Chapter 35.
It was now 10.30 am, so they had 8.5 hours before they had to meet up with Anna and Georgie for dinner.
"Anywhere in particular you'd like to go and see?" Joey asked.
"I really don't mind. You're choice."
"OK, lets go to that brand new shopping Mall that's advertised everywhere, then go to lunch about 1 ish, then go back for more shopping. What do you say?"
"Sounds good to me!!"
"Right lets get the tram." They walked off up the Waterfront to the tram stop, catching the next one to the city centre.
"What about lunch? What do you fancy? Or should it be my choice? Umm. You're paying though – you said you would last week at the diner." Joey laughed.
"I know, how could I have forgotten that? What would you like to eat? I guess we could have virtually anything here." Charlie laughed back.
"Well, it only needs to be a light lunch, what with that big breakfast and dinner tonight. So how about a Mexican or Italian? Although, we did have lasagne on Sunday, and I made you pasta yesterday. Is it too soon to have some more?"
"Italian sounds great to me. A small light dish, chicken with salad maybe, plus a few glasses of wine to wash it down with? Sounds divine, don't you think?"
"Ok then. We'll go to The London Marquee area. It's an old square, with cobbles and quaint old buildings in it. Set just a bit back from the harbour, in the older part of the city. There's loads of café, bars and restaurants there. They'll be something just perfect for us right there." Said a happy Joey, painting a beautiful picture of it.
"Sounds lovely." Replied Charlie.
When they got off the tram, they headed straight for the shopping centre. It was 5 stories tall, and crammed with all sorts of shops. It had top of the range chic designer shops, together with some tacky souvenir shops for the tourists.
Instead of holding hands in the shops, Charlie linked arms with Joey. Joey was more than happy that she didn't break contact entirely.
They had fun trying on loads of clothes, looking at make-up, shoes and handbags. Charlie found a pair of designer sunglasses for Ruby. Joey insisted on buying them for her. "My treat" she said again "I'm sure she'll appreciate them more than a pair of board shorts. Besides, can't I buy my girlfriends sister a present if I want to?" she said to Charlie.
"Really Jo, you don't have to buy either of us anything. It's too..…too much honestly."
"Look babe, we'll talk more at lunch, but really, you're my girlfriend, and Rubes is your sister, and as I said on Sunday, I'm erm…..erm…..'comfortable', so please don't worry about it, if I want to buy you or Rubes a little something. OK?"
"Ok." Said a still slightly unsure Charlie. Joey looked around, no one was watching them, so she gave Charlie a quick peck on the cheek. Smiling as she did so, trying to lighten up the mood. Charlie smiled back.
They eventually started making their way to the Marquee area for lunch. They found a lovely looking restaurant, and sat on an outside table, watching the world go by. They both opted for red wine, so ordered a bottle, and a lite-bite chicken salad lunch.
"Good job I do actually drink then isn't it babe? As I seem to be going out with an alcoholic." She laughed, as Charlie ordered them another bottle.
"Very funny. Yes, I admit it you reeled me in well and truly!! Well done." Trying to sound cross, but she just laughed instead.
"It was funny though. Your face, I don't think I'll ever forget it. I wish I could've taken a picture!!" Joey said, laughing again.
They continued laughing, talking about everything and nothing, eating their meals and sipping on their wines, having a lovely time together.
When they'd finished their meal, they sat finishing the second bottle. Charlie moved her chair round from opposite Joey, to next to her, and she held her hand discreetly, resting them on her lap.
A serious Joey looked at Charlie and said "Look babe, about my money. I told you on Sunday how much I have and could earn from my competitions and sponsorships, and that I got some dividends from my dads business, but I don't want to let it worry you, please don't make an issue of it. I guess you must realise that I was the only beneficiary from my mum and dads and Bretts wills, so after my meeting with the solicitor on Monday, well lets just say I'm more than comfortable now shall we? I'm not trying to show off or anything about it though. I'm a private person, I don't like people knowing my business, I like to keep myself to myself, but I've been open with you, and I don't want you to think bad of me for being open. What if I hadn't told you anything, and you found out further down the line, would that have been more acceptable, hearing it from someone else maybe, I don't know? I was honest because I don't want any secrets between us. That's what we agreed isn't it? So please don't turn things back on me and make it seem bad that I've told you now."
Charlie looked at Joey and nodded "OK." She said quietly. "It's just I don't want you to think I'm a free-loader or anything, and I don't want you to think I'm hinting at you buying me something, just because I may say 'oh that's nice' or something like that."
