She's a knockout Part 4
She didn’t realize the miraculous upswing to her fortune until she took a moment to stop mentally cursing herself. In a split second between the words Moron and Super Moron she realized that she was no longer on the floor alone and a pair of warm, strong arms hand encircled her. One placed gently behind her head, cradling it gently, while the focused on her neck and face. Feather light touches probing all of the important places checking for any fractures. Of all the people to be feeling her face she was glad it was Callie. Even more glad that she was an Orthopedic surgeon. Nothing felt damaged, other than her pride as she slowly opened her eyes dreading the look that Callie would have on her face. Smugness? Humor? No, it wasn’t either of those it was genuine concern. Fear even. “Arizona, are you ok? Oh god… You manage to not kill yourself on those Heelies, but an inanimate object and you don’t stand a chance.”
“I’m fine, just a wounded ego and a sore nose. Both will be fine in a day or two.” For a moment she was torn between laying in Callie’s arms or trying to regain some dignity and making a second attempt at her grand exit. Both seemed like good options, but Callie made up her mind for her. She was smiling down at her like a goddess, albeit a sweaty and slightly ruffled looking one, but one none the less. “Are you ok to get up? Or do you need some more time?” Without waiting for an answer, she had cradled Arizona’s face in her hand and had placed the lightest of kisses on Arizona’s bumped nose. If Arizona had been in trouble before, now she was doomed. It was so tender, something she didn’t expect from the fiery Callie, that she was hooked on how many other facets this woman had. Staring into Callie’s eyes she just laid there, making her face look as weak as possible. Milk it…. A small laugh told her moments later that she had run out of time. With the aid of Callie’s wonderfully strong arms, which were now ingrained in Arizona’s mind playing a role in a graphic fantasy, she was lifted to lean against the ring to regain her balance. She was grateful for Callie’s acceptance that she may be a little dazed so not up to talking much as it allowed her free reign to her fantasy and the bizarre look on her face.
Callie sat beside her looking concerned, the longer they sat there. But she said nothing and enjoyed that she could watch Arizona uninterrupted and without needing an excuse.
Breaking from her reverie, Arizona looked over to Callie and smiled sheepishly “Guess you are regretting bringing me out in public huh?” Public was perhaps too strong of a word as they were still the only ones there beside the two women dueling it out and their coaches. But she hoped Callie would get the point. She wanted them to be in public. Callie and Erica had been a secret, secrets lead to lies and deception. She wasn’t in to that. She wanted a grown up love, not a childhood adventure.
“I think next time, we will try the Sunrise Yoga. No need for any apparatus with that. You should be safe…” Callie was pausing as though there was something else she wanted to say, but wasn’t sure how to word it. Arizona couldn’t help but cock her head to the side and look puzzled. Callie stood up slowly and began to grab her towel, mitts and water bottle. Arizona sat bemused watching Callie hurry around so suddenly. What was going on?
“Calliope, stop. Please.” She slipped from the edge of the ring and walked to take Callie’s hand, mid way through Callie stuffing her towel away. Callie froze and continued to look at her bag. “Callie… please.” The use of her name as Callie, not Calliope made her eyes snap up to meet Arizona’s. Or maybe it was the desperation in her voice that caught her off guard. “I thought we were getting close… Really close. But every time, you freak out on me when I make the move. Do you have to be in control is that it? Because I am super cool with that.” She held her hands out in front of her as though they were cuffed and gave a devilish grin. Callie looked as though her knees might buckle then closed her eyes and muttered;
“Look, I’ve had a bad trip with relationships over the past year. Ones that went from 0-60 in three seconds and I don’t want to crash again. I’ve been the speed freak now I want to be reliable and safe.” So that was it. Well damn. Arizona had called her on being the newborn and going for the excitement and here she was saying she wanted to go slow and be serious. It was like Christmas exploded in Arizona’s chest. We have a winner folks. Callie stood there looking embarrassed. It wasn’t a huge confession, and at least she hadn’t knocked herself on her ass in the process so no need to look like you just got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Arizona let out a soft laugh and wrapped her arms around Callie’s waist.
“I have a proposition for you.” Callie continued to look embarrassed, though a little intrigued. “You are a boxer, so I’ll put it in terms for the setting. If you can go ten rounds with me, you can decide if you want to take home the trophy, or go more rounds. How’s that? Slow enough?” She chewed her lip a little and flashed those baby blues at Callie.
“I was thinking more along the lines of 5 rounds. But we’ll see.” Callie’s face returned to the smile that Arizona loved. 5 rounds wouldn’t be so hard. That was a lie. But she would grin and bare it. “Do you want some more practice? Or has your face had enough for today.” That grin was infectious and Arizona couldn’t help but reply in kind.
“I think I’m all practiced out for today. Maybe we could go get some dinner and I’m hoping some ice cream. I smacked my mouth on that bag, so something cool would be super.” Callie rolled her eyes and nodded in agreement. “By the way, what were you contemplating earlier?”
“Huh?”
“When I had you in my clutches and you got all thoughtful on me.”
“Oh. It’s nothing really. I was just thinking that when you said you should keep your eyes on your opponent… well if that’s how you fight I’d be your opponent any day, I would be winning no matter what, even though you don’t fight fair. You were very... distracting.”
Arizona couldn’t help but smile. Turning on her heels, giving a quick glance to make sure there was no heavy object to impede her way, she looked back over her shoulder and winked “You should see what you get if you win Calliope.” Sway the hips. It was almost as if she could hear Callie’s jaw drop. Keep walking, don’t look back. Heading into the locker room she felt a rush of satisfaction at her smooth exit. She would ignore the failed attempt, though she doubted Callie would.
The door shutting behind her made her heart flutter, silence followed and then the thud of an arm leaning against a locker. She turned with a cheeky grin expecting to see Callie still in a state of aroused shock.
It wasn’t Callie watching her with a lustful look in her eyes. It was one of the boxers that had been sparring in the ring behind them.