Sorry for the delay in updating. Between generally feeling unwell and next door's builders disturbing me with all their intrusive noise, I haven't been in a very good space. I did, however, have a very successful driving lesson so, hooray! Thank you for your patience. This one is just a short one but Charlie and Joey are certainly making progress. Enjoy! And if you do enjoy, please let me know! Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Twenty Seven

Charlie was nervous when she arrived at the Diner the following afternoon. She was dressed in black, skinny jeans that flattered her long, slender legs, and a low cut, red top that showed off the cleavage that she knew Joey appreciated. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders and down her back and she had taken great pains to apply her make-up perfectly. Now she just hoped that Joey would show up.

Outside the Diner, Joey looked down at her outfit one more time. She was in faded blue jeans and a black sleeveless top. She'd left her hair down, the way she knew Charlie liked it, wondering all the while why she was making such an effort. Taking a deep breath, she pushed through the door and found Charlie sitting at a table in the middle of the room.

Charlie stood up when she saw Joey arrive. She hugged her awkwardly and then pulled out a chair. Flattered by such good manners, Joey thanked her and sat down.

"Lunch is on me," Charlie said. "So order anything you like."

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

"I want to," Charlie said. "And I thought maybe we could share one of Leah's mega desserts."

Joey grinned and happily agreed. The dessert servings in the Diner were always too much for one person. And she appreciated the extra closeness it would provide her and Charlie with. They picked up the menus they already knew by heart. In the kitchen, Leah did her best to prevent Colleen serving their table and prying over what everyone knew was a potentially important day.

"I think I'll have the mozzarella salad," Joey mused.

"I was thinking the same thing," Charlie said.

Squabbling with Colleen one more time, Leah headed over to take their order.

Thirty minutes later, Charlie and Joey were still tucking into their food. They were having a nice time and were both pleased at how relaxed they felt in each other's company.

"So... is this a date?" Joey asked.

The question took Charlie by surprise. She sipped her orange juice, trying to buy herself some time.

"Do you want it to be?" she finally asked.

Joey used the same stalling tactics.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I feel very confused."

Charlie gazed at her, clearly waiting for more. Joey took a deep breath and another sip of juice. She clasped her hands together on top of the table.

"When I'm with you, it's so easy to fall back into loving you," she said. "You're still the most amazing woman I have ever known. I adore you. And when you do lovely things like this... when you take me out to lunch, when you're open about your feelings and you make me feel like the most special woman in the world... it's hard not to want this to be a date."

"If it was a date," Charlie ventured. "Then it wouldn't mean we'd have to hurry anything. We could take it day by day... take things slowly."

Joey nodded.

"I'm scared," she admitted.

"Of me?"

"Of getting hurt again. If my heart breaks one more time, I don't think I'll ever be able to put it back together," Joey said.

Charlie nodded.

"What if you freak out again? What if you cheat on me? What if you carry on being ashamed to be seen with me?"

"After the desperate displays I've made since we broke up, I think I've got over my fear of people knowing that I love you," Charlie pointed out. "And I'd rather die than hurt you again."

Feeling a little guilty for testing her, Joey leant in and brushed her lips gently against Charlie's. Charlie felt her heart flutter as she accepted Joey's kiss, right in the middle of the Diner. She pulled her closer, deepening the contact for as long as she could get away with. They drew away very slowly.

"What was that for?" Charlie asked a little breathlessly.

"I just wanted to," Joey told her.

They smiled at each other a little shyly, ignoring the stares from other patrons.

"Will you be my date for the wedding?" Charlie blurted out.

Joey stared at her.

"You don't have to," Charlie backtracked. "I just thought... I'm pushing it, aren't I? Never mind. It's okay. You don't have to..."

"I'd love to," Joey replied.

Next time... Joey's paranoia takes hold when she hears conversations between Charlie and Hugo and then Charlie and Angelo...