I really wasn't sure about this story but all your wonderful reviews have really encouraged me to continue. Thank you so much. I truly am grateful for your support for this one – and all the others!
Chapter Four
Joey tucked herself into bed the minute she got home. Snuggled under the duvet she let images of Charlie dance beneath her eyelids. She could still feel her hands and her lips against her cheek. She flinched when she heard the door open and silently watched Roxy's figure flick on the light. She had no concept of Joey being asleep. She always turned the light on, no matter what time it was.
"Are you awake?" Roxy asked.
Joey watched her strip off and resisted the urge to pretend she was still asleep.
"Yeah," she said.
"What did you get up to tonight?"
Joey panicked for a brief moment that Roxy knew where she had been.
"I just watched a movie," Joey replied meekly.
"What did you watch?"
She slipped into bed and reached out for Joey.
"Oh, I forget the name of it. It was just on TV," Joey lied, accepting Roxy's embrace and feeling guilty for her deceit.
Roxy flicked off the light and Joey was grateful to be allowed to sleep. Before she knew what was happening, Roxy had slipped her hands under Joey's pyjama top and pressed her lips against hers. Joey kissed her back and let her touch; unhappily aware that Roxy's hands seemed to be counteracting the lingering memory of Charlie's. She didn't want Roxy tonight. But then, she rarely got a choice about these things. When Roxy wanted something, she got it, especially from Joey.
"I missed you," Roxy whispered into the darkness, pulling Joey on top of her.
Joey avoided replying by kissing Roxy back harder and beginning to make all the moves that she knew her girlfriend wanted.
"So, how did your date go last night?" Ruby asked, entering the kitchen where Charlie was cleaning up from the night before.
"It wasn't a date," Charlie said, turning round.
Ruby opened the fridge in search of orange juice.
"Yeah, right!" she commented.
She sat down in a kitchen chair and Charlie came to join her.
"It wasn't," Charlie insisted.
"Mmm hmm," Ruby replied, pouring juice into a glass. "You invite a hot girl that you haven't shut up about since you met her, round for dinner and a movie and it's not a date."
"I wish it had been a date," Charlie admitted.
"So why wasn't it?" Ruby asked. "Spill."
Charlie sighed heavily.
"She seems like she likes me but…"
"But?"
"She's got a girlfriend."
Ruby sucked in a breath and winced.
"Don't go there, Charles," she warned.
"I know," Charlie sighed. "I know. I just can't help myself. She's so amazing, Ruby. She…"
Ruby cut her off.
"She's beautiful, gentle and a complete sweetheart. You've told me. Several times."
Charlie blushed and bowed her head.
"You've got it bad," Ruby commented, getting to her feet. "I've got to get to school. Be good, if you can manage it!"
Joey was disappointed when Roxy kicked up such a fuss about her run that she had to cancel. It meant not seeing Charlie. And she really, really wanted to see Charlie. Frowning, she continued organising breakfast for herself and Roxy.
"What's up with you?" Roxy asked.
"Sorry?"
"You've been in a strange mood all week."
"Have I?"
Joey set a bacon sandwich down in front of her and then seated herself beside her to tuck into her own food.
"Yeah. You've been distracted."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
Roxy's random bouts of kindness always caught Joey off guard. Sitting there, she seemed genuinely concerned. Joey suddenly felt even worse about the fact that while they were together last night, all she had been able to imagine was Charlie.
"Yeah," Joey said. "Sorry."
"Well, just in case, we're going out for the day. We can spend some proper time together. How about that?"
"That'd be great," Joey said, touched that Roxy seemed to care so much.
The day had been nice, aside from a small disagreement about Joey not getting all of the laundry done the day before. Roxy had begun to launch into a tantrum about Joey being useless and then caught herself, suddenly remembering to play nicely. She'd driven her out into town for a long lunch. Roxy had been talkative, attentive and affectionate. They'd held hands, kissed and giggled together. It felt good to be with her again, for them to remind themselves that despite all the difficulties they had, they could be happy together.
"I've had a really great day," Joey said happily, as she and Roxy sat in a bar together before they headed home.
She looked around when she realised that Roxy was staring at a point past her shoulder. Behind her, she noticed an attractive redhead at the bar. Joey frowned, knowing exactly what was coming next.
"I'll just be a minute," Roxy said, getting to her feet.
Ruby arrived home just as Charlie was getting ready to head out.
"Another non-date?" she enquired, slinging her bag on the sofa and flopping down beside it.
"No," Charlie said unhappily.
She hadn't seen Joey all day. They hadn't met like usual when they were out running and she hadn't heard a thing from her since last night. She'd resisted being clingy and contacting her but hoped they would find each other on the beach the following morning.
"I'm just going to Surf Club for a bit. Want to join me?"
"I've literally just got back from there. But have fun. I hope you bump into your secret hottie!"
Joey sat in the back of the car on the way home feeling utterly miserable and wondering if this was karma. Roxy had picked up the redhead, Estelle and opted to take her home. It wasn't a new thing. Roxy went off with other women all the time and she never made a secret of it. Joey still hadn't figured out whether she'd prefer to be oblivious or not.
"Drop me off here," she said when they drove past the Surf Club.
She did not want to be home for the night tonight. Crawling in at stupid o'clock while they were probably still going at it, hopefully behind a closed door would be bad enough. Roxy stopped the car and Joey jumped out.
"See you later!" Roxy called cheerfully.
Joey wondered for the millionth time why she bothered to keep coming back to her.
Charlie looked up from her glass of wine when she heard someone burst through the door.
"A double vodka please."
It was Joey. And she looked desperately unhappily. Charlie was on her feet and heading over to her before she'd even finished speaking.
