Chapter 30

Arizona and Callie strolled through the art gallery, the soft clicking of their shoes echoed against the polished marble floors. The space was serene, almost sacred, with high ceilings and muted lighting casting a reverent glow on the artwork that lined the walls. Arizona took her time with each painting, stopping at every small plaque to read the description while Callie lingered beside her, her gaze casually shifting from one piece to the next.

At one particular painting—a bright, chaotic abstraction splattered with shades of blue and gray—Callie's voice broke the silence.

"This one," she began, pointing to the canvas Arizona had just read about, "was painted during the artist's Blue Period. But it's not just about sadness. It's about regret. You can see it in the way the strokes get heavier, harsher in the corners, like he was trying to erase something or maybe just couldn't stop himself."

Arizona blinked, turning to look at Callie, surprised by the sudden depth in her voice. "I thought we were pretending to know about these things? You sound like you actually know about these paintings."

Callie chuckled softly, the sound light but tinged with a certain melancholy. She shrugged, her hands sliding into her jacket pockets. "What can I say? I know a little more than I let on."

Arizona raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Do tell."

They moved on to the next painting, a softer, more classical piece of a family gathered around a table, basking in warm candlelight. Callie's pace slowed, her eyes lingering on the painting longer than usual. Her voice grew quieter, more introspective.

"My mom loved art," she said, her tone softer now, as though the memory itself was fragile. "Some of my earliest memories are of us going to art museums, or just sitting at home looking at these art books she had. We couldn't afford any real pieces, though. We were too poor for that." She laughed, but it was a hollow sound. "Instead, she would print pictures of famous paintings or cut them out of magazines and books and tape them to the walls at home. She loved it. It made her feel like we had a little piece of beauty, even if it wasn't the real thing."

Arizona paused, taken aback by the sudden vulnerability in Callie's words. She hadn't known this side of Callie, this piece of her past. "You've never told me that," Arizona said softly, trying to process the new information.

Callie smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, Papi hated it," she added, almost as an afterthought. "He had this dream that one day we'd be rich enough to have real art on the walls. He thought the printed pictures were... embarrassing. Like a constant reminder of what we didn't have. But my mom, she didn't care. She wanted us to have a piece of something beautiful, even if it was just a cheap print."

The air between them grew heavy with unspoken thoughts, but before Arizona could say anything more, her stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension.

Callie looked at her, and for the first time in a while, a genuine smile appeared on her face. "I think that's our cue to get some food," she teased, her voice warm again, lightening the mood.

Arizona chuckled, rubbing her stomach. "Yeah, I could eat."

As they walked out of the gallery and back toward the hotel, the sun bathed the streets in a warm, golden light, casting long shadows behind them. Callie pulled her phone out of her pocket, quickly typing something, her face turned slightly away as if she didn't want Arizona to see.

Arizona noticed, her curiosity piqued. "Is that work?" she asked.

Callie slid the phone back into her pocket and shrugged. "Kind of," she muttered, her voice nonchalant. "But it's nothing I can't handle later." She glanced ahead, then smiled. "We're here."

They arrived at a quaint little café nestled in a side street, its exterior covered in creeping vines and flower boxes that hung from the windows. Callie held the door open for Arizona, gently guiding her inside with a hand on her back, the touch lingering just long enough to make Arizona's heart flutter.

Inside, the café was cozy, with mismatched chairs and tables, and the smell of fresh coffee and baked goods filled the air. Callie pulled out a chair for Arizona, motioning for her to sit. Arizona smiled at the gesture, appreciating the small but thoughtful act of chivalry.

"This is a first," Arizona remarked, settling into her seat. "We've never really sat down and had a meal together like this."

Callie grinned as she took the seat across from her. "Guess today's full of firsts."

Arizona scanned the menu, her eyes lighting up as she saw the options. "So, what's good here?"

Callie shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "I have no idea."

Arizona looked at her, surprised. "You've never been here before?"

Callie shook her head. "Nope. I don't usually do breakfast. Maybe a protein shake or a coffee, but that's about it."

Arizona frowned, concern flickering in her eyes. "That's not healthy, Callie. You shouldn't skip breakfast."

