I had some potentially good news today so I thought I would celebrate. As most of you know, I am trying to get my novel published. I sent a proposal to one of many, many publishers and they have now requested to see the full manuscript. Obviously nothing is guaranteed and I am forcing myself not to get carried away, but it's the first hint of acceptance that I have had from any of them so it's potentially very exciting. I'll let you know if they decide to go ahead. I should hear back from them in a month or so. It's all pretty exciting so I thought I would post my joy! Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Six
The following day, Charlie and Joey barely left their hotel room. Too wrapped up in each other, they completely forgot about breakfast and lunch and only remembered dinner when they happened upon the room service menu.
"Do you want to order from here?" Charlie asked.
"I'd like to take you out to dinner," Joey told her.
"Oh, you don't have to," Charlie said, aware that Joey was currently unemployed.
She didn't want her to feel pressure to get a job before she was ready. Charlie's salary was sufficient for both of them for now and around Joey, she felt wave after wave of generosity engulf her.
"I want to," Joey said.
Finally getting showered and dressed, the couple headed out of the hotel and into the world.
"It won't be fancy like your place yesterday," Joey said.
She worried that her offering wouldn't be as good as something Charlie could get them. Charlie smiled at her and squeezed her hand for a moment in order to reassure her.
"Ooh!" Charlie suddenly said, making Joey pause.
They found themselves outside an American style diner. The sight and sound immediately made Charlie crave burgers.
"I was going to be a little classier than that," Joey said.
Charlie continued to grin like an excited child.
"Can we?" she asked. "Please? Can't you smell the burgers?"
Joey had to admit that it was enticing. Grinning back at her girlfriend, Joey led the way inside. They were met by a waiter who smiled cheerfully and led them to their table before handing them menus and taking drinks orders.
"Everything looks delicious," Charlie said excitedly. "I don't know how I'm going to decide."
Joey gazed lovingly at her, thrilled to see yet another facet of her personality. Charlie gazed back at her, wondering what was so enthralling.
"You're so adorable," Joey said.
Charlie blushed. Joey made her feel like the world was a far more exciting place than normal. She was exciting and enchanting. And she made Charlie feel beautiful. It was certainly a special gift. The waiter returned and after much careful consideration Charlie ordered a cheeseburger and Joey went for a bean burger. Both would be served with all the trimmings.
"I take you to all the best places, don't I?" Joey smirked.
"Yes, you do!" Charlie agreed. "There's nothing like an unhealthy and deliciously tasty burger."
Joey giggled.
"And I'm going to have a chocolate milkshake for dessert," Charlie decided.
They looked up when their waiter placed their drinks on the table along with knives and forks and a pink placemat each. He offered them a knowing smile before he walked away. Startled, Charlie looked down to find the placement was a picture of hot bikini girls. Charlie flushed pink and looked at Joey who was looking particularly amused.
"Do you think they're all like that?" Charlie asked.
"The waiters or the placemats?" Joey smirked.
Charlie looked hurriedly around the small restaurant. All the boys had pink bikini girls and all the girls had grey surfing hunks. The police officer turned even pinker as she realised she had unwittingly fallen out of the closet.
"Do we look gay?" she asked.
"What do gay people look like?" Joey queried.
Charlie immediately began to backtrack and apologise, feeling awkward before she realised that Joey was teasing her. She blushed more and accepted when Joey reached out to hold her hand across the table.
Charlie finished her milkshake loudly, much to Joey's amusement. As they stood to leave, Charlie couldn't quite resist stopping the waiter and asking how he knew they were together.
"Because you look so in love with each other," he told her.
Embarrassed and pleased in equal measure, they thanked him and walked out of the restaurant hand in hand, declaring that they definitely wanted to come back.
"Where to next?" Joey wondered.
"Let's go for a walk," Charlie suggested brightly, retaining hold of Joey's hand.
Joey let Charlie lead the way as they walked through the quiet streets in the moonlight.
"I wonder what my Dad's going to say when I tell him," Charlie mused.
Joey's heart leapt at the thought that Charlie was becoming so ready to tell people.
"I mean, I can never quite tell with him," Charlie said. "Back when I was a kid, he wasn't really around for me and I think he would have had an issue but he's so much more chilled out now and what with his illness and everything... maybe it would be okay. And I doubt he'd struggle to like you, even if you are a girl. I mean, who wouldn't like you?"
Joey couldn't stop smiling at Charlie's happy musings.
"I'm scared of telling the rest of the Bay though," the police officer admitted. "It'll make Colleen's head spin and I'm nervous about going into the Diner and everything with people knowing."
"I don't think Colleen actually understands the concept," Joey said, before explaining the conversation she'd had with Colleen about her 'romantic' hamper that day on the boat when everything had changed for her and Charlie.
Charlie smiled.
"Will you be offended if we're not like this back home?" she asked, gesturing to their joined hands. "You know, not at first?"
"As long as I get to be with you behind closed doors, I don't mind," Joey promised. "I know it's scary - coming out. I didn't do it that long ago either."
Charlie nodded, feeling comforted.
"I guess it'll all just take time," Joey said. "At least you have Ruby on side."
"Yeah," Charlie agreed. "That's such a relief."
Joey paused and turned to look at Charlie, gazing at her face and getting immediately lost in her eyes. She stroked her hair and leant in to kiss her.
"If I have to be careful back home, I'll take full advantage here," she said.
Charlie received her lips happily and wrapped her arms around her.
"If we head back to the hotel, you can take advantage even more!" she grinned.
Joey took her hand and almost dragged her back towards it. Neither of them could stop giggling.
A/N: Part of this chapter actually happened! Drowningnotwaving and I decided to go for a burger here in Brighton and we got the pink placements. I hasten to add that it is not because we're so in love! I think we just looked gay...! Was ever so funny so I promised to put it in a fic. So, DnW, that chapter was for you. xx
