Guys,
Thanks again xtr75!
On with the date...
AJ. :-)
Chapter 10
Charlie limbered up, making Joey laugh, as she over exaggerated her stretching.
Then she turned around, and did a little run up, before releasing the ball down the lane. They both eagerly watched its progress, until it hit the pins. Charlie had knocked down 4 pins. Joey clapped her.
Charlie picked up another ball, and bowled that down the lane too. She managed to knock over 2 more pins.
She sat down, and picked up her diet coke, as she watched Joey bowl. Joey bowled, and managed to knock down 8 pins. Charlie clapped, and Joey took a bow.
She managed to knock down 1 pin with her second ball.
They carried on bowling to the end of the game, chatting and laughing during the play. Joey was doing better than Charlie. Although Charlie had managed to get 1 strike and 1 spare, and Joey 3 strikes and 2 spares. They high fived each other when they got them, and had lots of fun together.
At the end of the first game, Joey won by 147 points to 104. "Well done sweetheart." Charlie smiled, as she approached Joey, and gave her a big hug and kiss.
"Thank you Charlie." Joey giggled. "One down, two to go."
"Cheeky" Chuckled Charlie. "We both know you're going to win."
"Oooh, giving up already?" Joey teased. "Where's that fighting Buckton spirit we all know and love?"
"Oh don't you worry about my spirit Miss Collins. You've got a fight on your hands, don't you fret." Charlie laughed.
"Glad to hear it." Joey smiled.
They started the second game, and Charlie was determined not to lose this one. She went all out, and started getting a bit stroppy with herself, when she threw the ball and it went down the aisle.
Because of the way Charlie was being so open in public about them tonight, Joey felt able to walk over to Charlie, as she stood, hands on hips, muttering to herself, watching the ball miss all the pins. Joey put her arms around Charlies waist, her head on her shoulder, and said in her ear. "Never mind Charlie. Better luck next time." Trying not to giggle.
Charlie turned her head, and looked at Joeys cheeky grinning face. "Oh don't you try and get round me after that comment Jo." Charlie smiled. "This is war."
Joey giggled, and squeezed Charlie tighter. "Oooo, I love it when you go into all super cop forceful mode."
Charlie turned around in Joeys arms, and they rested their hands on each others hips. As they looked directly into each others shining eyes, Charlie asked. "Do you now?"
Joey nodded. "Oh yeah." She giggled.
"Come here then you." Charlie chuckled, as she bit her bottom lip, before pulling Joey closer towards her, she glanced down at Joeys lips, and licked her own quickly, before moving forward and kissing Joey. It was a tender, brief kiss, but it set them both alight.
Joey moved her arms behind Charlies back, pulled her closer, kissed her back, and began to deepen the kiss. Charlie moaned against her mouth, as she then ran her tongue along Charlies lower lip. Then Joey pulled her head back. She smiled at Charlie. "God Jo." Charlie said huskily.
Joey smiled cheekily. "Yes officer?"
"That shouldn't be allowed in public." Charlie laughed. "It's X-rated."
Joey laughed "Oh I don't know." She said. "I quite like seeing you all flustered." She giggled. "Only if it's me causing it though."
"Do you now?" Charlie smiled. "And who else exactly ever made me get all flustered, other than you?"
Joey shrugged. "No one I guess." She shook her head smugly.
"Exactly." Charlie laughed, then kissed Joey quickly on the lips. "Come on then bighead. You've got another game to win."
"You know it." Joey smiled. She released Charlie, and picked up her bowing ball. She winked at Charlie, then turned around, and threw the ball down the lane, getting a strike. She turned around, her arms in the air, doing a little jig back to Charlie.
"You bloody show off!" Charlie laughed. "As they high-fived each other."
"We are the champions." Joey started singing.
Charlie punched her playfully on the arm. "I'm never gonna live this down am I?" She chuckled.
"Erm…" Joey pondered. "Nope" She laughed. "Your go."