"Bad day?" she asked.
Joey felt better just at the sound of Charlie's voice.
"Make that two," she said to the barman.
The barman handed the drinks over. Joey turned to Charlie.
"Cheers," she said.
They both drank their shots and Charlie dropped onto the stool beside Joey, silently fretting over the stress on her friend's face.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"You don't want to know," Joey assured her.
"Well, if that was true, I wouldn't have asked, would I?"
Joey sighed.
"My girlfriend is currently in bed with another woman," she said blankly.
Charlie looked aghast.
"You mean you caught her…?"
"Oh, no. She picked her up in front of me."
Charlie was speechless. Joey calmed down enough to laugh, even if it was a little bitter.
"Don't worry. It's not the first time and it won't be the last," she said. "It's just one of those things I have to put up with."
She shrugged but felt comforted by Charlie's hand on her shoulder.
"She just picks up girls randomly?"
"Pretty much."
"Well then, it sounds like you need a good night out. Care for some company?"
Four hours later, Joey was relaxed and had almost forgotten about Roxy and the redhead. Charlie had succeeded in making her laugh and with the wine flowing, mixed with several shots, Joey was surprisingly happy. A not so small thrill shot through her when Charlie leaned in close, still laughing and put her hand on Joey's knee. Joey looked down at Charlie's hand, appreciating the contact. Charlie made her feel normal. She made her feel worthwhile.
"Right everyone," Alf called from the bar. "Time to get back to your homes."
Joey's good mood broke.
"I really, really don't want to go home," she admitted.
"Well, we could grab a bottle and hang out at mine," Charlie suggested.
Joey leapt at the chance to avoid going home and to spend more time with the woman she'd come to care for so quickly.
By the time Charlie and Joey were yawning, it was 3am.
"I'd better head off," Joey said, glancing at her watch. "I really hope they're quiet."
"Where do you sleep when Roxy…?"
"On the couch."
Charlie shook her head.
"Have I mentioned that I don't like her and I don't think she's good enough for you?"
"Maybe a few times," Joey grinned, leaning closer.
Charlie reached out and stroked Joey's hair without thinking. She wanted nothing more than to take Joey away from someone who didn't appreciate her, and show her a world where she would be adored. She traced her thumb across Joey's cheek and both were reminded of the hand-holding the night before. Unable to resist, Charlie lent forward and pressed her lips delicately against Joey's, terrified that she would scare her away any minute. She was pleased when Joey returned her kiss, holding her close and permitting Charlie's eager tongue, entry. She wanted Joey more than she had ever wanted anyone before. Panic filled her when Joey eventually pulled away, abrupt and ashamed of herself.
"I'm sorry," Charlie whispered. "I shouldn't have…"
"No, it's okay. I wanted to. But I can't, Charlie. I'm sorry."
Charlie nodded.
"I know."
"I know Roxy cheats on me all the time but it's just not me. Right now, I really wish it was but I can't betray her, not any more than I have been."
Charlie sighed heavily, hating the fact that Joey was choosing some horrible girl over her. It wasn't right. She and Joey would be so good together if only she'd ditch Roxy and give her a chance.
"I'd better head home," Joey said, sounding utterly depressed.
Joey stood and so did Charlie.
"You could stay!" she blurted out.
Joey looked confused until Charlie explained that she could her room. Charlie would sleep in with Ruby.
"I wouldn't want to put you out," Joey said, although she did like the idea of staying.
"It's fine. My Dad lived here for a few days last year and Ruby and I got on fine sharing. Neither of us mind."
"Well, if you're sure," Joey said.
Charlie took her hand and led her into the bedroom.
"If you give me a minute, I'll change the sheets," Charlie offered.
"Oh, I'm not fussy. Don't worry about it."
If she was being honest with herself, she quite liked the idea of curling up where Charlie lay night after night.
"Okay," Charlie said. "I hate tackling the duvet."
Joey smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. She reached out for Charlie's hand and pulled her down next to her.
"I'm sorry for messing you around," Joey said seriously.
"You haven't."
"Yes, I have."
"Maybe a little," Charlie said, smiling to show she didn't mind.
She put an arm around Joey's shoulders.
"How could she treat me the way she does?" Joey suddenly said.
She threw herself back against the pillows.
"I honestly have no idea," Charlie said, sighing heavily.
She moved so that she could lie behind Joey and wrapped her arms around her.
"You should be with someone who will love you, offer you nice gestures for no reason, remain completely faithful, respect you, hold you through the night," she said.
Joey turned around in her embrace and looked into Charlie's eyes.
"Unfortunately that kind of thing doesn't exist. So I'm stuck with Roxy."
"How do you know it doesn't exist?"
"Because people are inherently selfish and manipulative."
"That's what your relationship has taught you?" Charlie asked. "You seriously need to leave her, Joey."
"I don't know how," Joey admitted.
"People aren't that bad, you know," Charlie said, changing the subject slightly. "There are people in the world who would treat you like a Princess if you gave them the chance."
"People behave nicely at the beginning, make you fall for them and then they hurt you," Joey said certainly.
"I wouldn't," Charlie replied with full sincerity.
Joey traced her thumb over Charlie's lips, wishing that it was true. Charlie kissed her thumb lightly as silence descended on them.
"I'd better let you get to sleep," Charlie said eventually, moving to get off the bed.
Joey pulled her back down.
"Would you stay? You know, just to sleep a little?" she asked.
Charlie relented and wrapped herself back around Joey.
"Of course," she said, "you confusing, little lady."
Joey grinned, kissed Charlie chastely on the mouth and then closed her eyes, keeping Charlie as close as possible.