. She's interesting."
"Neither of you are helping me with my nerves, give me that friggin' bottle."
Callie snatches the bottle and takes another giant gulp.
"I'm so doomed am I?"
"Cal, you're only going to be doomed if you black out before your date gets here. You'll be fine, you're gorgeous, interesting, and if it all goes to shit, at least you got free lobster."
"Meredith does have a point Callie. Besides, we'll both be home if you need a 911 page."
Callie went to thank her roommates for their support but she was interrupted by the dinging of a doorbell.
"She's here! Shit, shit, shit!"
"I'll get the door." Meredith left the kitchen to let Callie's date into the house.
"Addison, what do I do?"
"Say hi Callie, the rest you should figure out!"
Meredith opened the door and was surprised by who greeted her on the other side. The woman was tall, her arms were covered in tattoos, and she was wearing dark blue skinny jeans, a mint colored Lacoste V-neck with boat shoes.
"Hi, I'm Gia, here to pick up Callie."
Meredith took the woman's hand, shook it, and led her into their house. "Hi yes, I'm Meredith, Callie's roommate. She's just in the kitchen."
The pair walked into the house. All the color was drained from Callie's face when she saw her date. She wasn't expecting this woman to have tattoos, and certainly not that many. She's never dated anyone with tattoos.
"Tattoos catch you off guard?"
"Uh-uh, um no. I just didn't think you had any." Wow that was stupid Callie
"Don't worry about it. If you're lucky I'll show you all of my tattoos. You look very beautiful."
Is she flirting with me? I think that's flirting. "Thank you, G, you look great to. Uhm, Should we head out now?"
"Are you finished up with your liquid courage?"
The two opposite woman laugh at Callie, who's clearly been caught in the act.
"Haha, umm. Yes, I'm good I think. Mer, Ads, I'll see you tonight."
"Be careful kids!" Addison shouts out from the kitchen.
"Don't worry guys, I'll have Callie home before the street lights come on!"
The two woman left Meredith and Addison in the kitchen to venture on their date.
"So, she is very interesting Addison."
"Very is putting it lightly Mer. I wonder how many other tattoos she has."
"I think you have a girl crush Addison" Meredith pours another round of shots.
"Yeah right, but she is very attractive. Very." Addison thinks inwardly for a moment, do I really have a girl crush? "Bottoms up Mer!"
Callie was used to seeing flashy sport cars or customized vehicles growing up in Miami as a kid. There was nothing shocking when her dad constantly traded in his perfectly fine Bentley for a newer version. Nothing was surprising when kids got brand new Mercedes' or BMWs for their 16th birthdays. She was surprised when her date was sporting a brand new BMW 650 convertible, very surprised.
"Car isn't mine. It's my cousins. I don't own a car currently because I've been overseas so much the last few years." The pair hopped into the blacked out Bimmer, "Top up or down, your call m'lady!"
"It's summer, we're going topless." Liquid courage was doing a hella fine job.
She put on a pair of expensive looking Prada's and didn't object to Callie's request, "Topless it is then."
They drove through the city streets for thirty or so minutes before reaching their destination. G found a parking lot and the two woman navigated the crowd of people walking around Boston's financial district. The restaurant was situated on a dock, with a large patio overlooking the harbor.
G apparently made reservations or knew the owner because she skipped the line and got a table in a secluded section of the patio within minutes. They made themselves comfortable and ordered a round of drinks. Callie stuck with tequila and got a margarita while G settled for a Sam Adams beer.
"Cheers" G held up her beer glass and clanged with Callie's,
"Cheers", Callie smiled and took a sip of her drink. She picked up the menu, it was very short but everything looked delicious based on what she saw around her.
"So, this place is known for their steamed shellfish. I usually get the Fisherman's Platter, its lobster, three types of crab, steamed, and served with butter and lemon. Absolutely incredible. You up for it?"
"Yeah, that actually looks really good."
"You want any apps? I usually get a half dozen raw oysters, feel free to pick what you'd like."
"Hmmm, I'll skip the oysters, but homemade crab cakes sounds perfect."
The women put their order in and got settled into their table. Callie took in her surroundings. It reminded her of South Beach and dining along the water. It was one thing she'd miss most about Miami, the constant warmth and beaches.
"So, how's Boston treating you?"
"I really like it, it's not what I expected but it's good. I've only lived away from home once, and that was in the peace corp."
"Wow, Peace Corp? Tell me about that, if you don't mind."
Phew, I am not that boring after all. "Of course, I left two days after I graduated high school. I was in Botswana for two years. I did all types of things, you know? Just helping the villagers source clean water, provided any type of first aid, building new homes, teaching kids how to read. It was what truly inspired me to become an orthopedic surgeon." She smiled wide and took another sip of her margarita.
"What inspired you particularly? You did quite a range of work there, that's really impressive in itself Callie."
"Ha, yeah I guess. I saw so many cases of polio or club foot that could have easily been resolved with a simple surgery. But they can't afford it nor do they have the infrastructure for it. So, that was the foundation of my inspiration."
"Very cool, where did you go to med school?"
"U Miami. And I was a resident at Miami General but I left. I needed a change of pace and MGH was looking, so I took the chance. Now, can I ask you some questions?"
"Depends on what they are, but sure" G smiled at the Latina and took a large sip of her beer.
"What's it like being a mortician? I mean, I've never thought about it, but it's just a small world and it's very fascinating but it seems like it's always the same people who work in it."