"Thanks for reminding me." Charlie chuckled. She picked up her ball, and fruitlessly bowled it, knowing she'd lost the second game.
At the end of the game, Charlie kissed the victorious Joey. "Umm. Two nil, with one game left to go too. So I get to choose our next date." She said excitedly.
"Yeah yeah yeah." Charlie said slightly annoyed. "You won as usual."
"Aww Charlie warlie. Don't get all stroppy woppy with your super duper bowling queen girlfriend." Joey pouted. "You know you love me really." She flickered her eyelids at Charlie.
Charlie laughed at Joeys messing about. "You know it." She walked over to Joey. "Well done sweetheart." She pecked her on the cheek. "Shall we get another drink? I'm a bit parched."
"Yeah. Good idea. What would you like?"
"I'll have an OJ this time please Jo." Charlie smiled. "With ice. Thanks."
"Ok. I won't be a tick." Then Joey added. "Maybe you should practice while I'm at the bar." She laughed and ran off before Charlie could playfully slap her.
"Cheeky sod." Charlie shouted after her.
Joey came back with an OJ and another bottle of beer for herself. "Cheers Charles." She said to Charlie, as she handed the OJ over.
"Thanks Jo." Smiled Chrlie.
"Right Charlie." Joey replied. "Now. Let's see who's going to win this last game, and then we can go to dinner." She laughed. "I'm working up quite an appetite."
Charlie giggled. "I bet." She picked up her ball and they started again.
Yet again Joey won the game. She bowed victoriously, and accepted Charlies congratulatory kiss.
They changed their shoes back, and then headed, hand in hand, back to Charlies car.
"Right, where shall we go to eat Jo? I don't know the area at all, so I'll leave the decision to you." Charlie asked as they sat in the car.
"Umm. Well, depends what you're after. There's a very nice Italian place not too far away, they do all sorts, and I was thinking that if you'd like, we could invite Ruby out to dinner there sometime. I think you'd both like it." She smiled. "Then there's the Mexican, Indian, Chinese, even a pub for bar meals. There's loads of fast food places, McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut." Joey shrugged. "I don't mind, whatever you'd prefer." She smiled.
"Well, I'd like to have a nice proper sit down meal with you. So we can talk, and don't have to rush or anything. You know? If you don't mind of course." Charlie blushed very slightly. "Maybe the Italian then?"
Joey smiled. "Yeah, that sounds wonderful." She was thrilled to go somewhere a bit special with Charlie.
"Great." Replied Charlie happily. "And hopefully I will be able to get Rubes to come out with us sometime too."
"I'm sure she will. And the Italian is lovely." Joey smiled.
"Right. Let's go there then." Charlie smiled at Joey. "Directions please madam." Charlie requested, as she started the engine.
Joey duly directed Charlie to the Italian restaurant, and they walked in, hand in hand, much to Joeys joy. It was quite busy, and they asked for a table for two, and were shown to a cosy table in the corner, by the window.
The waiter handed them a menu each, and asked if they'd like a drink while they waited. Joey ordered a glass of white wine, and Charlie had a sparkling water. The waiter went away, and left them to it.
"I'll have a water now, and a glass of wine with dinner." Charlie said.
"Good thinking batman." Joey smiled. "I'll have wine now, and a wine with dinner." Chuckled Joey.
Charlie smiled back. "Good for you." They looked at the menu. "Umm, there's certainly a lot of choice Jo. And it certainly looks lovely in here." Charlie said, admiring the decor of the clearly popular restaurant.
"Yeah, we've been here a few times. It's really nice." Joey smiled.
"What are you having then?"
"Ummm, maybe go for the fried garlic mushrooms to start, then tagliatelli with sausage and peppers, then see how much room I've got before I pick a dessert." Laughed Joey. "What about you?"
"Umm. Sounds nice." Charlie pondered. "Maybe the brushchetta, then linguine with lemon garlic shrimp." Charlie smiled. "Then like you, see how much room I have for dessert."
