Chapter 28

The moment Arizona saw Callie with another woman, her heart twisted painfully, an agonizing tightness spreading through her chest. It felt as though a vise had clamped around her heart, squeezing until she could barely breathe. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, and before she could fully process the scene in front of her, she turned on her heel and rushed back to the cab that had just dropped her off.

"Change of plans, take me back to the hotel," Arizona choked out, her voice barely audible as she slid into the backseat, fighting to hold herself together. She couldn't let herself break down here, not in front of strangers. The driver hesitated for a moment, sensing her distress, but ultimately nodded and began to pull away from the curb.

As the cab weaved through the night, Arizona stared blankly out the window, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of regret, shame, and raw, aching sorrow. What was I thinking? she berated herself silently, a single tear escaping down her cheek. How could I be so stupid?

She had come to Seattle with the foolish hope of surprising Callie, thinking she might find some semblance of the connection they once had. She had been feeling better for a while now and her heart couldn't help but ache for Callie. But boy had she been stupid. Arizona had heard about the 50th anniversary of Callie's club and thought that maybe, just maybe, they could find each other again amidst the celebration. After all, she knew how much this milestone meant to Callie, how much effort she had poured into preserving and revitalizing the club's legacy.

But reality had been far harsher than her dreams. Seeing Callie with another woman, their laughter mingling with the music from inside the club, was like a dagger to her heart. It wasn't just the fact that Callie was with someone else—it was the ease, the happiness, the way Callie's smile reached her eyes, a brightness Arizona hadn't seen in years. And why shouldn't Callie be happy? She had every right to move on. But that knowledge didn't stop the pain from lancing through Arizona, didn't stop the memories from flooding back—their life together, the love they shared, the unbearable loss that had torn them apart.

Her spiraling thoughts were abruptly interrupted when the cab driver spoke, his voice cutting through the silence. "Umm, I don't know what's going on, but I'm pretty sure we're being followed."

Arizona's heart skipped a beat, and she blinked, snapping back to the present. She turned in her seat, her pulse quickening as she recognized the sleek, familiar car trailing them. The Thunderbird. Of course, she thought bitterly. That car had been a symbol of their relationship, of all the good times they'd had together, the late-night drives with the windows down, the wind in their hair, and the city lights stretching out before them like a sea of possibilities.

"It's okay," Arizona said, trying to keep her voice steady, though she could feel her composure slipping. "Just get to the hotel."

"Are you sure?" The driver asked, his concern evident in the way he glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "You're not in any trouble, are you?"

Arizona sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her. How could she even begin to explain the tangled mess of her past with Callie, the love and loss that had left them both so fractured? "No trouble," she replied, her voice thick with emotion. "Just… something from my past."

"Do you want me to call the cops?" he offered, clearly sensing that something was wrong.

"No cops," Arizona insisted, her heart racing. She just wanted to get away, to escape before she had to face Callie again. "Please, just get to the hotel faster."

The driver gave a brief nod, deciding not to press the issue. He sped up, navigating the streets with more urgency now, but even as the distance between them and the club grew, Arizona could feel Callie's presence looming closer, a shadow she couldn't escape.

When the cab finally pulled up to the hotel, Arizona hurried out, throwing some cash at the driver before making a beeline for the entrance. She prayed she could slip inside unnoticed, just get to her room and hide away from the world, at least for tonight. But that fragile hope shattered when she heard tires screeching to a halt behind her. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was. The sound of the car door slamming, the hurried footsteps—she recognized them all too well.

"Arizona, stop!" Callie's voice echoed through the night, desperate and raw.

Arizona froze, her heart hammering in her chest. She wanted to keep walking, to ignore the voice that still held so much power over her. But her feet wouldn't move, and before she could summon the will to keep going, Callie was there, grabbing her hand and spinning her around.

"Beautiful, please," Callie pleaded, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear, desperation, and something else—something that tugged at Arizona's heartstrings despite her best efforts to resist. "Please, listen to me."

Arizona stared at her, every emotion she had been trying to bury bubbling up to the surface. She could see the same emotions mirrored in Callie's eyes—the pain, the longing, the regret. And though every instinct told her to run, she couldn't bring herself to pull away. With a reluctant nod, she allowed Callie to guide her toward the hotel's business room.

Once inside, Callie turned to face her, the door clicking shut behind them. The silence was heavy, laden with all the unspoken words between them. For a moment, neither of them said anything, just stared at each other, the weight of their shared history hanging in the air.

