Chapter 19

Charlie's P.O.V

''Ruby do you want to come up to restaurant with me, Angelo went up but he is taking ages''

''erm maybe not''

''please Rubes, I really would like it if you and him got on''

''Charlie we do get on'' I looked at her, ''Sometimes, we do''

''when was the last time you sat and ate with us'' she shrugged her shoulders, ''exactly, you can come get breakfast with us,

''I've eaten'' she told me too quickly,

''liar''

''baby steps, how about I come up to Angelo's with you and say hi''

''that will do for now missy, now come on'' I told her as I grabbed her hand and we both swung our arms up and down as we made it to the Angelo's.

We got up the steps and I heard Angelo,

''hope you're not drinking away all my stock''

''our, you mean our stock Rosetta'' my heart sunk as I registered who it was, what was he doing here and what had he said to Angelo.

''you need to go home and sober up Brax, whatever problems you have, they will still be there when you get to the last drop in that bottle''

''plenty more bottles, full.'' Brax slurred back to him.

Ruby looked at me, she mouthed ''what's happening'' I shrugged my shoulders.

Me and Ruby still stood in the doorway as Angelo's phone rang,

''hey yeah I will be there give me five'' he told whoever had rang him.

''that was the suppliers, I'm going to sort something out with them and when I get back please make sure your gone' Angelo told Brax, he spun around obviously not expecting us,

''Charlie, what you doing up here?'' Brax's head shot up at the mention of my name, and then he smiled that smile that could melt a million hearts and then some.

''we just came to see what was taking you so long''

''oh right, well sorry but will have to cancel our breakfast plans too, suppliers need me to go down and sort things out, sorry babe'' he told me.

He walked towards us and I could sense Brax's eyes on us all the time.

Brax's P.O.V

I watched as he walked towards her, her posture rigid, her face down, avoiding everyone's gaze, especially mine. I watched as he kissed her cheek and was about to leave.

I poured the remaining of the liquid from the bottle, I clinked it with the glass a few times, there was nothing left at the bottom, not a single drop,

''Oi, Angelo, your right, the problem is still here'' I let out a little laugh,

''eh Charlie, what do you reckon, the problem is still here'' I saw her face fly up and look at me.

''Brax go sober up'' Angelo told me and he walked down the steps and away from the restaurant leaving me with his girlfriend and her daughter.

I watched as Charlie stared intently at me, and then I saw someone move towards me, I thought it was her in my drunken haze but it was actually Ruby,

''Hey Brax, do you want me to call Heath or Casey'' Ruby asked as she came closer,

''What I want is for you...'' I pointed at her with my finger, ''you to leave me alone''

''Brax your drunk''

I clapped my hands, ''and the prize goes to Ruby Buckton for stating the obvious''

''Why you being like this, I'm trying to help''

''Really help, well then what you can do is pass me another bottle of this stuff'' I told her as I picked up the bottle,

''its good stuff you know, want to try some,'' I asked her as I got of my chair which stumbled to the floor,

''Ruby come on lets go'' I heard Charlie,

I flung my head back and smiled,

''So your still here, I'm surprised you not walked away'' I grabbed the bottle of bourbon,

''come join us'' she ignored me and was about to walk out the door,

''oh I forgot you can't have a drink can you, there's NOTHING here for you'' I emphasised the nothing.

''Shut up Brax'' she told me sternly, ''Ruby lets go''

''What is going on here, will someone please tell me?''

''Yeah Charlie tell her what's going on here''

''Ruby nothing is going on here''

I laughed as she used that word again,

''well Charlie you can go, I'm not leaving until Heath or Casey get here''

''yeah and I am not leaving you here with this loser'' she replied.

With that she went and sat next to Ruby, I picked up two glasses and placed one in front of each of them, ''here drink up'' I said as I poured them a drink, Charlie pushed her glass away and Ruby just stared intently at her. She resembled a deer caught in headlights. Confused what to do or say.

