Perfect Match
Chapter 10
Leah watched as Charlie aimlessly stirred her coffee; round and around and around; the spoon making a rather irritating clinking noise against the side of the china mug. Ruby raised an eyebrow and glanced across at VJ who was watching Charlie with much amusement as she stared into space; smiling from time to time at her private thoughts.
"Why do you keep smiling, Charlie?" VJ asked innocently; only voicing what everyone else was wondering.
"Huh?" Charlie said; jumping and accidentally pulling the spoon from her coffee mug and dropping it onto the kitchen table with a clang.
Ruby sniggered and Leah shook her head sadly.
"Looks like someone is in love!" She grinned.
Ruby sniggered again and mopped up the spilt coffee puddles which Charlie had made with her spoon.
"I'm sorry?" Charlie asked; quite oblivious to the fun the others were having at her expense.
"Nothing, my love. You just sit there and smile! Ruby and I will wash up!" Leah chuckled, winking at Ruby.
"Sorry?" Charlie said again.
Ruby and Leah both laughed, but VJ and Charlie looked bewildered.
"What's so funny, mum?" VJ asked; grinning as his mother wiped tears from her eyes.
"Nothing, Veej... Just run along honey!"
VJ shrugged his shoulders and wandered off to his room. He could never figure out the females in his household.
"So, come on Charlie! Spill... we want to know how your date went! Good, I guess?" Leah said, leaning against a kitchen unit and grinning.
"Well... I, err..."
"You didn't get laid on your first date, did you?" Ruby hooted.
"Ruby!" Charlie shrieked. "No I didn't! And besides, mind you own business!"
"No I won't! We need facts, Charlie!"
Charlie looked to Leah for support, but Leah grinned and turned to start the washing up.
"I suggest you get yourself ready for school, young lady!" Charlie said, dismissing Ruby from the room.
"Oh, that sux!" Ruby moaned as she dragged herself away from what could have been a very juicy conversation.
"So?" Leah said, turning back to Charlie and wiping her hands on a tea towel.
"So, what?"
"So, did you make a decision about which girl you prefer?"
Charlie avoided Leah's eyes, but smiled down at the floor.
"You did!" Leah giggled.
"Okay! I did."
"So, which one?" Leah was eager to learn.
"Well, as a matter of fact, I've decided to choose them both!" Charlie grinned.
"What?"
"You heard!"
"But Charlie! That is going to get you into so much strife! Please reconsider!"
"Well, I like them both equally, so what's the harm in bagging them both?"
Leah looked at Charlie in shock.
"Well, Charlie Buckton, for one who can't make up her mind, you certainly take the biscuit!"
It was Charlie's turn to grin as she watched the look of disbelief creep over Leah's face.
"You mean you're gonna start seeing them... both...at the same time?"
"Yeah. One, one night; the other, the next!" Charlie announced with certainty.
"No nights off in between?"
"Not if I can help it!"
Leah was suitably shocked. She had never seen Charlie Buckton quite like this and though it made a pleasant change from her usual intense, workaholic persona, Charlie with two girls on the go, did not bear thinking of!
"Well, don't come running to me if it all hits the fan!" Leah said, with a frown.
"No worries over that. I have the whole situation in hand. It'll take just a little fine-tuning, that's all! For the first time in my life, everything is falling into place and it's absolutely wonderful!" Charlie said, leaning back in her chair and stretching out.
Leah silently raised her eyebrows, turned and continued washing up the breakfast things.
Joey Collins sat on the edge of the fishing boat as it bobbed gently in the water. She looked out to sea with a faraway look in her eye. The soft breeze disturbed her hair and she raised her hand to tuck a stray strand under her red beanie hat, unaware that Aden Jefferies was observing her from the other side of the boat. He grinned in amusement and crept over; grabbing Joey around the waist and making her scream out in fright.
"You shit, Aden!" She yelled, trying to stop herself from falling overboard.
Aden laughed and helped to secure her footing.
"Day dreaming about the 'She Devil' huh?"
