Chapter 10- Callie
The drive back to town was painful. I didn't even have the radio on, it was just me and my thoughts. Sighing, I hit the button for the garage door, I pulled in, shut off the car, and start to cry. How could I be so stupid, how could she love me, she's right, we don't know each other. It takes a bit for me to control my tears, then I'm able to get out of the car and head into the house. Heading straight for the bathroom. It was Saturday, supposed to be my day off, but while I'm showering, I decide to head into work, I have nothing better to do. No sense in staying home, wallowing in my self-pity about a woman I barely know. "who doesn't love you" I say out loud looking in the mirror. I finish putting on the last of my makeup and shut the light off. Grabbing my stuff I head out to the garage again, while I pull my car out, I see my neighbor Mr. Webber, is out with his weed eater. He's always doing something over there, I stop the car and roll the window down "good morning Callie" he smiles.
"good morning" I put on a fake smile for him
"you heading into work today?"
"yeah" I nod "I'm supposed to be off, but"
"it's gonna be a hot one" he says as he looks at the sky "you have a good day"
"thanks, Richard you too" I smile and roll the window up. And remember back to that first day I spent at the Robbins, when Alex and Arizona were talking about Alex going shirtless and Arizona was jealous. What I didn't mention when they brought up Mrs. Webber, is the Webber's are my neighbors. I laugh a sad laugh, as I make my way to work. I don't expect to be busy today, I just needed something to do that wasn't sitting at home. I sit down at my desk and fire up the computer. Typing in my password I wait as it comes to life. Deciding I need some coffee, I stood and made my way to the coffee area, the dealership isn't even open yet, but someone had made coffee. And the scent was amazing. With coffee in hand, I make my way back to my office, sitting down, I take a sip, it was hot. Sitting down I reach for a file and start signing my name. I get so consumed in my work I only look up when I hear one of the dealers ask a customer a question, my ears perk up when I hear "I'm looking for Callie" I don't recognize the voice.
"oh I don't know if she's in today, she's supposed to be off" he says, it was Derek "oh her lights on" I didn't look up, until I hear a knock on my door "Callie" I look up and Derek is smiling at me "there's someone here for you" I nod, and he steps out of the way to reveal Alex.
"hi" he smiles, I nod and mumble a form of hi "you left so abruptly that I didn't get a chance to talk to you"
"what do you want Alex" I don't mean to sound harsh, but the hurt is still raw. I haven't had to talk to anyone since I left the house, almost, I look at the clock and notice it's noon. 5 hours, ago now. Damn. "I um, I don't know what happened between you two but"
"come in and shut the door, this place is worse than high school with the gossip" he nods and reaches for the door, then takes a seat at the chairs I have for customers. "she's a mess"
"she brought that on herself"
"yeah" he laughs, then sighs "she loves you Callie" I laugh at that "she does, she just can't say it" he shakes his head "not yet"
"why not?" I ask tossing my pen down onto my desk
"she was hurt real bad, her last relationship" he stops, shaking his head "it ended horribly, and" he pauses "I really shouldn't be the one to tell you this"
"you started why stop now" I see him take a deep breath "Arizona" he uses her phone name "she was" he stops, I'm assuming to find the right words "her last girlfriend Joann, she manipulated her"
"and?" a lot of people were manipulated, shit in a way so was I, with George. He sighs "maybe manipulated is the wrong word" he shakes his head "it was bad, like to the point where Joann beat her"
"oh" I sit back in my chair, feeling like an ass
"so when I tell you Zo has a hard time with letting people in, I mean it" he sighs "it took her a long time to tell me and Pop about it" I nod, and take a deep breath. My stomach growls, or maybe it was his, I wasn't sure. "I was about to get lunch, you want to join me" I ask. Seeing him smile "I'd like that, and we can continue this conversation"
"sounds good" I smile "just give me a minute, I'm not supposed to be here today so" I shrug as I reach for my computer mouse, and shut it down.
