The Aftermath of Callie and Arizona

Moving On

Arizona's POV:

I had just sat down in my office when the reminder on my cell phone chimed. As I looked down at the screen, the words, "Lunch with Renee at 1 pm," popped up on the screen. I hadn't forgotten, but as a busy physician, we can always use reminders. 'That means I have 45 minutes to get some administrative tasks completed, before we met in the cafeteria,' I thought.

According to Renee's business card, she's an Optometrist that works in the Ophthalmology clinic that's attached to Sloan Grey Memorial Hospital. Part of me was relieved to learn she's not a surgeon. Let's face it, us surgeons are not always easy to deal with. 

"It will be nice to talk with someone that isn't driven by cutting for a living," I heard myself think loudly in my own head.

It's amazing how quickly time can fly-by sometimes, but, the next thing I knew, my 5 minute reminder for my lunch started going off. I quickly turned off the alarm and started hurrying towards the cafeteria. My office is a floor above the hospital eatery, so I was at the entrance within 3 minutes.  

As I made my way into the open double doors, there was Renee, who greeted me with her amazing smile. Renee, like me, had dimples that lit up her smile. There was something infectious about her smile, that made me instantly flash my own dimpled grin in return. I noticed that Renee's left dimple was slightly larger than her right sided dimple at that precise moment.

As Renee said, "Hey, Arizona. How are you today? Glad you could make it! Should we grab our food and then find a table?"

I responded back, "Sounds good to me. We can just meet up, depending on who finds a table first."

At that, we parted ways for a few minutes as we both began the task of trying to find something decent to eat that particular day. Not to knock the hospital cafeteria more than I have, but let's face it, one gets bored at any cafeteria after a while of eating there. That particular day, I decided on a cheeseburger and fries. I noticed as Renee joined the table I found, she had grabbed some chicken salad and an iced tea.

"So, do you come here often?" asked Renee, as she smirked inquisitively and gave me a wink with her left eye. I could tell she was just as awkward as I am at making conversation with new people, but you'd never know it because of her charm, those eyes and that left-dimpled smile.

And, I couldn't help myself at her deliberate, sarcastic, opening line though, and started laughing out loud.

"Unfortunately, I do!" I was still laughing, as I replied to Renee. "Many days I'm too busy to pack a lunch before running out the door for work. Even though my schedule is chaotic, at least my office is directly a floor above, it makes it easy for me to grab food from here most days. I must admit though, it's getting harder to find things I want to eat anymore."

The benign get-to-know one another conversation continued as Renee responded, "I usually eat lunch in my office since my clinic is on the other side of the hospital campus. I don't normally have time to run over here and eat before my afternoon clinic session starts. Not to mention, I'm with you regarding the food... It was a challenge today to find something and I don't eat here as often as you do!"

"Since we're in the getting to know each other phase, I said, tell me more about yourself. I know you're an Optometrist, thanks to your business card, but don't know much else about who you are."

Renee smiled and said, "Should I give you my professional bio, my "Dating Game" bio or my personal bio, lol?!" There it was again, that smile that electrified me and made me return my right sided-dimpled smile.

"How 'bout a version of all of the above?" I smirked back at her this time, as I responded to Renee.

"Let's see... I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. I have an older brother and have lived in the Pacific Northwest most of my life, with the exception of the 5 years I was in Chicago. I did my grad school and residency in Chicago. We're not required to complete residencies as OD's, but I was lucky enough to get the one I wanted in Low Vision/Ocular Disease. Thus the reason I am able to practice hospital medicine and teach. I moved to Seattle 3 years ago after my long term relationship ended. I like long walks on the beach, falling asleep to the sound of rain and eating fresh seafood or Mexican food. Now that I shared, kinda feel like it's your turn."

Omg, I thought to myself, does this girl realize how charming she can be?!

"Me? Well, I grew up a Marine Brat. My family moved a lot, so I never really put down roots any where in particular. I had a brother, but he passed away a number of years ago. I too was in a long term relationship that ended. I have a daughter, but she primarily lives with her other Mom in New York, so I don't get to see Sophia, that's her name, that often. I've been living in Seattle for the last 10 years and feel like this is my home. I also like long walks on the beach, sleeping in on my off days and taking long, hot, baths, when I get the chance."

Renee started beaming as I was speaking... "Oh, I'm so relieved to hear you're gay too. I never know how to bring that up to someone new and not be judged. You'd think I would have gotten better at that, but after 30+ years of knowing who I am, it sometimes still isn't easy for me."

I found myself saying, "You're a Lesbian too? I get what you are saying about being open, especially in a hospital, let alone an academia setting. I get it all too well."

As our time was growing short, I was unbelievably forward, for me, and asked if Renee wanted to exchange cell numbers. She didn't hesitate to give me her cell digits as I programmed my number into her phone. There was something about this girl I was drawn to and I hadn't felt like that, since, well, Callie.

Renee stood up with me and apologized for needing to run, but said her afternoon clinic session was about to start and she needed to go make the sprint across campus to get back to her office.

"I really enjoyed my lunch for once in the cafeteria. Thanks for making it fun to eat in here again, hope our conversations don't end after today. I'd love to talk to you sometime soon. It's been forever since I had a friend that understands me and my life the way I sense you do."

"Likewise!" I quickly responded back. "Is it okay to text or call you soon?"

"Anytime! I'm a classic Insomniac and am awake more nights than I can count. Feel free to call or text me when ever you like. The sooner the better! Thanks for an incredible lunch Dr. Robbins," Renee said with the same left eyed wink and dimple-filled grin. With that, she got up, dumped her tray and headed briskly back to her office at a steady pace.

It's been forever since I felt butterflies in my stomach, but that girl definitely stirred something up inside of me with our lunch conversation. Now, how long do I wait to text or call her without seeming like a stalker or overly eager!?