"You look good," Callie finally said, her voice soft, almost hesitant.

Arizona felt a pang of anger flare up in her chest. "I didn't agree to talk to you tonight just to hear flattery," she snapped, crossing her arms defensively. She had come here hoping to see Callie, to reconnect, but now that she was face-to-face with her, the reality was too painful. The image of Callie with another woman was seared into her mind, a constant reminder of how far apart they'd grown.

"Right," Callie stammered, visibly flustered. She ran a hand through her hair, a nervous habit Arizona recognized all too well. "I just—I missed you so much, Beautiful. I can't believe you're here."

Arizona's heart ached at the sincerity in Callie's voice, but she wasn't about to let herself be drawn back in so easily. The wounds were still too fresh, too raw. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to Callie. She turned to leave, desperate to escape before the pain became too much to bear.

But Callie was quicker. She reached out, slamming the door shut before Arizona could take another step, her hand pressed firmly against the wood. With a swift motion, she trapped Arizona between her body and the door, her breath warm against Arizona's ear as she leaned in close.

"Why are you always running away from me, Beautiful?" Callie whispered, her voice laced with a desperation that sent shivers down Arizona's spine. Her other hand moved to caress the side of Arizona's face, her touch gentle but filled with emotion. "When all I've ever done is love you, with all my being."

Arizona's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. It was the first time Callie had ever said the word "love" to her, and the weight of that confession hung in the air between them. Despite everything—the pain, the distance, the years apart—those words cut through all her defenses, leaving her vulnerable and exposed in a way she hadn't been prepared for.

The flood of emotions overwhelmed her, and Arizona could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She had spent so long building walls around herself, trying to protect her heart from further hurt, but with Callie standing so close, whispering words she had longed to hear for years, those walls were crumbling.

"Callie…" Arizona's voice was shaky, barely above a whisper. She wanted to be strong, to keep her resolve, but the truth was, she had never stopped loving Callie. No matter how much time had passed, no matter how much pain they had both endured, that love had never truly gone away.

Being this close to Callie, Arizona could feel everything—the warmth radiating from her skin, the subtle notes of her body wash mingling with the lingering scent of her perfume. It was intoxicating, overwhelming, and for a moment, all she could do was close her eyes and let herself be enveloped in the familiarity of it. She could feel Callie's breath ghosting over her skin, a gentle reminder of the intimacy they once shared. Her fingers twitched with the urge to reach out, to touch the soft, tan skin she had memorized long ago, to run her hands against the buzzed sides of Callie's hair. But just as she was about to give in to that longing, Callie pulled away, leaving Arizona feeling bereft and cold in the absence of her warmth.

She watched as Callie straightened up, exhaling a shaky breath as if trying to regain control. Callie loosened her tie with a practiced motion, her fingers deftly unbuttoning the top few buttons of her shirt. Arizona noticed that at some point, Callie had shed her jacket, though she couldn't recall when. The jacket was nowhere to be seen now, just like the ease that had existed between them before everything fell apart.

Callie ran a hand through her hair, the motion revealing just how rattled she was despite her attempts to appear composed. She then pulled out a chair for Arizona, gesturing for her to sit at the head of the table. Arizona hesitated for a moment before accepting the offer, lowering herself into the chair with a mix of apprehension and uncertainty. Callie took the seat beside her, close enough that Arizona could still feel the remnants of her presence, but distant enough that it made Arizona's heart ache.

"What do you want to talk about?" Callie asked, her voice unnervingly calm and controlled, a stark contrast to the turmoil Arizona felt inside.

Arizona's mind raced as she tried to find the right words. She wasn't sure what she wanted to say, wasn't even sure why she had come here in the first place. Seeing Callie so composed, so steady, only added to her confusion. She was supposed to be the one with all the answers, but now she felt completely lost. "Umm," Arizona began, her voice faltering. "I didn't mean to ambush you and your, umm, the person with you…"

"You didn't ambush anything," Callie interjected quickly, her tone clipped. She hesitated, searching for the right words, but the silence that followed was heavy, almost suffocating. "I was just…"

"You were what?" Arizona pressed, her voice shaky, the uncertainty gnawing at her.

Callie took a deep breath, and for a moment, Arizona could see the struggle playing out in her eyes. There was no point in lying, Callie knew that. She could see the pain in Arizona's eyes, the vulnerability, and she couldn't bring herself to add to it, even if the truth might hurt more. "Mark introduced her to me," Callie began, her voice low and measured. "We talked a bit, and she… she kept touching me throughout the night, making suggestive comments. When you saw us, that's what was happening."