"I'll be outside" he smiles and leaves, I watch as he walked away. "wow" I say to myself as I go about tiding up my desk, I hate coming into a mess in the mornings. Alex was outside talking to Derek "that's sure a sweet rig"
"it is" Derek smiles thinking he got himself a sale "she's got a" I step up, and say "you ready"
"yeah" Alex smiles
"don't you wanna test drive her" Derek asks
"maybe another time Derek, we're headed to lunch" I say and watch as the man visibly deflates at the thought of losing a sale.
"another time" Alex says and follows me "Zo does need a new truck" he says to me as we walk away.
"not from this place she doesn't" I say and stop by the truck
"where too?" he asks
"I'm not sure"
"well Zo and I were gonna go to Joe's, she loves that place" mental note Arizona likes Joe's
"that sounds good, I'll meet you there, I'm parked over there" I point in the direction of my now dusty car. He smiles and hops into the truck. That thing was huge, I didn't want to know how much it costs to fill the tank. Shaking my head I get into my car, and pull out of the parking lot, right behind Alex. It didn't take long and we were pulling into the parking lot of Joe's. I too loved this place, but I hadn't been there in so long. Alex pulls the truck into a parking spot and I pull in right beside him. And we get out, he smiles at me as we make our way to the door, holding it open for me. Once we are inside I hear "Alex, good to see you" come from behind the counter
"hey Joe" he smiles
"take your usual spot and I'll be right over"
"thanks" he says and leads me through to the back booth.
"come here often" I ask, smiling
"Zo and I try to stop in when we come to town" he says reaching for a menu and handing it to me. Joe shows up with some water "no Zo today?"
"she's at home" he looks at me "moping"
"you mean bruting" Joe says and we all laugh "who's your friend"
"she's actually Zo's friend" Alex says adding emphasis to friend.
"gotcha" Joe smiles "I'll give you a minute" Alex nods and Joe leaves. Obviously, he always knows what he's ordering "got it" I say and set the menu on the table, my finger pointing to what I want to order, I hear him laugh, "if I don't do that I'll forget"
"got it" he smiles, it didn't take long before Joe was back and our orders were placed. "so" I say sitting back in the booth.
"so" Alex mimics me.
"you were telling me about Arizona"
"right" he stiffens "just give her some time, she loves you, she's been a complete mess since you left that day, and today she's" he shakes his head "she hasn't even left her room since you left"
"hmm" I hum, and see Joe is bringing our shakes. He sets them down and leaves us again. "that's Zo's favorite too" I nod, and we're quiet. I let out a sigh "so what do you want me to do?"
"come out, make her talk to you, she should be the one to tell you this, not me, I feel like I breached some sort of brother contract" I nod. Not another word was said as Joe brought our food, we ate in silence, ironically it was contented silence. Like I was part of the family. I'm contemplating that thought when Alex clears his throat "will you go see her?" I look up and am met with a pair of pleading eyes "ok" I nod
"good" he smiles "but don't tell her I was here, she'll figure it out of course, but don't tell her"
"ok"
"today"
"today?" I ask confused, I had just left a few hours ago, and he wants me to go back "Alex I don't know if I'm"
"please Callie" he pleads "I hate to see her hurting, she's had enough of that"
"ok, I'll head out there when we leave here"
"perfect" he smiles "I still have to get the dog food" I nod, when Joe brings the bill I reach for it right away "please let me, you guys have cooked for me" he nods and smiles. As we stand and make our way to the register. He waits for me as I hand over my card, and we walk out together. "Pop will be in the kennel, just go into the house, she's probably still in her room"
"ok" I say and reach out pulling Alex into a hug "thank you for coming to see me"
"I didn't" he says, pulling back from me he winks. I laugh and unlock my car. Taking a deep breath, "looks like I'm headed back out to the middle of nowhere" I say and hit the button, noting I needed gas "after I fill up" I laugh and back out of the parking spot.
There you go a little more about Arizona's past.