Chapter Nine
Sitting in the lounge with a glass of wine each, Charlie and Joey were silent. It felt like something had changed that night and neither of them was sure how to approach it.
"So, that was kind of a weird night, wasn't it?" Joey finally ventured.
Charlie laughed softly and nodded.
"Can I ask where you and Hugo stand?" Joey asked.
"Nowhere," the police officer replied.
"But you were kissing him," Joey pointed out.
"I know," Charlie sighed. "I still have no idea why that happened."
She sank back in her seat, cursing herself for lying. She knew exactly why she'd kissed Hugo and it disgusted her.
"You're a very complicated woman, do you know that?" Joey chuckled.
Charlie caught her eye and smiled. You don't even know the half of it, she mused silently.
"So, what happened with Tash?" she asked, not entirely sure she wanted to know the answer.
"Nothing," Joey replied. "She doesn't want to be with me."
Charlie looked surprised. Firstly, Tash had been very obvious about her feelings. And secondly, she had no comprehension as to why the whole world wasn't in love with Joey. She was amazing, after all.
"How come?" she asked.
"She decided my heart wasn't in it," Joey said, not entirely sure how much she should share.
"But you were really fun on the date," Charlie said. "You were funny and charming and everything someone should be. She must be insane."
Joey was touched and curious. Tash's words rang in her mind but she was too scared to voice them. More than anything in the world, she wanted Charlie to love her as more than a friend but she was scared of saying so in case it meant she lost her completely.
"I'm sure you'll find someone perfect for you," Charlie said, sipping her wine. "But I have to admit to relief that I'm not losing you to her."
Joey gazed at her, trying to read her expression but Charlie had never been one to wear her heart on her sleeve.
"Charlie, how do you feel about me?" she finally blurted out.
Charlie looked startled and her sip of wine turned into a gulp.
"You're my best friend," she said quickly, panicking that she might have been found out.
Joey nodded and gulped her own wine down.
"Why?" Charlie asked.
Her heart was beating a little too fast as she waited for Joey's reply.
"No reason," Joey said dismissively.
"You must have had a reason," Charlie insisted.
Joey put her glass down and drew her knees up to her chest. Charlie studied her with interest, longing for Joey to reveal how she felt about her so that everything would all be out in the open and she could stop driving herself crazy. She then warned herself not to get carried away. The chances were that Joey's feelings were purely platonic and she would end up just feeling stupid for getting carried away.
"It doesn't matter," Joey said, still curled up in a protective ball. "Tash just got her wires crossed."
"Why?" Charlie asked. "What did she say?"
"It doesn't matter," Joey repeated. "Look, I'm really tired so I think I'm going to go to bed. It's been a really weird day."
She stood and took her empty glass into the kitchen. Charlie watched as she strode back through the lounge and towards her room. Standing quickly, Charlie caught hold of her elbow. Her heart lurched in panic over the risk she was planning to take.
"How do you feel about me?" she asked.
Joey looked bewildered and stepped back.
"Please don't," she begged. "This whole thing has become so awkward, Charlie."
"What thing?" Charlie said, longing for her to say what she wanted to hear.
"Us, Charlie!" Joey finally said.
Her desperation was heartbreaking.
"What do you mean?" Charlie asked, not sure if logic or hope was leading her to the answer.
"Please just let me go to sleep," Joey begged. "I don't want to lose you."
"You'll never lose me," Charlie insisted.
"Wanna bet?" Joey remarked.
Charlie nodded slowly. Lost for words, Joey leant in and kissed her.
Next time… Charlie and Joey finally try some honesty…!
