Chapter Thirty Nine
It had been an interesting few days to say the least. Without letting Ruby see them together, Charlie and Joey had been indulging in a little more intimacy than they had previously allowed themselves. They weren't prepared to admit even to themselves that they were back together but when Ruby was in bed and they were alone, they did share the odd kiss and several cuddles.
"Here," Joey said, putting a glass of fruit juice on the dining table where Charlie had been studying for hours.
"I'm not..." Charlie began to protest.
She lifted the glass to her lips anyway and ended up downing the whole thing.
"Thirsty," she concluded, frowning and looking rather puzzled.
"Clearly!" Joey chuckled. "Another?"
Charlie grinned and nodded eagerly, thanking her.
Joey moved across the room and to the fridge where she poured out another drink and a small bar of chocolate as a treat for the girl that was working so hard.
"You're an angel," Charlie declared.
Spontaneously, Joey leant down and kissed her gently on the lips. They both blushed and returned to doing their own thing. Neither was entirely sure what they were supposed to mean to each other right now.
At nine o'clock that evening, Joey approached Charlie again and tried to close her book.
"Hey!" Charlie protested, complete with pout.
"You promised you'd stop working at nine," Joey reminded her. "It's one minute past."
Charlie laughed.
"I just have a little bit more to do," she said.
"No!" Joey squeaked. "You promised you'd play with me!"
Charlie snorted.
"You sound like Ruby!" she said.
"I learned from the best," Joey informed her. "Now, it's two minutes past nine on a Friday night. No self respecting student should be studying. You should be on the couch with snack food, a DVD and delightful company."
"Are you inviting someone round?" Charlie teased.
Joey folded her arms and pouted. Chuckling, Charlie gave in. She stood up and planted a delicate kiss on Joey's lips, promising that she was hers for the night.
"Oh really?" Joey giggled.
She allowed Charlie to take her by the hand and they cuddled up on the couch together. Charlie draped her legs over Joey's lap and smiled when she began to idly stroke her legs.
"What's the plan for the weekend?" Charlie asked, leaning back against the cushions.
"Well, Ruby has her friend's birthday party in the afternoon, doesn't she?"
"Yep."
"And we were thinking of trying to do the supermarket shop without her assistance."
Charlie chuckled and nodded.
"We might even end up without all the extras she usually adds," she said.
"One can but hope!" Joey agreed. "Although, I don't know about you but I have real trouble saying no to that cute little face."
"She is pretty adorable," Charlie said.
She was very proud of her daughter.
"Just like her mother," Joey added.
Charlie blushed and gazed at her. She withdrew her legs and sat up, looking directly at Joey.
"What are we doing, Jo?" she asked softly.
"Sitting on the sofa?"
Charlie smiled again, taking Joey's hand.
"I'm being serious," she said.
Joey sighed awkwardly.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I mean, I know what I want but..."
"What do you want?" Charlie asked.
"You," Joey replied without hesitation. "I want you to be my girlfriend again."
Charlie nodded thoughtfully, chewing her lip.
"I think I might want that too," she admitted.
Joey looked startled and utterly elated.
"You do?"
"I just... every time I'm with you, I'm so happy," Charlie ventured. "I feel like we fit together so perfectly and... I just... I love you."
"I love you too," Joey said. "And these last few weeks have felt like heaven. You know, with the three of us being a family."
Charlie nodded and reached for Joey's hand.
"I feel really torn," she said. "Part of me is so desperate to be with you but part of me is terrified that I'm going to get hurt again."
Joey nodded.
"I understand," she said. "And I know it won't actually make much difference but for the record, I'd rather die than hurt you."
Charlie managed a small smile.
"It does make a difference," she said. "I think... I think we should just go for it."
Joey barely had time to react before Charlie leant in closer, brushing their lips passionately together.
It was an hour later and Charlie and Joey were still heavily making out on the couch. All their previously pent up feelings were pouring out. Joey's heart raced as Charlie's lips and fingertips wandered all over her body.
"Shall we go to your room?" Charlie asked a little breathlessly.
Joey pulled away, looking bewildered. She hadn't realised that such a thing would be on the cards.
"Are you...? Really?" Joey asked.
"Unless you don't want to?"
"Of course I do but... well, I thought..."
"I want to be with you," Charlie said. "I want to grow up and stop having all these issues. I want to be normal."
Joey felt hesitant. She didn't want Charlie to rush into anything she wasn't ready for. She still wanted her first time to be absolutely perfect.
"We don't need to rush into it," Joey said. "I mean, we could make it an occasion..."
Charlie pulled further away, eyeing Joey with suspicion.
"You haven't made another bet or something, have you?" she snapped.
"What?" Joey asked weakly, a little stunned. "No. Of course not. Charlie..."
"It's just that you said all of this last time and that was because..."
Joey reached out to hold Charlie's hand but she pulled quickly away. Joey searched her eyes and realised with painful disappointment that despite everything, Charlie was never going to trust her completely.
"You're not ready to be with me again, are you?" she said softly.
Charlie struggled over what to say. She thought about all the joy Joey brought to her life and how much of a family they were. But then she remembered that she had felt the same a few months ago and Joey had been lying to her for the whole time.
"I'm sorry," she said.
Joey clenched her jaw, trying not to cry.
"It's fine," she said, her voice catching. "I understand."
She stood up anxiously.
"Goodnight," she manage before disappearing into her room.
Charlie sank back on the couch in defeat. She stayed there in silence for a long time.
Next time… Charlie and Joey perplex Ruby with their awkwardness…