Lynx: A Callie Torres Story

24

"Hey beautiful," Callie said as she threw her bag down on one of the barstools and came to kiss her fiancée.

"How was work baby?" Jada asked, setting down the knife she was using to slice tomatoes to give her lover a more welcoming kiss.

"I had a seven hour surgery," Callie answered. "I'm sorry I couldn't respond to your texts all day."

Jada gave her a smile. "It's okay baby, I know you have days like that."

"I wish I had less of them," Callie replied flatly. "I shouldn't be too busy tomorrow if you want to meet me for lunch?"

"I would love to."

Callie hugged her from behind. "I miss our lunch dates. I miss seeing you during my workday, talking to you on the phone, it sucks with how busy I've been."

"I'm sure it'll settle down soon Cals," Jada tried to reassure her.

"I hope."

Jada watched Callie walk into her office to put some things away and come back to her a minute later. "Everything looks so clean," she admitted. "I didn't think Jess was supposed to come today."

"Jess wasn't here," Jada replied. "I cleaned today since I got off of work early."

"You cleaned?"

Jada nodded. "Yeah, your office was a mess so I cleaned everything up, washed our sheets, did our laundry, and vacuumed and dusted the entire house. I didn't touch downstairs because I know that's your woman cave," she teased with a smile.

Callie did not return the smile. "This needs to stop," Callie instructed slightly aggressively.

"I love you and I appreciate everything you do for me. But I don't want you cleaning the house while I'm at work. Okay? Because it's for me to do too and just because you get off a lot earlier than me doesn't mean you have to do this."

"I like doing it," Jada replied quietly. "It gives me something to do while I wait for you."

Callie took Jada's hands in hers. "Thank you for doing this," she said. "But it's my job too when Jess isn't here and I don't want you doing everything."

Jada quickly pulled her hands back. "You know what Callie? I'm going to do whatever the hell I want when you're not home. You say this is my house too, but you don't let me pay any bills or buy groceries or do anything! I feel like I'm basically freeloading off you!"

"Jada's it's not like that."

"You come home and get pissed at me for doing something around the house! I feel like that's my only way of contributing because you don't let me touch the financials."

"Money isn't an issue," Callie fired back hotly. "You do so much when I'm at work and it needs to stop. I don't want you working for me!"

"Then put me on the mortgage Callie. Let me contribute!"

"I'm not doing that-"

"There it is!" Jada yelled. "I'm sick and tired of this! Yeah, you're a surgeon for goodness sake! But I also have a good paying job and I can afford things! I feel like this relationship is all one sided when it comes to money."