At the hotel bar, Arizona was heading towards the bar counter, but Mel pulled her arm lightly.
"I think we should get a decent table, these bar stools aren't very comfortable" – Mel said with sparkles in her eyes, a tiny smile tugging at her lips.
Arizona just followed her, without saying a word. Truth to be told, there wasn't a need for words. Arizona was old enough – and single enough – to recognize a flirtatious move when it crosses her way. She knew that Mel had second intentions, and in fact, it was her fault, since she was the one who invited the younger to a drink after dinner. Arizona just did not knew if the reason she invited her was that she wanted to, or just that she was pissed at Amelia. Maybe it was both. She obviously found Mel very attractive, and if there wasn't anybody occupying her thoughts lately, she wouldn't think twice before getting her inside her room. She was single, and damn, it was nice to have such a young and beautiful woman interested in her. She had all the reasons to follow her raw instincts, but she decided to clear her mind of all thoughts and just try to enjoy the rest of the evening. Maybe she would make a move. Maybe she would call off the night. Time would tell.
"Good evening, ladies. What can I get you?" – the highly polite waiter asked them both.
"Chardonnay, please" – Arizona asked.
"Macallan on the rocks" – Mel ordered, and Arizona shot a surprised look at her.
"Right away, ladies. Excuse me" – the waiter left.
"Wow, Macallan? Exquisite taste" – Arizona commented.
"It's not every day that I get to have a drink with Dr. Robbins. I should order accordingly" – Mel smiled and within a second, their drinks arrived.
"Thank you" – Arizona said to the waiter, who left. Then, she looked at Mel – "I would say you had more drinks with me lately than my oldest friends"
"I hope that's a good thing" – Mel stated.
"I'm the one who invited you, right?" – Arizona smiled. She was enjoying that flirt.
"Are you really leaving tomorrow?" – Mel asked, quickly moving her glare to Arizona's eyes and lips.
"I think so" – Arizona said, giving back the same yearning glare.
"Why?" – Mel asked, not trying to hide her desire anymore.
"I need to see my daughter" – Arizona replied, adjusting herself on the chair.
"It's a shame. I wanted to invite you to some special thing" – Mel provoked.
"Oh, really? What is it?" – Arizona asked, curious.
"I won't say it. You have to go back to NY" – Mel answered, playfully.
"Why do I feel like you're making this up? There is no invitation planned" – Arizona affirmed.
"Are you calling me a liar?" – Mel chuckled.
"Not a liar. A bluffer" – Arizona chuckled, too.
"Well, I wasn't bluffing" – Mel affirmed.
"Then tell me. Change my mind" – Arizona had her hungry eyes eating Mel's lips, her desire flourishing within every second.
"Come with me to Portland tomorrow. A road trip. I want to get to know you better. And I want you to get to know me, too. If you want" – Mel invited, not running away from Arizona's stare.
"I thought you were going to stay in the city for a few days" – Arizona slipped away from the invitation.
"Well, I've changed plans" – Mel justified.
"Why?" – Arizona asked.
"I like adventures. And you seem like the type of person who would jump in this" – Mel explained.
"Me? Why do you think that?" – Arizona chuckled.
"Because you're funny. You're… I don't know how to put that in words. Bright?" – Mel was searching for words, making a cute little face.
"Well, I think I used to be, in fact. I was always up for an adventure" – Arizona shared her thoughts.
"What have changed?" – Mel asked, interested.
"I got old. Uptight" – Arizona explained and tittered.
"Stop it. This is bullshit" – Mel laughed.
"It's not. I don't do things out of an impulse anymore like I used to" – Arizona affirmed.
"Maybe. But that's nothing to do with getting old. And you're not uptight at all" – Mel reassured.
"Why do you say that?" – Arizona was curious and beyond interested in Mel at this point.
"I'm very good at reading people" – Mel explained, shooting a mischievous glare at Arizona.
"Oh, really? And what do you see in me right now?" – Arizona provoked, leaning on the table to get closer to Mel.
"Desire" – Mel was fast, making Arizona shiver.
"Maybe you're good, indeed" – Arizona said.
"Maybe I am" – Mel affirmed.
"Tell me, how old are you?" – Arizona asked.
"Does it matter?" – Mel asked her back.
"I'm just trying to get to know you…" – Arizona teased her.
"I'm 30. Will be. Tomorrow" – Mel smiled.
"Are you serious?" – Arizona asked, shocked, and Mel just nodded – "Why didn't you say anything before?"
"Well, I'm telling you now" – Mel said.
"We should be celebrating!" – Arizona exclaimed.
"I don't like to celebrate my birthday before the actual date. You could go with me tomorrow and we could arrange a good celebration for my 30s" – Mel suggested.
"That's not fair… I take birthdays very seriously" – Arizona chuckled.
"Me too. When is it yours?" – Mel asked.
"November 5th" – Arizona answered.
"And can I ask how old are you?" – Mel asked.
"No. You cannot. Just rest assured that I'm older than you" – Arizona joked.
"It doesn't really matters to me your age, actually. Just tell me something about you" – Mel asked, now touching Arizona's hand.
"What do you wanna know?" – Arizona didn't pull her hand back.
"Anything. Everything" – Mel answered, the air becoming heavier between them.
Things were about to move from the hotel bar to one of their rooms. The tension between them was really high and their hunger for something more than words were obvious. Mel was gambling everything she had to show Arizona she wanted her. On the other hand, Arizona was feeling that good sensation of being wanted. That desire in Mel's eyes was pure fuel to Arizona's ego. She just didn't expect something so simple to affect her so badly. Her phone buzzed, the screen back down at the table. She flipped the phone to see what the notification was and her face changed.
Can I come over? I can't stop thinking about you. I need to see you, please.
Suddenly all the world seemed to stop. That was the last thing Arizona needed, yet she couldn't pretend she wasn't confused.