The Song Remains the Same

Chapter 11

Callie Torres couldn't remember the last time she'd been nervous like this. Of course, it had been almost five years since she'd been on a date. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her dress in Arizona's hallway. She'd come off the elevator a minute earlier but hadn't knocked on the door yet. Combing through her hair with her fingers one last time and giving the neckline of her dress a final adjustment, she rapped her knuckles on the blue door. Arizona answered it a few seconds later and Callie completely forgot how to speak, how to breathe.

Arizona was beautiful, she knew that already. But tonight Arizona was – stunning, gorgeous, literally breathtaking. She was wearing blue, making her eyes pop. Her hair, normally straight and smooth at work, was in soft curls tonight, framing her face and grazing her shoulder blades where her hair normally hit the middle of her back.

She was smiling, laughing quietly at Callie's reaction, and doing absolutely nothing to diminish her own beauty. “I'm going to take the look on your face as a 'good evening, nice to see you,'” Arizona said lightly, teasing her. Callie's red dress was clinging to her curves in a way that made Arizona's mouth water, her hair falling across her bare shoulders in waves. And she was not unaffected. She was, entirely. But she wasn't completely out of her element here like only recently single Callie was.

Blinking and trying to shake herself out of her stupor, Callie took a breath. “Good evening. Very nice to see you,” she said, licking her lips.

Arizona laughed, letting her own eyes wander up and down Callie's form. Those legs were going to be in her dreams tonight. “You look amazing,” she confessed honestly. “Do you want to come in, or should we-?”

“I actually got us reservations,” Callie said, taking another breath. “You told me to do it right, remember?” she asked, teasing. If she went into Arizona's apartment right now she wasn't sure she would want to leave. “Four star restaurant, table for two, at eight. You ready to go? Because you look ready to go.”

Nodding, Arizona stepped forward with a smirk. “Let me just get my purse,” she murmured. She took another half step forward instead of returning to the apartment. Her heels put her at Callie's height and she touched her date's shoulder, leaning in to kiss her softly. It was brief, Arizona stepping back again before Callie could deepen the contact.

Arizona was gone and back before she could protest, clutch in her elbow and pulling the door shut behind her. She tucked her keys back in her bag and took Callie's hand. “I hope French food is okay with you. It's supposed to be amazing.”

“Sounds perfect,” Arizona agreed happily, swinging their joined hands lightly.

Their table was nice, tucked away in a corner, and lit by candles. The wine was sweet, the food was delicious, the atmosphere quiet and close. It was the company that made the night the best night Callie could remember. Arizona was sweet, charming, funny, just wonderful.

“So, ladies, did anybody save room for dessert?” The interruption from the waitress wasn't unwelcome but it surprised them both, caught up in each other.

Callie gave Arizona a speculative glance, a brow arching in question. “Split a slice of cheesecake?” Arizona suggested without missing a beat.

“I'll have that right out to you,” their waitress said with a smile.

“Actually, could we get it to go?” Arizona asked before she could leave. “And the check?”