"Umm. I think we'll manage dessert." Joey said smiling at Charlie. "They never rush you here." She bit her lip. "When you stay over at mine, we can get a taxi and you can enjoy the wine too." She blushed.
Charlie beamed happily back at Joey. "That'd be lovely." She couldn't wait to be staying over at Joeys or vice versa. "I can't wait."
"And when Rubes comes with us, we can all have a pizza here if we like. Like I said, they do all sorts, and I have to say their pizzas are lovely too."
"I hope she will come with us Jo. She certainly didn't give me a flat refusal yesterday, so fingers crossed." Charlie smiled.
The waiter came back, and took their order. They sat, relaxed, smiling at each other, holding hands over the table.
"So, are you going to tell me about our next date?" Asked a grinning Charlie.
Joey laughed. "Nope. Got some sorting out to do, and I need to know when you're off next during the day, so I can arrange it round that."
"Ummm, sounds intriguing." Smiled Charlie. "I'm off Monday afternoon, after my shift finishes, and then I'm all yours." She paused. "Then I'm working from 2pm to 10 pm Tuesday to Saturday, and off Sunday." She said sadly. "So unless you're off one morning next week, I won't see you until the weekend."
"Well, I'm off on Friday for my session with Michael, so I guess we could meet up then, and get together, as we have our joint session then too."
"That's a good idea. I can pick you up or drop you off or whatever too." Charlie smiled. "I've got my session too." She chuckled. "He'll be sick of the sight of us."
"Yeah, probably. His own fault though, for sorting us out." Joey laughed.
"Yeah. It is." Charlie smiled.
"Umm, so, apart from that, I'm working all week unfortunately." Joey sighed.
"That's a great shame." Charlie frowned. "Now I've found you again, I don't want to be apart from you for even a day."
Joey smiled. "Me either." She sighed. "So, it looks like I'll have to try and do something for next Sunday then." Joey pondered out loud.
"Ohh." Said Charlie a little sadly. "OK." She sighed too. "Maybe we could meet up, even if only for a few minutes, one morning before you go to work, or on my way home from work?" She ventured.
"That's a good idea." Smiled Joey. "We'll work something out." Joey confirmed.
"Yeah. Good." Charlie smiled, before taking a sip of water.
The waiter brought their starters out, and they ordered a glass of white wine each. He brought it over, as they tucked into their starters.
"Umm, this is delicious Jo." Charlie stated.
"Yeah, whatever I've had here before has always been really nice."
"Good choice then." Charlie agreed. "I think this place could become our second home." She giggled shyly. "We'll have to try everything on the menu."
"Sounds good to me." Joey smiled. "Although I will have to treat you to my cooking again sometime."
"Oh yes Jo. You are a pretty mean cook as I remember." Charlie smiled. "I'll look forward to it."
"Umm, well, I shall have to see when we can get the place to ourselves, or my house mates will be hovering and being nosey." She laughed.
"Well, you could always cook at Leahs. If you'd like. I mean Leah pops to the city to see her mum sometimes, so we'd have the place to ourselves then." She blushed slightly, aware of what she was implying. "Not that, you know..." She got flustered.
"That." Smiled Joey. "Is a great idea." She put her cutlery down, and looked intently at Charlie. "Charlie you know I love you, and I want us to be together." She smiled. "And we will be. In good time."
"I know." Charlie smiled. "And that there's no pressure from me. But I want you to know that I can't wait." She smiled, flushing rather red again. "Umm." She giggled. "That could be taken either way." She smiled. "What I meant was, I can wait, and when we are, you know, together again, I, you know..."
"Neither can I wait Charlie." Joey smiled. "But I need to take things slowly, and get used to the idea of us again." She explained.
"I know Jo. And I get that. I really do. And I'm just so happy that there is an us again at all." Charlie nodded.
"Well then. Let's just enjoy the moments as they come along, and see where that takes us to."
