Chapter Twelve
"I've missed you too," Charlie replied without hesitation but full of sincerity.
Joey felt her heart begin to race a little as she gazed at Charlie's burnt but beautiful face. They smiled at each other. Charlie began to reach for Joey's hand but winced. Joey immediately became concerned.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "Do you need me to get someone?"
Charlie shook her head.
"Could you just pass me my cream?" she asked. "Rachel left it with me to apply as and when but I can't reach it."
Joey picked the tube up. She unscrewed the lid and offered it out to Charlie who began to attempt rubbing it in. Joey watched her struggle for a few moments and then held her hand out. Charlie gazed at her for a few moments before putting the tube in Joey's hand.
"Do you mind?" she asked a little hesitantly.
"Of course not," Joey said. "I managed on the boat."
Charlie looked puzzled. Her memories still weren't very clear. Joey blobbed some cream on her hand and gently began to rub it into Charlie's arms. Charlie closed her eyes.
"I'm not hurting you, am I?" Joey worried.
Charlie shook her head. There was pain. But mostly, she was in a muddle over the feelings Joey's touch was provoking. She smiled. Even though Charlie couldn't see her, Joey smiled back. She gently massaged the cream into Charlie's sore skin. When she was done, she put the cream away and held Charlie's hand.
"How long are you sticking around for?" Charlie asked.
"I've paid for the boat for a night," Joey said. "So, I don't know really. I could pay for more or I could sail away again tomorrow."
"I hope you stay," Charlie said honestly. "I'd like to spend more time with you. I wasn't exactly with it when I saw you before!"
Joey giggled.
"No kidding!" she said.
"I really embarrassed myself, didn't I?" Charlie cringed.
Joey looked around and pulled a chair up close to the bed. She sat down and took careful hold of Charlie's hand again.
"You shouldn't be embarrassed," she said. "You were in a terrible state. You were burnt, dehydrated..."
"I bet I looked stunning!" Charlie laughed.
Joey grinned.
"You always look stunning," she said.
"I look like a lobster!"
"You're still beautiful underneath," Joey said softly.
They gazed at each other for several long moments.
"Well, if I said anything bad or embarrassing then I take it back and you can't hold it against me," Charlie said.
Joey smiled.
"You told me you loved me," she said, getting straight to the point.
Charlie's eyes widened. She met Joey's gaze and took a deep breath.
"I don't take that back," she said. "Although, that is in the embarrassing category."
Joey studied Charlie's hand to see how burnt it was and caught sight of a ring on her finger. She recognised it immediately.
"You still wear it?" she asked.
Charlie looked down at her hand and then nodded.
"I've worn it every day since you gave it to me," she said. "I felt like that day, well, I nearly offered it back to you. That would have been the decent thing to do. But I just... I couldn't part with it. Sorry."
"Don't be silly," Joey said softly, gazing into her eyes. "I gave it to you because I wanted you to have it. And I'm happy that you still wear it."
Charlie offered a smile, wondering if she'd overstepped the mark by essentially telling her that she loved her.
"I'm still in love with you," Joey admitted. "I've been in love with you almost from the moment I meant you. And I've been running... well, sailing, all this time trying to forget about it but I can't escape my own heart. That's why I came back. I wanted to tell you. I thought if you told me you didn't love me anymore, or maybe at all, then I could finally let you go and move on."
A tear escaped Charlie's eye. It stung a little but she didn't react.
"I did love you, Joey," she said. "And I've never stopped."
Joey exhaled loudly and met Charlie's expression.
"So, what are we going to do about it?" she asked.
They both smiled, remembering the same question on that eventful night, all those months ago.
"It's completely up to you," Charlie said. "But if I get my way, I get you back."
Without hesitation, Joey leant in and kissed her.
Okay, so I took a bit of artistic licence with the ring. I don't remember Charlie wearing one and I might have watched the CJ says a handful of times! Lol. But I hope you don't mind. And I hope you enjoyed the chapter. xxx