''Brax'' she spoke very quietly,

''oh Ruby'' ''just shut up'' I shouted at her,

''Who the heck do you think you are speaking to her like that'' Charlie bellowed as she got up, ''she is just looking out for you so stop being so ungrateful'' she continued as Heath and Casey walked in,

''what's going on here?'' Heath asked as he made his way to us, Casey came and kissed Ruby's cheek and then looked at Charlie who was fuming.

''Ruby lets go, and you keep your brother in check'' she told Heath,

''yes serge'' Heath told her sarcastically. I sat there casually slugging at the bottle of bourbon.

''I'll see you later Case'' Ruby told Casey,

''that's if she's not breaking your heart eh Charlie'' I couldn't help myself, she had destroyed me and what gave her the right to swan around and give the impression she was happy.

Charlie's P.O.V

My demeanour changed and now I looked at him pleadingly to let it go. ''come on it must run in the family'' he taunted,

''Please Brax, don't, I'm begging you''

''like mother like daughter eh''

''YOU BASTARD'' I screamed at him, out of everything I didn't expect him to say that, I thought he would expose our affair but this I never imagined this. I launched for him but was held back by Heath who obviously had clicked that I was about to axe Brax into pieces.

''you let go of me now Heath! I'm going to kill you'' I screamed at him,

''no, no, no you're not, come on let's get you out of here'' Heath said as he lifted a few centimetres off the ground and spun me around to make me leave.

I then heard a loud slap, Heath let me go and we both looked at Ruby, who had just slapped Brax.

''My mothers dead!''

I didn't even acknowledge Ruby, what she would make of this revelation.

''well if that's dead, then I'm fucking flying'' Brax pointed at me, '' whoooooo'' he waved his arms in the air before motioning to fly, he didn't care, he was hell bent on destroying me.

''Charlie will you please tell him mum is dead'' I looked at her, my eyes flowing tears,

''I'm so sorry'' I told her as I tried to reach out for her, she moved back and ran out of the restaurant, just as I was going to go after her, 'I'll go'' Casey told me, considering the situation it was best he did, she wouldn't want to speak to me.

''I will never forgive you for this Brax'' I told him as I walked out too.

''good'' I heard him respond.

-x-

3 weeks later

It had been three weeks since Brax had revealed the identity of mine and Ruby's relationship. I couldn't stick around and wait for the bay to find out so I packed myself and Angelo a bag, booked indefinite leave from work and drove away from the bay. I just told him things had been stressful and didn't tell him that Brax actually just pulled my whole life apart.

I did go to see Ruby and she basically was one of the contributing factors to why I left, she told me she never wanted to see me again and in actual fact wished that I was dead.

Long conversations with myself made me understand that I was stupid for what happened between me and Brax and I had even contemplated whether I should tell Angelo. I thought it best not to. Instead our relationship got stronger, we spent time together and, made out lots, I don't know whether this was a distraction or whether I was actually falling for him again or maybe it was being needy. We even discussed having a baby and funnily enough I found that I was able to tell him I wanted a baby but just not yet. I wanted to build our life before having a baby and he agreed.

I heard nothing from Brax, nothing from Ruby until last night, one text simply said,

***life has punished me too. I'm sorry and I love you still*** was Brax's text, I didn't reply, I don't care what life had done to him, he probably deserved it.

I also had received from Ruby and it looked like whatever Brax was on about was hinted at in Ruby's message. It read

***Charlie, since you have been gone, Brax has explained and I don't blame you; in fact I admire you for your strength and your courage. Please I hope you come back soon because things have happened I need you and maybe Brax does too. Please we don't need to talk about it, we can continue as normal, no one needs to know. He told me about you and him and even though I don't think anyone should cheat on their partners, well I don't blame you he is hot compared to Angelo! This time you have spent away has helped me and realise that I need you back home please***

It looked like this break was what we all needed and by the looks of it maybe just maybe me and Ruby would be okay.

What I have realised is that these few weeks away had given me time to think, reflect and most of all it helped my relationships with Angelo and Ruby.

New environments opened new revelations, things that I didn't expect and questions to be asked that would get the response 'Yes' had all happened.

-x-