Chapter Twenty Five

Charlie was sitting at her desk, tackling never ending paperwork when Angelo appeared in the doorway. She paused and looked up. While she felt stronger these days, seeing her ex-boyfriend still unnerved her.

"Yes?" she said.

"Just wondered how you're doing," Angelo said, folding his arms and leaning against the door post.

"I'm fine."

"Happy in your little love nest with Joey?" he asked.

"It's not a love nest."

"Oh yeah, that's right," Angelo mocked. "She won't so much as look at you again because you fucked Hugo behind her back."

Charlie looked down. She did not need a reminder of what she had done to Joey last year.

"I guess I didn't need to worry all that time," Angelo continued. "You never stood a chance of running off with her."

"Yeah, you treated me like shit for nothing," Charlie snapped back.

He stood up on his own two feet, unfolding his arms.

"Well, I've got a new girlfriend now," he said. "And things are going great. No arguments. No hassle. So my theory is that everything that happened between us was your fault."

"My fault?"

"Look at this way," he suggested. "I've had mostly good relationships at every turn – before and after you. You were the only person I had such a turbulent time with. But you, Charlie... you're the one who screws up everything she touches. If you think I treated you badly... well, it was all your fault. And it always will be."

He turned and walked away.

Joey took her lunch break and was suitably exhausted from working hard in the sun. Just as she was headed towards the Diner, she got a call from Charlie asking to meet her.

"Sure," Joey said, happy to have a lunch time companion. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Charlie said in a way that suggested she was not.

"How able you tell me all about it at the Diner?" Joey suggested.

"I'll see you there in five," Charlie replied.

True to their word, Charlie and Joey were seated in the corner of the Diner five minutes later.

"So, what happened?" Joey asked, getting right to the point.

Charlie sighed and relayed the conversation she'd had with Angelo. Joey listened with patience although everything Charlie reported angered her.

"Firstly, as usual, he's talking out of his arse," Joey said flatly. "He's a bastard. We've established this."

Charlie managed a laugh. Joey always cheered her up.

"And I feel sorry for the poor cow he claims to be dating now," Joey added.

"I think he's right though," Charlie said uncertainly. "About me. I mean, I have..."

"Charlie, you've made mistakes just like anyone has," Joey interrupted. "But that doesn't mean you should be punished for the rest of your life. I am absolutely certain that you're going to meet someone wonderful and you're absolutely going to deserve that."

She smiled. It didn't quite meet her eyes. Every time Joey thought about Charlie moving on with someone else, it hurt a little to know it wouldn't be her. But then, that was a decision she'd made. She wanted to be single for the rest of her life and she did want Charlie to be happy.

"Thanks for always making me see the brighter side of things," Charlie said. "Hey, how about I take you to dinner tonight?"

"Oh, you don't have to..."

"I'd like to," Charlie said, chirpy again. "Please?"

Joey agreed although she was secretly determined to pay at least her share.

"Great," Charlie enthused.

One of her favourite past times was doing things with Joey. She was largely addicted to her company and she felt so happy when she was around. Even though things were firmly platonic between them, she hoped that one day, she would be able to make up for how badly she treated her before. She hoped that she could make things right. And she appreciated that Joey was so willing to spend time with her.

Dinner had been lovely and the girls had gone to see a film afterwards. They'd got into trouble for laughing too much and too inappropriately, having dissolved into a fit of giggles halfway through. But the whole night had been fun and Charlie had almost forgotten her stress earlier in the day. As they burst through the door, still laughing, they found Ruby still awake and watching television.

"Hey, did you have a nice time?" the teenager asked.

"Yeah, it was awesome," Charlie grinned.

"I'm off to bed," Joey said, without sitting down. "I have a stupidly early start in the morning."

Hugging Charlie and waving to Ruby, she headed off to her room and shut the door. Charlie stared after her for a moment, smiling longingly.

"You have got it so bad," Ruby commented.

Immediately defensive, Charlie sat down and denied it.

"You have," Ruby said. "It's sweet. But it's also pretty worrying."

Charlie sat back and waited for her daughter to continue.

"I for one, hope that you and Joey will get back together," Ruby said. "But I'm also worried that you're going to get your heart broken, Charlie. She's made this decision not to have a relationship with anyone and..."

Ruby sighed.

"I don't want you to get hurt," she said.

"I love Joey," Charlie admitted. "And yes, in a perfect world, we'd be back together. But I know that's not going to happen and I accept that. I just... I just want to be the best friend I can be, Rubes. I want to make everything up to her. I want... I want anything she's willing to give me."

Ruby moved forward and hugged her.

"I hope you know what you're doing," she said.