"Haha, yes. That's because up in the northeast, it's all third or fourth generation families that own them. So no one really leaves or comes in I guess. I am fourth generation in line with my two cousins. My mom is a mortician and so is her brother. My grandfather, 'PaPa', is also one, and so was his father. It's just a tradition I guess."
"Wow, so when did you start?"
"I started working in the funeral home when I was 12." Callie nearly choked, "Don't choke Doc! I didn't embalm bodies or even see embalming. I held the door open and cleaned the home after services. I watched my first embalming when I was 15 and started when I was 16. I've been certified nationally since I was 20."
"Where did you go to school?"
"I went to Boston University at first for business. I played on their hockey team my first year. I quit when I realized it wasn't for me anymore, studied bio-chemistry and graduated Suma Cum Laud. I thought I wanted to be a doctor but I realized that was less of what I wanted to do. So I enlisted and became a Navy corpsman."
"And now you're between tours?"
"Ding ding! I came back early this time around and I am shipping out at the end of October."
"That's a lot to deal with, don't you think? I mean, you've spent three years there right?"
"It is, but I have a responsibility to my country. It's the most important thing to me knowing I am helping our soldiers out there. It's in my blood really. My dad was a Navy Seabee, my godfather is a Navy Seal, my PaPa was also a corpsman, and his father was a Marine in WWII. Two of my good friends are Naval Surgeons, and I just lost my best friend who was a Navy Seal. I consider it an honor to do what I do."
"It's really honorable, and admirable actually. I'm sorry about your friend. But if it makes you feel better, I'm happy I met you when I did." A megawatt smile lit up Callie's face, causing the woman opposite her to smile back.
"I'm happy I met you too Callie."
Their late lunch went perfect, except for the fact Callie didn't know how to crack, deshell a lobster or any crab. G got a kick out of watching the Latina struggle with her food. She ended up deshelling all of the shellfish for Callie.
They spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening driving through the city streets. G showed Callie all of her favorite places and most popular spots in Boston. Callie was growing to appreciate the woman sitting opposite her. She wasn't the bombshell blonde who stormed into her life, she was a big hearted woman who was captivating and spontaneous. Strong but gentle. She felt G's hand rest on the top on her thigh midway thru their cruise and Callie didn't wince or try to move it. She enjoyed the connection.
It was just before 8 when they pulled up to Callie's house. She didn't want the evening to end. The car parked in the driveway and both women got to and headed for the front door.
"G, I had an awesome time. Thank you again for dinner and everything. It was perfect." She took G's hands in her own and looked deep into her steely gray eyes, "I would like to do this again."
The taller woman chuckled lightly and rubbed her thumbs across the back of Callie's hands. "I'd really like to go on another date too." She moved in closer as did Callie, their faces were a mere inches apart. She lowered her head and gave the Latina a light peck on the lips. Callie returned the kiss and pulled G in closer, deepening their connection.
They broke for a moment, G placed her hands at Callie's hips while Callie situated hers behind the taller woman's neck. They gazed in one another's eyes before clashing their lips together a second time. Callie felt a tongue graze her bottom lip and it was met with hers. It was slow, careful and methodical. The two tongues gently massaged one another causing both women to moan. They broke a final time.
"You're gorgeous Callie."
"You're not too bad yourself Gia."
The pair went in for a final departing kiss until the front door busted open.
"CALLLLLIEEEE!" A very drunk red head jumped into Callie's arms. "I sawww you too k-i-s-s-s-s-i-I, um kissing OUUU!"
G looked like she saw a ghost and was frozen two feet away from the two women. Her entire demeanor changed to something dark and defensive.
"Addison, are you serious right now?" She noticed her date's mode swing and distance so went to comfort her. Thankfully pulling her out of the funk instantly. Was that just a flash back I witnessed?
"I think her and Meredith had a little too much liquid courage this evening." G nodded towards the door.
They both peaked into the hallway to see Meredith having a laughing fit on the floor.
"YOU! Navy GIRL, Show me-alll of those tattoooos, NOW!" Addison began to remove G's shirt which prompted Meredith to laugh even harder. G didn't even have time to prevent the rambunctious red head from pulling up the front of her shirt. "OUuuUU Calliee, she has pretty abs, and OUUU looook at this tattoooo."
Addison was pulling up G's shirt further. Callie jumped between the wandering hands and her date. She grabbed Addison's hands and wrapped her in a hug.
"I am so, so sorry G."
G couldn't help but laugh at the red head trying to massage her abs and rip her shirt off. "It's fine, she's not the first or last woman to want to see my 'tattoos'." She gave Callie a small peck on the lips and started down the stairs. "Good luck at work tomorrow and, with those two. Text me when you can."
"Thanks, I'll need luck with these two idiots." She began pushing Addison into the house. "Get INSIDE Addison!"
"BYEE TATTOOOO GIRLL WITH SEXXXY ABS WHO PLAYSS WITH DEAD PEOPLE!"
Pushing Addison into the house Callie wanted to strangle her for busting up her kiss with G.
"Addison, what the fuck was that?"
"NO, not, NOT Addison." Meredith could hardly breath, "I told her, told her to, go, take off, her shirt and," Unable to hold in any more laughs, "SHE really did!"
Callie cocked her head to the side, and watched the two drunk women on the floor laughing.
"I live in a frat house."
