Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Two
Charlie arrived home to find Joey cooking up a storm in the kitchen. One of the many things she loved about her girlfriend was that she was such a great cook. It was not one of Charlie's personal fortes and they had a good system of Charlie doing the dishes while Joey took on the food.
"Hey, how did it go?" Joey asked as soon as she heard Charlie walk through the door.
Leaving her pan simmering, she approached her partner and hugged her.
"It was okay," Charlie said. "He explained. I don't think... well, I hope, Robertson was wrong."
Joey guided Charlie into a chair. Opening the fridge, she poured her a nice glass of juice and then put some pasta onto a plate for her, complete with a sprinkling of cheese.
"Thanks," Charlie grinned. "You're the best girlfriend ever!"
Joey chuckled.
"I try," she said, serving herself and coming to sit with Charlie. "So, tell me all about it."
Charlie sipped her drink and took a mouthful of food.
"Mmm!" she exclaimed. "This is gorgeous! You've outdone yourself!"
Joey blushed. She wondered if she would ever get used to receiving the compliments Charlie so keenly lavished on her.
"Thanks," she said shyly. "I made enough for Rubes but she's not home yet."
Charlie nodded.
"So... Angelo?" Joey probed.
Ruby had bumped into Nicole and the two girls had gone to play pool together at the Surf Club. Nicole had been less than forthcoming at first but Ruby had managed to get out of her that she and Liam had decided to make a go of things.
"So," she said brightly. "I've rambled on about Liam. What about you?"
"What about me?" Ruby asked, feigning innocence.
"Have you thought any more about the Xavier and Geoff situation?"
Ruby sighed heavily and took her final shot, proudly potting the black and winning the game.
"I don't know," she said. "I feel like I should stick with Xavier. It's just... well, the attraction between me and Geoff is so strong. At least, on my part it is. But I already dumped Xavier and it fell out of his head. Maybe that was a sign that I should just leave things be. I love him. He's the first boy I've ever loved. And he's the first boy I've..."
She trailed off, feeling shy.
"That is important," Nicole reasoned. "But that can't be the reason you stay with him... you know, because you slept with him. If you're not in love with him anymore..."
Ruby sighed again.
"I don't know how I feel about him," she admitted.
Joey sat back, pondering Charlie's version of Angelo explanation for his behaviour.
"I don't buy it," she said.
Charlie sighed. It did sound sketchy but a secret mission would certainly explain how he had managed to escape jail and stay on the police force. Nobody had quite figured out how he'd gone from one side of the law to the other and then back again.
"It would explain a lot," she said. "About why he's come back to the Bay."
"I guess," Joey said. "But why would any mission require spying on us while we're... you know... canoodling?"
She whispered the last word so sweetly that Charlie laughed.
"He said that was a mistake," she said. "He just needed to check that we were home and not up to no good."
"We were up to lots of good!" Joey grinned.
Charlie snorted without any dignity. Leaning closer, she kissed her.
"I love you, you know that?"
"I had an inkling," Joey teased.
They kissed again. Drawing away, Joey looked suddenly serious again.
"I know you want to believe him, Charlie, but there's something not right about that guy," she said. "And if all that's true, why did he stop by twice? I mean, that's what Robertson said. And then he went to the city and... you know!"
Charlie nodded.
"I know something isn't quite right but can we just drop it?" Charlie requested. "The last thing I need is to think that I'm friends with a perve. I need to believe he's a good guy."
Joey nodded but wasn't happy about it. Standing up, she cleared the plates away, opened the fridge and presented them both with a dessert she'd made earlier.
Ruby began to wander home via the beach. Nicole had got a text from Aden, asking her to meet him so she'd headed on over the house in order to make amends. Their relationship was fraught at the moment to say the least. Looking ahead of her, Ruby smiled when she spotted the familiar figure of Geoff walking along the sand. She called his name and headed over.
"You're distracted," Charlie commented.
She and Joey had retired to the sofa and Charlie was very much enjoying a foot massage, although Joey didn't seem to be concentrating properly. She didn't respond.
"Joey?" Charlie said.
When her partner still didn't answer, Charlie waved her hand in front of her face, snapping her to attention.
"Sorry," the skipper said, flashing a smile.
"What's up?"
"Nothing," Joey lied.
"Joey..."
"Why do you need to believe Angelo's a good guy?"
The question took Charlie by surprise and she stalled for a few moments, wondering what to say. She didn't quite know the answer.
"I don't know," she said.
Joey licked her lips and swallowed a few times, unsure of exactly how to ask her next question.
"Charlie... I need you to answer me something," she said. "And whatever the answer is... it's okay. But please, just be honest with me."
Charlie nodded, feeling anxious.
"Do you have feelings for Angelo?"
Ruby fell into step beside Geoff who had gone for an evening run. She couldn't help but appreciate him in his running gear and felt quite fortunate to have bumped into him. They talked and laughed happily together and Ruby could only acknowledge that her feelings were growing. What she didn't realise was that Xavier was watching everything.
"What?" Charlie asked in horror. "Of course I don't! Don't be ridiculous!"
Joey felt guilty at just how affronted and wounded Charlie looked. She frowned when her girlfriend pulled her leg away and sat up, nursing her cup of tea.
"Sorry," she said.
Charlie continued to look hurt.
"Why would you even ask that?" she asked.
"Just because... well, you're pretty street smart," Joey explained awkwardly. "You always tell me that I'm really innocent. Like when that boy, Romeo was hitting on me and I didn't realise. But then, when it comes to Angelo, I feel like I've got his number. I don't trust him and I don't think he's up to anything good. I mean, it's not like I don't have a reason to distrust him after everything he's done. But you... you're blind when it comes to him. You're always so intent on seeing the best in him and I just don't understand why."
Charlie still looked offended.
"I do want to see the best in him," she said. "But not for the reason you've assumed. Joey, have I ever given you a reason to think you can't trust me?"
"I do trust you," Joey insisted.
"And yet you're asking if I have feelings for someone else!"
"I didn't think you'd do anything about them if you did," Joey assured her. "I was just wondering."
"Well don't," Charlie said sourly. "I'm in love with you. And I can assure you that I haven't so much as looked at anyone else – male or female – since we got together. Since before we got together, even. From the moment I met you, you're all that's mattered to me Joey. I don't have feelings for anyone, least of all Angelo."
"Okay," Joey said. "I'm sorry."
"Me too," Charlie said, still obviously very disheartened.
She put her cup down and stood up, announcing that she was going for a bath before hurrying away upstairs. Joey remained helpless on the couch.
Okay, sorry for the squabble! I promise you that it won't last long. They've just been so happy – despite the circumstances... we have to shake them a little bit now and again, don't you think? Love, IJKS xxx