They finished their starters, and the waiter brought out their main courses. They looked absolutely lovely.
"Thank you." Charlie said to the waiter. "And could we have another glass of white, and a diet coke please."
"Certainly."
"You trying to get me drunk?" Joey giggled.
Charlie laughed. "Do I need to?"
"Nope." Joey laughed.
They tucked into their food. It was absolutely delicious.
"God Jo. This place is remarkable." Charlie said. "I think I could eat here every day." She laughed.
Joey smiled. "Umm, well, as you pointed out, I'm quite a good cook, and you didn't manage to eat that many of my meals at Leahs before, so maybe, just maybe, I might manage to surprise you with my full range of culinary skills."
Charlie smiled. "You're cooking, what little of it I did actually eat, was delicious Jo. And I really look forward to tasting your future meals." She smiled. "Rubes always raved about your food to me. And she gave me more than a hard time when I missed out on your fish soup." She admitted. "Which, I was assured, was far beyond restaurant standard."
Joey blushed. "Yeah, Rubes did like my cooking." She smiled. "And, well, if my house mates don't let us have the place to ourselves, you'll have to come over to dinner at mine one night when you're not working. We take it in turns to cook once a week, then we usually do takeaways or go out at the weekends." Joey smiled. "So, when it's my turn to cook, you should come over, and that'd be a great way to meet my house mates too."
"That sounds like a plan." Charlie smiled. "I can't wait."
"Good." Smiled Joey.
They carried on with their delicious meals. They were really relaxed with each other, and enjoying being together.
When they'd managed to finish their mains, they had a breather before looking at the dessert menu.
"Oh God Jo. I don't know what to have." Charlie scanned the menu. "It all looks so delicious."
"Umm. Me either." Joey smiled. She was glad Charlie was enjoying the restaurant she'd suggested. "And they are all delicious."
They looked at the menu. Tiramisu, ricotta cheesecake, panna cotta, cantuccini, apple bread pudding, gingerbread biscotti, mascarpone and peaches, cinnamon gelatto, mango sorbet, amaretto cup cakes, and more.
They were both spoilt for choice. "God." Charlie smiled. "Yummy."
"Yeah. Most of it is well yummy." Giggled Joey. "I think I'll have the cheesecake. If you want, you could pick something and we could have half each." She suggested.
Charlie smiled. "OK. If you don't mind. Ummm. I think I'll have the peaches then."
"They are delicious." Joey smiled. They waited for the waiter to come to take their order.
"So, I've just been thinking." Charlie smiled. "You're working tomorrow, and the rest of the week. So, unless you don't mind me popping over to see you after you finish work tomorrow, I won't see you, during the week, because of my shifts." She pouted.
"Sure. You could come over after work tomorrow if you like. I finish at 5pm." Joey smiled. "That'd be lovely."
"As long as you don't feel like I'm hounding you or anything. If you'd like some space, I'll see you on Friday, as arranged." She smiled weakly. Hoping that Joey didn't feel like she was pressurising her too much.
"No Charlie." Joey smiled. "I don't feel like that at all. I like it that you want to see me."
"Good. Good." Charlie smiled.
Their desserts were delivered, and they shared them between them. They stopped talking, as they savoured the delicious choices they'd made.
Joey giggled. Charlie looked up. "What Jo?" She asked smiling.
"Just, it's suddenly gone very quiet now we've got dessert." She giggled.
Charlie chuckled. "Yeah, it has, hasn't it."
"They're delicious."
"They sure are."
They finished eating, and ordered a coffee each. They sat, completely at ease with each other, both wondering how they'd been lucky enough to meet up again.
They finished their coffees, and had a refill, enjoying spending quiet time with each other. When they'd finished that, Joey said. "Well, I guess we'd better make a move."
"Yeah. I guess." Charlie smiled sadly.
They got up and paid the bill between them.
They walked back to the car, and Charlie drove Joey home.
"I've really enjoyed tonight Jo. Getting to know you again, it's been great, you know." Charlie smiled.
