Chapter Thirteen
Joey and Charlie woke the next morning feeling a little shy.
"Um… sorry," Joey managed nervously. "Sorry about… you know."
Charlie smiled, stretching.
"It's alright," she said. "You didn't force me to stay."
"I forced you to wake up," Joey pointed out. "Twice."
Charlie nodded reluctantly and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"Okay, I'll give you that one but it wasn't your fault so it doesn't really count."
She smiled and stretched more exuberantly. Joey couldn't tear her eyes away from where her silk and somewhat skimpy pyjama top broke apart from her silk and even skimpier pyjama bottoms, revealing a taut, toned, tanned torso. Charlie settled and yawned.
"Breakfast?" she asked, oblivious to Joey's stares.
Joey blinked, overcome with guilt. This was the woman who had rescued her, who had selflessly spent the night holding her because she was having bad dreams. She should not be having these kinds of thoughts. She wasn't even in a stable enough state to be having these kinds of thoughts. She knew that if the world spun the wrong way round its axis and Charlie suddenly gave her the green light, she'd hide and run away. There was no way she was ready for anything with another person. It was far too soon. She was far too fragile. For now, there would be no harm in looking, if she wasn't looking at a woman who had no idea.
"Breakfast would be great," Joey said gratefully.
Charlie headed out of the room cheerfully.
"See you in the kitchen when you're ready."
***
"Where did you disappear to last night?" Ruby asked.
The school girl was seated at the kitchen table, digging into her cereal when her sister appeared looking perky.
"Um…"
Charlie wasn't sure if Joey would want her business spread around but what other reason could she give as to why she'd spent the night with Joey?
"I had a nightmare," Joey explained shyly, hovering in the kitchen doorway. "Charlie heard me freaking out."
"I figured the best thing to do was stay," Charlie added, relaxing into the truth.
She started fixing breakfast for herself and Joey, beginning with coffee. She could survive no day without it.
"Are you feeling better this morning?" Ruby asked Joey.
"Yeah, thanks," Joey said.
Ruby nodded and continued eating.
"Thanks, Charlie," Joey added.
Charlie smiled at her.
"Hey, I was thinking of going down to the Surf Club this morning for a workout," the police officer said. "You're more than welcome to join if you want."
"That'd be great!" Joey said, leaping at the chance both to spend time with Charlie, and distract herself from loneliness, misery and focussing on her problems.
***
At the Surf Club, Charlie trained hard, enjoying pumping her body and pushing it to its limits. She spied Joey working on the machine next to her. She was in good shape with a good stomach muscles and powerful looking hands. Charlie shook her head when she suddenly realised that she was admiring a girl. It wasn't the first time she'd noticed Joey in that way and while she was trying hard to ignore it, even her powers of putting things on the backburner, were weakening. There just seemed to be an overwhelming connection between them. Joey lay back on the bench and sighed dramatically.
"I'm done!" she declared. "I may actually be dead."
Charlie giggled and got up. She checked Joey's pulse, letting her fingers stay on her neck a little too long.
"Your heart's racing. You're alive," she said.
She pulled Joey into a sitting position.
"I suggest some kind of sustenance, courtesy of the Diner," she added.
"Definitely alive," Joey grinned, following her out of the Surf Club.
***
The women arrived at the Diner. Charlie indicated for Joey to get a seat while she ordered a couple of smoothies that would make them feel stronger and more able to face the day. She placed her order with Leah, who glanced at Joey in the corner and looked a little awkward.
"Um, Charlie…" she ventured.
"Yeah?"
"Look, I don't want to be a pain but how long will Joey be staying with us?"
"Not long," Charlie said, sighing.
She really didn't want to kick the girl out.
"It's just, if she's got an AVO out against someone, might that someone not get dangerous? I'm worried about VJ getting caught up in whatever kind of trouble she's in."
"Leah, the point of the AVO is that the guy can't approach Joey. I just want her around so I can keep her safe."
"Isn't there witness protection for this kind of thing?" Leah asked.
Charlie looked back fondly at Joey who was studying the menu, looking like she was doing anything but looking at the people around her.
"She'll be a really good housemate," Charlie said hopefully.
"She's a lovely girl," Leah agreed. "And I know you care about her but…"
"Okay," Charlie sighed. "Just give me a few days to find her a place to live."
"I'm sorry," Leah apologised, feeling guilty.
She didn't want to be unkind but she didn't want to put VJ through any kind of upset.
"It's fine," Charlie lied, accepting her drinks, paying and heading back over to Joey.
Joey smiled and put the menu down. She immediately noticed that the mood had changed.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Charlie said.
She wasn't ready to tell her yet.