Arizona's heart clenched painfully in her chest. She didn't want to hear it, didn't want to acknowledge what Callie was saying, but she couldn't look away. "So, if I hadn't shown up… you would have slept with her?"

Callie's gaze faltered for a moment, but then she nodded, the admission heavy with regret. "I think so, yeah. Most likely."

The words hit Arizona like a physical blow, the air rushing out of her lungs as tears stung at her eyes. She had imagined so many scenarios in her head, but hearing Callie say it so plainly, so matter-of-factly, was something she hadn't prepared for. "What was she hearing?" Arizona thought, her mind reeling with the weight of it all.

She swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears at bay, but it was a losing battle. "You… you were really going to do it?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, the words laced with disbelief and hurt.

Arizona laughed bitterly, her voice laced with a mixture of pain and anger as she leaned back in her chair, folding her arms defensively across her chest. "You say you're in love with me, while your fingers are already deep in that skank—"

"Arizona, please," Callie interrupted, her voice trembling with desperation.

But Arizona was too far gone in her fury to be calmed. She jumped up from her seat, the force of her emotions pushing her to her feet. "Unbelievable!" she spat, her eyes blazing with hurt.

Callie ran a shaky hand through her hair, her heart pounding in her chest. She had expected Arizona to be angry, but seeing the raw emotion on her face was almost too much to bear. "I can't ask you how you're doing, how you've been, and I don't want to be dishonest with you, Beautiful," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Dishonest?" Arizona echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "How many people have you screwed since me?"

"What?" Callie was taken aback by the question, her eyes widening in shock.

"You said you're being honest, right? Give me a number. How many skanks?" Arizona's voice was cold, her words cutting deep.

"Zero," Callie responded, her voice firm but gentle.

"Don't lie to me," Arizona demanded, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"I'm not lying," Callie insisted, her voice tinged with frustration. "I've been throwing myself into work, spending days and nights at the office trying to salvage what's left of my business. I don't have time for anyone. The only thing that kept me from calling you, from checking up on you, was working. Tonight, Mark told me I should be there because of the press, that it wouldn't look right if I didn't show up to my own club's anniversary. Arizona, I have never said 'I love you' to anyone before, and I won't say it if I don't mean it. But it's true—I love you. If that means that me almost sleeping with someone else has ruined my chances, then so be it. In my heart, I'll always know that I love you, Beautiful. We've been through so much together, and if one night—if tonight—ruined my chances, then I'll learn to live with it. But what I'm more concerned about is you. If you're okay, how you're feeling." Callie's voice cracked with emotion as she turned away, her fist making contact with the wall, the impact reverberating through the room.

Arizona's heart clenched at the sight of Callie's pain. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she took a tentative step toward her. She reached out, gently taking Callie's fist in hers, her touch tender and soothing. The wall bore the evidence of Callie's frustration—a small hole where her fist had struck—but Arizona's focus was on the woman in front of her. Callie winced slightly as Arizona's fingers ghosted over her bruised knuckles, the pain of the impact now dulling under the gentleness of her touch.

Callie raised her hand, the same hand that had just made contact with the wall, and brought it to Arizona's chin, tilting her face upward so their eyes met. The brunette's gaze traveled slowly over Arizona's features, lingering on the supple lips she had kissed so many times before, the gentle slope of her nose, and the bright blue eyes that had always captivated her. Her thumb brushed softly against Arizona's chin, a touch that was both familiar and electrifying.

"Did you fly in today?" Callie asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," Arizona replied, her voice just as quiet. "I, umm, landed about two hours ago."

Callie nodded, dropping her hand to her side, though she longed to keep touching Arizona. "It's been a long day for you, Beautiful. You should get some rest."

"No, Callie," Arizona said quickly, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions. "I don't want you to go."

Callie looked at her, her eyes softening with understanding. "Do you want me to come upstairs?" she asked gently, her tone leaving the decision entirely up to Arizona.

The blonde wanted to say yes, every fiber of her being screamed for her to say yes, but she hesitated. If they were alone in her room, with a bed just a few feet away, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to control herself. Before she could voice her uncertainty, she noticed the knowing smile that spread across Callie's lips. "I feel the same way, Beautiful. Being alone with you right now, especially since we haven't talked, would be dangerous."

Arizona couldn't help but smile back, a small, sad smile that spoke of the unspoken tension between them. "You don't mind?" she asked softly.

