Thank you everyone who reviewed this new story. You all rock! This chapter is just a short one but there's plenty more to come.
Chapter Two
Joey and Charlie walked awkwardly round to the outside of the restaurant. They found a nearby wall to perch on. Charlie tried to focus on the sound of the surf, anything to block out the thudding of her heart. Joey rubbed her palms on her jeans. They were sweaty with nerves.
"Why did you follow me?" Joey asked, not looking at her. "I told you to leave me alone, give me time to think."
"I didn't," Charlie said quickly.
"Why not?" Joey demanded, turning to face her sharply. "Don't you care?"
They both laughed softly.
"Sorry," Joey said. "I guess I'm a little overwrought."
"Me too."
"What have you been doing?" Joey asked.
She gazed back out at the dark waves again.
"Nothing," Charlie said.
"Well, thanks for that enlightening conversation," Joey said sarcastically.
"No, I mean, I've really been doing nothing. That's why Ruby dragged me out here. My moping was driving her crazy."
Joey allowed herself a smile. It was nice to think that Charlie's life had been tragic since she'd left it.
"How about you?" Charlie asked.
"Working. Thinking."
Charlie nodded, hoping she would elaborate.
"I'm sorry," Joey said. "I wasn't… I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon. I'm not ready."
Charlie felt her heart break. She bowed her head. She knew Ruby had only been trying to help but now, as it turned out, she'd just led her to getting rejected twice. Joey stood up and took a breath. Casting her eyes back down at Charlie, it took every will in the world not to fling herself into her arms. Regardless of what had happened between them, or, more specifically, what had happened between Charlie and Hugo, Charlie was still the most beautiful, amazing woman that Joey had ever met. She started to walk away. Unable to resist looking back, she turned her head and her heart grew heavier when she witnessed Charlie, still in the same spot, weeping. Her feet were moving before she had control over them. She hovered by Charlie's shuddering shoulders.
"How… how long are you here for?" she asked.
Charlie looked up at her, surprised that she was still around. The pain on her face matched the pain in Joey's soul.
"A week," she said, attempting to wipe her face.
"Me too," Joey told her. "They've docked the boats because of all the shark attack stuff. There have been incidents all over the coast. So, maybe we could have lunch? Tomorrow?"
Charlie nodded quickly.
"Please?" she begged, as if the idea hadn't been Joey's suggestion at all.
"I'll meet you here at midday," Joey said.
She hurried away.