Callie laughed, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the menu. "Yeah, I know. But hey, I'm here now with you, so I'm already doing better." She reached across the table and took Arizona's hand, her thumb gently brushing against Arizona's knuckles. Then, she brought Arizona's hand to her lips, kissing it softly. The touch was intimate, tender, and it sent a wave of warmth rushing through Arizona.

Before Arizona could respond, the waitress appeared, her smile overly bright as she greeted them and took their orders. Arizona noticed the way the waitress's eyes lingered on Callie a little too long, and the way she smiled just a bit too flirtatiously.

"I'll have the strawberry and banana pancakes with a vanilla milkshake," Arizona said, keeping her voice light, though she couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of annoyance at the waitress's attention to Callie.

"I'll take the French toast with chocolate chips and a black coffee," Callie added, flashing the waitress a smile that Arizona couldn't help but notice was equally warm.

The waitress blushed slightly, jotting down the order. "Good choice. I'll have that out for you both in just a bit," she said, lingering for a moment longer than necessary before walking away.

Arizona's eyes followed the waitress as she walked off, her jaw tightening just a little. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "You know she was flirting with you, right?"

Callie glanced up, surprised. "What? No, she's just being nice. It's her job, Arizona."

Arizona raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Oh, come on. She was practically batting her eyelashes at you. Did you see how she stayed a little longer just to smile at you?"

Callie shook her head with a chuckle. "I think you're reading into it. Besides, I'm not exactly available."

Arizona bit her lip, feeling a flicker of insecurity. "You didn't exactly tell her that, though."

Callie leaned forward, placing her hands on the table, her voice softening. "Arizona, I'm here with you. You really think I'd flirt with someone else while I'm sitting across from you?"

Arizona looked down, fiddling with the edge of her napkin. "It's just... we haven't really done this before, you know? The whole sitting-down-for-a-meal-together thing. And I guess... I just don't know where we stand sometimes."

Callie reached across the table, gently taking Arizona's hand. "Hey, look at me," she said softly, waiting until Arizona's eyes met hers. "We're here together because I want to be here. With you. Not her. Okay?"

Arizona nodded, though the flicker of doubt still lingered. "Okay."

Just then, the waitress returned, placing their plates in front of them. "Here you go—strawberry banana pancakes for you," she said, sliding Arizona's dish in front of her, "and French toast with chocolate chips for you," she added, smiling a little too brightly at Callie.

Callie barely glanced at the waitress this time, more focused on Arizona. "Thanks," she said, dismissing her quickly before turning her attention back to Arizona.

"So, how's it taste?" Callie asked, cutting into her French toast and taking a bite.

Arizona poked at her pancakes with a fork, her mind still preoccupied with the earlier exchange. "It's good."

Callie sighed, clearly sensing the tension still lingering in the air. "You know, jealousy really doesn't suit you," she teased gently, trying to lighten the mood.

Arizona glanced up, narrowing her eyes playfully. "Jealous? Who's jealous?"

Callie smirked, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Not you, obviously. Just thought I'd check."

Arizona couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And you love it," Callie shot back, taking another bite of her French toast, her grin widening when she saw Arizona finally start to relax.

A few moments passed in comfortable silence as they ate. Then, Callie spoke again, her voice more serious this time. "You really don't have anything to worry about, Arizona. I'm all in this... with you. I wouldn't be here otherwise."

Arizona met her gaze, her heart softening at Callie's sincerity. "I know. I just... sometimes it's hard to believe this is real, you know?"

Callie nodded, understanding. "Yeah. But I promise you, it is." She reached out and tucked a loose strand of Arizona's hair behind her ear. "I'm not going anywhere."

For the first time that morning, Arizona smiled—really smiled. "Okay," she said quietly. "I believe you."

"Good," Callie replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Now, do you want to try my French toast? It's really good. Better than your pancakes, I bet."

Arizona rolled her eyes but smiled, leaning in to take a bite from Callie's fork. "Mmm. Okay, that is pretty good."

"Told you," Callie said, her grin wide and smug.

Arizona laughed, the earlier tension finally melting away. "Alright, alright. You win this round."

Callie leaned back, satisfied. "I always do."

As Arizona looked up at the clock, her face tightened with realization. "Oh no," she murmured, almost to herself.

Callie, sensing the shift in the air, glanced at Arizona. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft but curious.