"Do I have a choice?" Callie chuckled, but her humor was short-lived as she heard the soft growl of Arizona's stomach. "We need to fix that. Did you eat?"

Arizona shook her head, her expression sheepish. "I wanted to surprise you, and then I forgot."

Callie's expression softened even more as she pulled out her phone from her pocket. "Which hotel is this?"

"Umm, Seattle Inn," Arizona answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Callie quickly dialed a number. "Have a burger, some fries, and a strawberry milkshake sent to the conference room of Seattle Inn ASAP. Thanks!" She ended the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket.

"You own this hotel?" Arizona asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

Callie nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Why am I not surprised?"

Suddenly, the air between them shifted, charged with an undeniable tension. They both realized just how close they were standing, their bodies almost touching. Callie could feel her semi-hardened member stirring, trying to make its way closer to Arizona's skin. She noticed the way Arizona's eyes dilated, the bright blue darkening with desire. It was a look Callie knew all too well.

"Callie?" Arizona's voice was breathy, her lips parting slightly as she looked up at the brunette.

"Hmmm?" Callie responded, her voice a low hum, filled with anticipation.

"Just kiss me already," Arizona whispered, her words a plea, a command, a surrender.

The brunette didn't need to be told twice. In one swift motion, she pulled Arizona closer, their bodies pressing together as she captured her lips in a kiss. It started off slow, tentative, as if they were both testing the waters, but within moments, the kiss deepened. Arizona's tongue darted out, brushing against Callie's lips, asking for entry. Callie growled low in her throat, a sound of pure need, as she parted her lips and allowed Arizona's tongue to slip inside. Their tongues tangled, the kiss growing more fervent, more desperate, as if they were both starved for each other's touch.

It was as if all the time they had spent apart, all the pain and anger and confusion, melted away in that kiss. It was like they had been thirsty for years, and now they had finally found a drop of water to quench that thirst. Arizona's hands tangled in Callie's hair, pulling her closer, while Callie's hands roamed over Arizona's back, her touch firm and possessive.

The intensity of the kiss grew, their bodies moving in sync, driven by the overwhelming need to be as close as possible. Callie's hands found their way to Arizona's hips, pulling her even closer, until there was no space left between them. Arizona moaned into Callie's mouth, the sound sending a shiver down Callie's spine, igniting something primal inside her.

Callie's hand moved downward, her fingers grazing the blonde's pulse point—a spot she knew would bring Arizona immense pleasure. She lightly licked the sensitive skin before sucking on it, not caring if it left a mark. Arizona let out a soft moan, her fingers threading through Callie's dark curls, trying to keep her in place, craving more of the intoxicating sensation.

But just as the moment began to deepen, there was a sudden knock on the door. The sound jolted them both, and Arizona reluctantly released her hold on Callie's head, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. Callie pulled away, a mix of frustration and amusement playing on her lips as she grabbed the blonde's food and placed it on the table.

With a practiced ease, Callie pulled out a chair for Arizona, a gesture that was both tender and courteous, even amidst the heat of the moment. The two of them sat in silence, the air still thick with the unspoken desire between them, as Arizona began to eat. Callie watched her closely, stealing a couple of fries and taking a sip of the sickly sweet milkshake with a smirk, enjoying the small act of rebellion.

Once Arizona finished her meal, Callie gathered the waste into a bag, her movements calm and deliberate. "I should get going," she said softly, though the reluctance in her voice was palpable.

Arizona's heart sank a little at the thought of Callie leaving. "When will I see you next?" she asked, her voice barely hiding the longing she felt.

Callie pulled out her phone and briefly scanned through her calendar. "We could get breakfast around 7? I can come pick you up, or we could have it here?"

A smile tugged at Arizona's lips. "Yes, that sounds good. I can't wait."

Callie nodded, her eyes warm as she watched Arizona's face light up. She reached for her discarded tie, looping it loosely around her neck, her fingers brushing against her skin as she adjusted it. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said, her voice soft but firm, as if making a promise.

As much as Callie wanted to kiss Arizona again, she held back, grateful for the interruption. She knew how easily things could have spiraled if they hadn't been stopped. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before giving Arizona one last, lingering look. The brunette's eyes held a mixture of longing and restraint, a silent acknowledgment of the tension that still hung between them.

With a final nod, Callie turned and walked toward the door, her heart heavy with the knowledge that the night could have ended very differently. But she also felt a sense of relief, knowing that they had time—time to talk, to heal, and maybe, just maybe, to find their way back to each other.