A couple of weeks had passed since what was referred to as the beach incident. Although Charlie had seen Brax, she chose to ignore him whenever possible or if Ruby was around make slightly awkward conversation while her daughter beamed up at her. Now Charlie stood feet spread apart, hand on hips with a firm look on her face, which if Ruby knew her mum then she was in no hurry to change her mind.
"Charlie pleeeeeeeeease" Ruby would have begged on her hands and knees if it wasn't for the narrow kitchen. But Charlie stuck to her guns, refusing to give in to Ruby again.
"I'm not going to a Braxton barbeque" She wailed, partly because she was a copper and Braxtons's and riverboys were the enemy but mainly because she didn't want to be left stranded in a strange house with the only person she knew would be Brax when Casey and Ruby tried to sneak away.
"Pretty pretty pretty please?" Ruby asked widerning her eyes as far as they could go. "For me, for your only daughter..." she tried to guilt trip her mother.
"I allowed my only daughter to date a Braxton" Charlie smiled taking Ruby's hands into her own. "It'll be too weird"
"But Mrs Braxton really wants to meet you"
"I find that hard to believe" Charlie sighed. "Them lot hate coppers"
"Well you're not a copper 24 hours a day. And Brax was looking forward to you coming to"
"Brax?" Charlie regained attention at the mention of his name.
"When I told him you were coming-"
"You TOLD him I was going?" Charlie gasped, looking at Ruby who shrugged.
"Well I didn't think it would be that much of a big deal" she defended herself. "Come on Charlie it's a barbie not a wedding"
"No Ruby I can't go to their house"
"Hypocritical" Ruby muttered under her breath but loud enough for Charlie to hear. Deciding to ignore this comment she walked away to the door.
"I'm going to Bianca's" she announced.
"Whatever" came an obviously displeased Ruby as she ignored her mum and went into the living room.
BIANCA'S HOUSE
"What am I supposed to do Bee?" Charlie spoke in between mouthfuls of chocolate cake. "I mean...it's a Braxton party and jesus this is good" she took another mouthful of the cake.
"April made a few batches this morning. The girls got a skill"
"Yeah because being a genius isn't enough she also knows how to cook" Charlie wailed. "I should really learn how to cook"
"No person in their right mind would let you near their kitchen" Bianca smiled breaking a piece of the cake off with her fingers.
"I'm not that bad of a cook"
"You managed to burn baked beans Charlie. BEANS" Bianca emphasised as Charlie burst into giggles, her fac blushing as she recalled her various kitchen disasters over the year.
"Alright alright" she brushed a piece of hair out of her eyes and engaged back into their previous conversation. "So Ruby wants me to go and I just don't think I can be there" she sighed.
"It's just one night" Bianca smiled.
"But it's the Braxtons" Charlie emphasised. "The Braxtons!"
"Let me get this straight who do you have the problem with? The Braxtons in particular or one of the brothers?" Bianca enquired.
"I don't have a problem with any of them"
"But you must otherwise you'd be baking acceptance cookies that no one in their right mind should eat" Bianca teased. "So what's the issue?"
"It's just...you know my job, their rep"
"Sure it's not Brax?" Bianca raised an eyebrow.
"Why would it be Brax?"
"Come on Charlie I'm not blind. You two have some raw sexual chemistry that needs to be explored"
Recalling her night with Brax a few weeks ago Charlie blushed and glanced down at the floor. Bianca, with her best friend instinct, picked oup on this immediately.
"Oh my god something DID happen" she squealed clapping her hands in the air.
"Nothing happened..." Charlie tried to protest.
"You know you can't lie to me"
"I swear nothing happened! You know besides the one night we slept together" Charlie rambled but Bianca caught on.
"You didn't!" she gasped before curling up in a ball. "Charlie spill!"
"There's nothing much to tell. You know after we went out that night we put you and Leah to bed and it kinda just happened"
"And what happened after"
"I told him it was a mistake and ever since we've been avoiding each other" Charlie spoke taking another bite of the cake.
"WHY?" Bianca asked. "A casual fling isn't harming anyone"
"I don't even like the big headed guy!"
"Come on Charlie. I know you. And I know that you do"
"I...I don't" Charlie struggled to protest because deep down she knew that Bianca was right and boy did Bianca know it too.
ANGELO'S
"Hey" Charlie smiled to where Brax stood behind the counter about an hour later. He smiled although choosing not to speak and focusing more on the glass he was polishing.
"Long time no speak" he finally muttered, placing the glass on the counter. "Do you want something?" he enquired.
"No I well I just wanted to talk about the barbeque thing"
"Yeah mum's really looking forward to meeting you" Brax smiled.
"I can't go"
"Why not? It gives you plenty of time to find someone to cover your shift and Ruby wants you there and I do too"
"I'm a police officer Brax. Do you know what they'd say about me if I was partying at a Braxtons?" Charlie raised her voice. Brax shook his head in disbelief.
"Well there's no need to worry" he glared at her with slight intensity. "Consider yourself uninvited"