Arizona hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before speaking. "My flight is in five hours," she admitted, her tone slightly anxious. "I need to go pack... and I wasn't sure how long I should stay here, so I booked a flight that's pretty close by. I just didn't want to overstay, you know?"

Callie raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips as she gently rested her hand on Arizona's. "Relax. I need you to take a deep breath, okay? How about this? We walk back to the hotel, you pack, and then I'll drop you off at the airport? I want to spend more time with you."

Arizona sighed, her heart tugging in two directions. "I want that too, Callie, but I—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Callie's phone rang, its sharp buzz cutting through the conversation like an uninvited guest. Callie glanced at the screen, her eyes widening slightly. "I'm sorry, Arizona. This is important—I have to take it."

Without waiting for a reply, Callie stood up quickly, placing her card down on the table. "Do you want to order food to go for the airport? Put it on my card," she added, already stepping away as the call connected.

Arizona blinked, watching as Callie moved outside, her voice a low murmur that Arizona couldn't quite hear. She'd never seen Callie react like this before. Sure, there had been confidential calls, but this felt... different. Callie's urgency was new, a side Arizona hadn't experienced.

Left alone at the table, Arizona sipped on her milkshake, her mind racing. What could be so urgent? Ten minutes passed. Then fifteen. Then thirty. By the time forty minutes had gone by, Arizona's patience had worn thin. She felt an uncomfortable knot forming in her stomach.

The smug waitress appeared again, this time with a bill. Arizona didn't bother to hide her irritation as she handed over Callie's card, making sure to sign the receipt without leaving a tip. She wasn't in the mood for pleasantries, not after being kept waiting for so long.

Pushing her chair back, she grabbed her things and walked out, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. Would Callie even notice that she'd left?

She didn't get far—just a block from the café—before she heard the hurried footsteps behind her. Callie's voice cut through the noise of the city streets. "Arizona, wait!"

Arizona stopped, her body tense as Callie caught up to her, gently grabbing her arm. "What happened?" Callie asked, breathless.

"I don't know, you tell me," Arizona snapped, her words sharp. She was upset, and the exhaustion from the day was only amplifying the emotions. "You left me sitting there for almost 40 minutes, Callie. For what? Some call?"

Callie's expression shifted, guilt clouding her features. "Beautiful, I'm sorry. It was just... an important call."

"For 30 minutes?" Arizona raised her eyebrows in disbelief, but as Callie glanced at her watch, she corrected herself.

"Closer to 40," Callie admitted, wincing. "I didn't mean to be gone that long. I'm really, really sorry."

Arizona shook her head, crossing her arms tightly. "I'm getting late, Callie. I need to be at the airport."

"Let me drop you off, please," Callie pleaded, her voice softer now, almost apologetic.

"Ugh, fine," Arizona muttered, turning on her heel. "Just... don't talk to me for a bit, okay?"

Callie nodded, understanding the weight of Arizona's frustration. She followed silently, her thoughts racing as they walked back to the hotel. She knew she had kept Arizona waiting too long, and now she wasn't sure how to fix it. Her heart pounded in her chest, guilt gnawing at her as they reached the lobby.

"I'll wait here," Callie said quietly, watching as Arizona headed up to pack.

As Arizona disappeared into the elevator, Callie began to pace. She hadn't meant for the call to take that long, and now she felt like she had messed up something important. Every minute ticked by painfully slowly as Callie's mind spun, wondering what she could do to make this right. She thought she'd done everything right for their date, but somehow, it had spiraled out of control.

She kept glancing at the elevator doors, hoping Arizona would come back down soon so they could fix things.

The ride to the hotel was quiet, no one spoke a word. Callie was itching to reach across and put her hand on Arizona's skin on her hand on her thigh but she refrained herself, Arizona's eyes were bloodshot telling her that she had cried upstairs. As they approached the terminal.

"When will I see you again? Will I see you again?" Callie asked, her voice dripping with pain.

"I don't know."

"For what's worth I'm sorry, I'll be waiting right here for you. If you need me to come to you, I'm just a text away."

"A lot had happened in a matter of few hours. I want to be with you Callie but there's always something stopping us. I need to think, but I'll text you."

Callie nodded as she stopped the car in front of Arizona's terminal. She got out of the car before helping Arizona with her suitcases.

"Until next time?" She said as she leaned in for a hug and placed a kiss on her cheek.