"Me too Charlie." Joey smiled. "I must admit, I'm feeling a bit like I'm on cloud 9 at the moment. My heads spinning. My hearts pounding."
"Me too." Chuckled Charlie. "But it's been great though." She smiled. "I've loved spending time with you again."
"Shame we're busy working next week." Joey frowned. "But we can speak on the phone, and meet up for a few minutes here and there." She added hopefully.
"Yeah, we can, and we will." Smiled Charlie, just as eager to see Joey, as Joey was to see her.
They arrived at Joeys, and got out Charlies car. They walked hand in hand up to Joeys front door.
Joey turned around to face Charlie, Charlie then took Joeys other hand in her own too.
"Thanks for tonight Jo. I really enjoyed myself." Charlie smiled.
"Me too Charlie."
Charlie moved forward, releasing Joeys hands, and putting her hands on Joeys hips. She moved her head closer to Joeys, and they kissed quickly and softly. Joey pulled Charlie closer, and they gently wrapped their arms around each other, as they kissed again. This time, it was a slow but deeper kiss. They both moaned against each others lips.
Then they jumped apart quickly, as they heard the front door open, and Joeys 4 house mates were suddenly standing in the door watching them. They all had big grins all over their faces. Both Joey and Charlie blushed.
"Evening you two." Marty laughed, as he leant against the door frame.
"Marty!" Frowned Joey.
"Oh, don't mind us." Cal laughed.
"Sorry Charlie." Joey said. "These idiots are just going back in the house." She turned to look at them. "Aren't you." She glared.
"Spoilsport." Said Marty laughing. The other 3 chuckled, as they bade Charlie goodnight, and went back in the house.
Joey turned to Charlie. "God, I'm sorry Charlie."
Charlie giggled. "It's OK Joey." She smiled. "I think they've been standing there waiting since we left."
"Yeah, bloody nosey buggers." Joey shouted loudly, so they could hear her through the door.
"Right." Charlie sighed. "I guess I'd better go. As I'm in work early tomorrow."
"Ok." Joey leant forward and kissed Charlie again. "Bye then." She said breathlessly.
"Night Jo. Sleep well." Charlie said softly. Then she turned and walked back to her car. They waved as she drove off, and Joey went into her house.
Joey went inside, her housemates were standing just inside the door, and bombarded her with questions as she walked through the door.
Joey smiled. "All I'm saying is, we had a great time. Thanks for asking."
"So, when you seeing her again?" Cal asked eagerly.
Joey frowned. "We're both working different shifts next week, so not until Friday morning, and then Sunday for a proper date." She sighed. "Although she's going to pop over after I finish work tomorrow night.
"Oh no Jo." Marty said. "What a shame."
"That's no good Jo." Said Saff. "Seems like you have just got back together, and now you're having to be apart again."
"Umm." Sighed Joey. "Well, at least it's not because we want to be apart, it's just how it's happened this week with work."
"Well, at least you had a lovely night out." Marty said.
"Yeah. We certainly did." Joey smiled. "Anyway. I'm pretty tired, and I've got work tomorrow, so I'll say goodnight."
"Yeah. Night Jo." Cal said.
Both Joey and Charlie retired to their respective beds, and lay dreamily down. Joey reached for her phone. "Night Charlie. I had a lovely time. Can't wait to see you again. Love "
Charlie was just composing a text to Joey, when her phone vibrated in her hand. She opened it, and smiled profusely, as her tummy flipped over with butterflies. She replied. "Hi Jo, was just gonna text U 2. Night sweetie, I had a lovely evening too. Can't wait for next weekend! C U tomorrow. Night XXX. Love you, Charlie." Charlie set her alarm and nodded off to a happy and contented sleep.
Joeys phoned buzzed, and she read the text. She smiled happily, and put the phone on her bedside table. She admired the flowers that Charlie had brought her, before switching off the lamp. Then she cuddled up to her pillow, and nodded off.