Chapter Sixteen
Joey woke up feeling peaceful and safe, snuggled up in Charlie's arms. Charlie was just coming to at the same time. They suddenly realised that they were blinking at each other and giggled softly. Charlie absently brushed a stray strand of hair from Joey's eyes.
"We have two possibilities," she said.
"We do?" Joey asked, confused.
"Either you're doomed to have nightmares for the first part of every night regardless of where you are and who you're sleeping with," Charlie began, "or you need to be held."
Joey didn't understand.
"You had bad dreams when we were sleeping side by side but as soon as I snuggled up to you, you were okay," Charlie explained.
Joey blushed.
"I really am awkward and difficult, aren't I?" Joey concluded.
"You're pretty sweet really."
Joey blushed even more.
"Are you ready to go for that run?" Charlie asked.
"Yep," Joey said, trying to sound more awake.
***
In their running gear, Charlie and Joey jogged away from the house. As Charlie edged in front, Joey took in her friend's slender form. She had long legs that Joey thought she could stare at all day. Charlie really was perfect. Realising that she was going to struggle with concentration, she quickened her pace and stepped out in front of Charlie. Charlie briefly made note of Joey's curves and shape, how lovely she was. Deciding that Joey was posing a challenge, she also increased her step and caught up with her. Joey turned and grinned mischievously.
"Oh, it's like that, is it?" she asked.
"Oh yeah!" Charlie laughed.
They began to race as they charged towards the beach.
***
Forty-five minutes later, Charlie hurled herself onto the sand, laughing so hard that she couldn't breathe and her tummy hurt. Flat on her back with the sun in her eyes, she gazed up at Joey who was trying not to show weakness and collapse onto the sand as well. Finally, she gave in and landed in a heap beside Charlie.
"So, who won that one?" Joey asked.
"I think I did," Charlie replied confidently.
"You would!" Joey giggled.
"Only if I won!" Charlie insisted. "Which I did."
"Uh huh."
"I did!"
"Yep," Joey said idly.
"Are you calling me a liar?" Charlie asked, turning to face Joey.
"Maybe a twister of truth," Joey teased.
"Take it back."
"Nope," Joey said firmly, folding her arms across her chest.
"Take it back," Charlie warned.
Joey shook her head, keeping her arms folded. Charlie took hold of her wrists, unfolding them and proceeding to tickle Joey's ribs, making them both laugh.
"Take it back!" Charlie insisted again and again.
"Fine!" Joey said. "I take it back!"
"And I won?"
"And you won!"
Charlie's body was covering Joey's. Charlie ceased tickling but didn't move away from her. She somehow got lost in her eyes.
"And I'm the most amazing person on the planet?" she added hopefully.
"And you're the most amazing person on the planet," Joey said sincerely.
They smiled at each other, maintaining eye contact before Charlie realised that she was almost straddling another woman on the middle of the beach. She climbed off her and flopped back onto the sand.
"I still had the moral victory though," Joey added slyly.
***
Joey ran so fast back into the house that she crashed into a kitchen chair. Charlie came so close behind her, that she ran right into Joey, colliding with her hot, sweaty body. Still giggling, they pulled apart.
"Okay, you might have beaten me that time," Charlie conceded.
"Yeah, you're only giving in because you can't deny it this time," Joey teased. "Winner gets the shower!"
Joey began walked towards the bathroom.
"Hey! I won the first time! I should get to shower first!"
Joey had already hurried ahead, passing Ruby on the way. She observed her older sister pouting.
"Why don't you just shower with her?" Ruby asked. "You do everything else together."
Charlie pulled a face and started to pour herself some orange juice and attempt to ignore the sweat on her body.
"What's your problem?" she asked.
"Nothing," Ruby lied.
"Rubes…"
"I just… I know you care about Joey and you're helping her through a rough time but don't you think you do a little too much with her?"
"No."
"You sleep with her, Charlie!"
"She has nightmares."
"I'm sure a lot of your other work victims have nightmares but you don't invite them into your bed."
"Joey's different. She's…"
"Special. I know."
"Ruby, I'm just helping my best friend."
"She's your best friend now?" Ruby asked.
"I guess she is," Charlie replied.
"Don't you worry that she might…?"
"Might?"
"Have feelings for you?"
"What?" Charlie asked, alarmed. "No!"
"Well, I'm starting to wonder."
"Just because Joey's gay, it doesn't mean…"
"Haven't you noticed the way she looks at you?"
Ruby decided to keep to herself her theories about the way Charlie looked back at Joey. She wasn't ready to process them yet.
"She's just grateful to me for helping her out," Charlie said firmly. "And after everything she's been through, I doubt she's even thinking about anything like that."
"I wouldn't be so sure, Charlie and if I'm right and you're wrong, you need to start figuring out how to let her down gently."