"Oh... that? Oh, I... err... err..."
Suddenly, Joey had an overwhelming urge to stay silent.
"You didn't meet her, did you?" He grinned. "That's why, when I tried to ring you; you switched off your phone! You light weight!"
"I so did go to meet her! It was her... she was the one who didn't... well she did in a way! She was there one minute and then..."
"She did a runner? Ha! She took one look at you and legged it!" Aden smirked.
Joey shifted uncomfortably. Even though she had thoroughly enjoyed her impromptu evening with Charlie Buckton; especially the end part; the mere fact that Blueeyes000 had run out on her at The Billywonga, and not communicated since, was a mighty blow to her ego.
"Yeah, she did a runner." Joey mumbled incoherently.
"Sorry?" Aden said, cupping his hand to his ear. "Can you repeat that and a little louder please?"
Joey shot him an irritated look and slapped his arm. Aden fell about laughing.
"Shut up, you rat!"
Joey looked out to sea and remembered Charlie's many embraces of the night before. Suddenly, she had trouble controlling the smile which was playing on her lips.
"Whoa there, Collins!" Aden suddenly cried, noticing the change in Joey's countenance. "What gives?"
"Nothing! Why?"
"Suddenly you're smiling like the cat that got the cream!"
"So what?"
"You did meet her!"
Joey just smiled; deciding to play a new game.
"Might have."
"Well, what happened?" Aden asked; folding his arms in interest.
"None of your business!"
"Nothing happened then?"
Joey smiled secretly to herself and continued with her work.
The fishing boat and her crew were about half an hour from home. Joey had arranged to meet Charlie Buckton in The Diner at six for some food. As she thought of their date, her heart thumped in anticipation of spending more time with the beautiful Police Officer who was rapidly steeling her heart away.
The fishing boat docked. As soon as she had finished her duties, Joey jumped ship and made for home as quickly as her legs would take her.
"Hey! Collins! Ease up!" Aden yelled as he ran after her.
"Sorry Ade, I haven't got time. I have a date at six!"
"I thought we were supposed to be working on your boat this evening?"
Joey stopped as she recalled the arrangement.
"Oh shit!" She cursed. "I'm sorry, Aden; I completely forgot! How about tomorrow?"
"Can you guarantee you won't have another date?" Aden asked, raising an eyebrow.
Joey coloured.
"No." She answered truthfully.
"Well, I think you'd better let me know when you need help, then if I'm free, I'll give you a hand!" He said, tartly.
"Aden, I'm so sorry. It's just... it's just..."
"It's just you can't keep your hands off Charlie Buckton, can you?"
Joey's jaw dropped and she turned around in shock.
"W-what?"
"You and Charlie... you're like 'together', aren't you?" Aden suggested, casually.
Joey coloured again.
"H-how did you know?"
"I didn't, but I had a hunch. You two can't keep your eyes off each other when you're together! All that old toffee about a dating site was crap, wasn't it?"
"No it wasn't!" Joey protested. "The other girl does exist! It's just... it's just... Oh Aden! I'm mad for Charlie!"
"Does she feel the same way?" Aden asked earnestly.
"I dunno. I guess... I dunno." Joey answered uncertainly.
"I didn't realise Charlie was into the girls until I saw the way she was looking at you... the day she was patrolling the wharf after you'd laid into her over Alf's shop."
"How was she looking?" Joey asked, with interest.
"Like all she wanted was the whole world to disappear... apart from you and her."
Joey grinned.
"You're a romantic fool, Jefferies. Bet she thought no such thing!"
"That's not what her eyes were saying! Myself, I think she's suffering from delusions! Anyhow, you'd better run along and get your glad-rags on. Oh! By the way; have a shower before you leave! You smell revolting!"
Joey poked out her tongue at her friend and colleague.
"You don't smell so sweet yourself!"
"Save that tongue for Charlie!"
"Behave! Thanks Aden and I'm sorry about tonight."
"No worries, kiddo. Enjoy!" He said with a wink.