"I know you're not a free-loader babe, I think most people can spot one of those a mile off!! When I buy you things, I'm buying them because I want to, and because you'll need them, not to show off or anything. Please don't feel bad, or I'll feel bad if I even buy you a coffee or lunch or dinner, because I'll think you'll think I'm 'flashing my money about'. Apart from buying the snorkelling gear for fun, I've only bought you sports gear anyway, and you'll need that for training with me, plus the sunglasses for Rubes, that doesn't constitute anything momentous does it? I'm really not one for flashing my money about, and I definitely don't waste it. My family and I worked very hard for it, and I don't buy anything unless I really need it. I guess I'm a bit of a miser actually….umm….perhaps a better way would be to say 'I'm very sensible with my money'." She laughed, and squeezed Charlies hand tight. "OK?"
Charlie nodded and smiled again "OK honey."
"Good" said Joey happily. "Right let's get back to people watching shall we?"
They had great fun, taking it in turns, making up stories of the odd person as they went past.
When they'd finished the wine, Charlie asked for the bill. Joey smiled, and nodded her thanks for lunch.
They set off back to the shops arm in arm, planning on doing a bit more shopping. They both ended up buying a pair of new shoes.
As the evening approached, they slowly headed for the Waterfront to meet Anna and Georgie for dinner. They strolled slowly up the parade, hand in hand again, stopping every so often to look at something of interest that caught their attention.
They met Anna and Georgie at dead on 7pm outside the restaurant. Joey went in first, as she'd made the reservation for the 4 of them, and had booked the table with the finest view out over the harbour and out to sea. It was beautiful.
They had a lovely evening, sensational food, more wine, and glorious company. They all really enjoyed themselves. Anna was driving back as well, so she only had one glass of wine with her meal.
Charlie again thought to herself that she'd never actually enjoyed a day out so much with friends before. It felt good, and she felt sad that it had taken her so long in her life, to have this experience. She also knew that it was mainly down to meeting Joey though. Joey had gotten to her like no one else ever had. It felt wonderful, and scary all at the same time. She wanted this to continue though, she was sure about that.
They left the restaurant, after a thoroughly unrushed meal at 10 pm. Joey insisted the meal for her friends was her treat, for them letting her crash at their place again, and to repay Charlie for lunch. They all thanked her profusely.
"No need" she said. "I'm grateful for what you've all done for me. Again." She added.
They got back to the car, and Charlie leant against Joey in the backseat all the way home. Joey wrapped her arms around her, pulling her in close, as they both nodded off on the long 2.5 hours trip back.
As Anna turned off the motorway at the Bay turning, Charlie stirred. She noticed where they were, and nudged Joey awake. She nervously whispered to Joey if it would be OK for her to stay at Joeys tonight, just holding and cuddling each other, like they've done before, as it was now quite late and she didn't want to wake anyone at Leahs.
Joey was delighted, of course, "I'll tell Anna not to drop you off then, OK?"
"Yes." Said Charlie shyly.
"Anna" Joey said quietly "You can just go straight back to ours tonight OK."
"Sure Jo. No problem." She replied, happy for her friend.
When they got home, Joey lead Charlie by the hand up the stairs to her bedroom. "Hey" she said " PJ's or baggy t-shirt?"
"PJ's please."
"Here you go," said Joey, after rummaging around in her cupboard. "I think I've got a new toothbrush here somewhere as well." As she found a new one on one of her shelves, and handed it to Charlie.
"Right, I'll just pop to the loo, and clean my teeth." Joey said, taking her PJ's with her.
While she was out of the bedroom, Charlie changed into her PJ's. When Joey came back in, Charlie went to the bathroom. When she came back, Joey was in bed. She'd turned the main light off, and left the bedside lamp on.
Charlie shut the bedroom door and slowly walked towards the bed, Joey lifted the quilt up, and Charlie got in. She switched the lamp off, and moved closer to Joey. They both lay on their sides, facing each other, with an arm over each others waists, unable to see each other in the darkness.
"I had a lovely day today babe." Said Joey softly "and thank you for lunch."
"So did I, and you're very welcome. Thank you so much for all the goodies you bought me. They're terrific!!"
"You're very, very welcome." Joey kissed her tenderly on the lips. Charlie responded, and they allowed each others tongues to slowly explore their lips and mouths, tasting each other. They both broke off sighing happily. They snuggled closer, Charlie nestling her head against Joeys shoulder. Joey pulled her closer, tighter. ("God I could stay like this forever, it feels so fantastic" she thought to herself).
"Nite babe." She whispered to Charlie.
"Goodnight honey" Charlie quietly said back to her. " ("God I feel so safe, so wanted, I could stay like this forever" she thought to herself). They both drifted off to sleep, smiling contentedly.