Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty Three

It was the weekend and with Ruby having been safely deposited at Leah's, Charlie and Joey had just arrived in the city.

"I'm so excited to be seeing him again," Joey admitted when they knocked on Aden's door. "I know it hasn't actually been that long but I've missed him!"

Charlie grinned and caught hold of her hand.

"I've missed him too," she said. "I reckon this is going to be a great weekend."

"Me too," Joey said. "I am very much looking forward to it."

They grinned when the front door swung open. Aden beamed at them before gathering them both into his arms.

"It is so good to see you!" he cooed, finally releasing them and gesturing for them to follow him into the apartment.


Twenty minutes later, all three friends were sat in the lounge. Aden had given them a guided tour of the house he was sharing with some friends – a guy and two girls. He was working with a tour guide company, driving buses and boats according to which rota he was on. One of the girls worked with him as an actual tour guide and when she'd learnt of him needing somewhere to live, she had invited him to come and stay with her.

"So, you like it here?" Joey asked.

Aden nodded vigorously and smiled.

"I'm having an awesome time right now," he said. "I feel like I've got a zest for life back."

"Sounds like leaving me was the best thing you ever did," Joey said, mock offended.

Aden grinned and reached out for her hand from where he was sat in the arm chair across from her and Charlie on the sofa.

"I will always love you," he promised.

Joey grinned, warning him that he'd better do.

"I'm afraid she's cheating on you on a regular basis," Charlie smirked.

Joey blushed and giggled in surprise at Charlie's remark. Aden laughed loudly.

"It's fine," he said. "I have accepted that you're her favourite."

"You'd better believe it," Charlie grinned, putting her arm around Joey and kissing to top of her head.

"So, um… have you done any cheating on me…?" Joey wondered, trying to phrase the question as delicately as possible.

Half the reason he had left town was because Nicole had broken up with him. And she had broken up with him because he hadn't been able to move on from losing Belle the previous year.

"Ooh, that's a yes," Charlie said, noticing the way their friend blushed.

"Well, there might be something going on between me and Kate," Aden admitted. "You know, the girl I work with."

"And live with?" Joey squeaked.

Aden nodded, still blushing.

"It's very new," he added quickly. "We've only been out on a few dates but I like her."

He smiled. Joey and Charlie both grinned back at him.

"Well, we look forward to checking her out and ensuring she's good enough for you at the party tonight," Joey stated.


The three of them went to dinner at Aden's favourite restaurant with Kate and Justin, who had been granted leave from the army for the weekend.

"So, when's the big restaurant opening?" Aden asked.

"It doesn't exist yet," Joey said. "But you are all invited to opening night when it does."

"What's holding you back?" Justin asked.

Joey tried not to get annoyed. He had the same tone he'd had back in the Bay when he had gone on and on about Aden needing to do something better with his life.

"Well, we don't want to rush into it," Charlie said. "But we've made a lot of plans, designed the menu and everything. And someone has come up with a name but won't tell me what it is."

She pouted, which only succeeded in making Joey giggle.

"Have you looked at venues yet?" Aden asked.

"That's the delay," Joey said. "There isn't a whole lot of vacant property in Summer Bay and we don't really want to do it outside of town. Plus, it can be a struggle to look for places when we're both rushed off our feet with work."

"Are you still at the bait shop?" Justin asked.

"Yeah," Joey said. "It's pretty cool. I love working for Alf. I'm going to miss that when I set up on my own."

"Ah, you'll be having too much fun to miss him," Aden said. "Plus, if there's a bar then I'm sure he'll be there loads for a beer at the end of the day. You know what he's like."

Joey chuckled and nodded, hoping he was right.

"So, what are you going to call the place?" Charlie asked.

Joey smirked at her.

"Nice try," she said. "Nice try."


Several hours later, Charlie and Joey were thoroughly enjoying themselves at Aden's birthday party. Neither had drunk quite so much in quite some time but it felt good to let their hair down, have fun and not have anything to worry about. Back home, they were troubled by dramas with Angelo and Hugo and the fact that Ruby was blatantly keeping secrets from them. Out in the city, it was nice just to have fun.

"Kate's really nice," Joey enthused, sitting on the couch with Aden and struggling to be heard over the music.

Aden beamed at her.

"She's really special," he said. "I mean, like I said, it's all pretty new but I like her a lot."

"I'm happy for you Aden," Joey said. "I'm so relieved to see you out here and how well you're doing. I miss you like crazy but it looks like the move out here is the best thing you could have done."

Aden nodded.

"I didn't realise how trapped I felt until I set myself free," he said.

Joey snorted, teasing him for being drunk and philosophical.

"Where's Charlie, anyway?" he wondered.

They looked around the room, trying to find her. Joey's heart sank when she saw her girlfriend in deep conversation with a ruggedly handsome man she didn't know.

"Looks like she's made a friend," Aden said, watching her laugh.

"Yeah," Joey said grimly.

She tried to fight it but Angelo's words made their presence known in her brain.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Aden asked worriedly. "You were having a good time thirty second ago."

Joey sighed, not entirely sure whether she ought to admit how she felt.

"Jo?" Aden nudged.

"I think she's going to leave me," she admitted.


Next time… Charlie and Joey enjoy a night of passion…