Good Cop, Bad Cop

by Amber Heart

‘Slow down.’ He chuckled and she moved her glass away from him defensively.

  ‘This is the first drink I’ve had tonight and I’ve earned it. He was such a douche!’

  ‘It couldn’t have been that bad.’ He reasoned, taking a sip of wine himself.

  ‘Let me list how shitty this guy is.’ She turned and faced him. ‘One, he doesn’t like it when women drink so I had the pleasure of drinking water all night. Two, he was rude to you and didn’t like that we spend time together. Three, he said police work is primitive and that because I’m a woman, I’m weak and need to be at home raising children.’ She raised a finger for every point and then took another long drink. ‘God, I should’ve punched him.’

  Damien was astounded, ‘Wow, that really is a bad date.’ She finished her glass and started drinking out of the bottle.

  ‘I hate dating.’ She whined. ‘I just want to find someone who’s fun, who doesn’t care if I drink or eat more than a stupid salad.’ She stood up and stumbled a little.

  ‘I think you’re a little drunk, Liv.’ Damien sighed. The wine had gone to her head quicker than usual.

  ‘Someone who understands my job.’ She carried on. ‘Someone who will spend days in bed watching films and days at the gym.’ She made her way back to the couch and sat on Damien’s lap, her arms wrapped around his neck.

  ‘He’ll be a lucky man.’ He sighed and Olivia leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

  ‘I still love you too.’ She whispered, resting her forehead against his. ‘I couldn’t get you out of my head all night. It should’ve been you sitting opposite me, you and your awful jokes.’

  ‘Don’t do this now, please.’ He begged. ‘You’re drunk and it doesn’t mean anything if you’re drunk.’

  ‘But I mean it.’ She urged, kissing him again. ‘I do love you.’ God, he wanted her.

  ‘Come on, Liv.’ He picked her up and walked towards his bedroom. ‘You need to sleep. Do you want a shirt to sleep in?’ He placed her gently on his bed and grabbed a shirt. ‘Can you get dressed yourself?’ She nodded again.

  ‘Okay, well, I’m going to get you some water.’ When he returned, she was changed and laying on his side of the bed, hugging his pillow. ‘There you go. If you need me, I’ll be on the couch.’

  ‘You’re not going to sleep here?’

  ‘I don’t want to disturb you in the morning.’ He leaned down and kissed her head. ‘I’m not letting you have wine again.’

  ‘You sound like that doctor.’ She mumbled and he chuckled. ‘Please will you stay? I don’t get bad dreams when I’m with you.’ She admitted and his heart broke a little bit.

  ‘Fine, only because you asked nicely.’ He sighed. ‘Give me a second.’ He changed into some shorts and a t-shirt and pulled her to him. She fell asleep quickly and he smiled. ‘I’ll let it go that you’re on my side.’

  Olivia woke up the next morning, not too sure where she was, or who she was with. Her head hurt and she didn’t remember much of last night. She felt the arms around her pull her in closer and her heart sped up.

  ‘Good morning.’ Whispered a British accent. Damien. Thank God. ‘You really shouldn’t be allowed to drink wine.’ He chuckled.

  ‘That explains it. Did we… you know, do anything last night.’

  ‘You were too drunk to stand, let alone anything else.’ He explained. ‘You came over after an absolutely terrible date, you… said some things and we went to bed.’

  ‘What did I say?’ She asked, rubbing her eyes.

  ‘If you don’t remember, then it doesn’t matter.’ He smiled sadly and pulled his arms away from her to stretch. ‘Breakfast?’

  ‘Please.’

  While they were eating their waffles, Damien’s phone started to ring. It was the captain.

  ‘Hello, sir.’

  ‘But it’s my day off, sir.’

  ‘Yes, sir. I won’t be long.’ He said, hanging up and sighing.

  ‘What was that about?’ Olivia asked.

  ‘The Captain needs to see me.’ He shrugged, finishing his breakfast quickly and grabbing a shirt and tie from his wardrobe.

  ‘Oh, I thought we could spend the day together.’

  ‘So did I but I really have to go. Sorry.’ He smiled sadly, kissing her cheek. ‘Stay here as long as you want, I’ll try and keep you updated.’

  ‘Okay, see you.’

  When he left, she turned on the TV and sat back, trying to remember what exactly had happened last night. What had she said to him? It had to be important… then it struck her.

  ‘Oh shit.’ She’d told him she still loved him. Olivia had no idea what to do. No wonder he had been so quiet, he was waiting for her to remember, waiting for her to say it again. She picked up her phone, thinking about calling him and changed her mind. If she was going to say it, she wasn’t going to do it over the phone. Time seemed to pass so slowly, especially ow she really wanted to hear his voice. She was relieved when her phone finally rung.

  ‘Hey!’

  He sounded… worried.

  ‘Can you meet me at our usual coffee shop?’

  ‘Sure, is everything okay? You’ve not been fired, right?’ She joked, trying to cheer him up.

  He laughed nervously.

  He hung up and she couldn’t help but run through everything he could possibly say.

  When she arrived at the coffee shop, he was already there, sitting in their favorite booth. He looked a little nervous but gave her a smile when she sat down.

  ‘What’s up?’ She asked. ‘You look worried.’

  ‘I’ve been offered a promotion.’ He explained and Olivia’s face lit up with happiness.

  ‘Dame! That’s great, why aren’t you happy?’

  ‘It’s in Seattle.’ Her heart sank to the floor.

  ‘Seattle? As in, the other side of America?’

  ‘I know, Liv. That’s why I’m worried.’

  ‘Did you take it?’ She asked, her heart pounding.

  ‘I wanted to talk to you first.’ He shrugged. ‘Look, last night you said-’

  ‘I love you.’ She smiled and he was stunned for a moment.

  ‘I... I want more, more than this friends with benefits shit we’re doing but-’ He sighed. ‘This is a great opportunity for me. I don’t know if can turn it down.’

  ‘When would you leave?’ She asked quietly.

  ‘In two weeks. I need to tell the captain my answer by the end of the day.’ He couldn’t take his eyes off her face.

  ‘If it wasn't for me, would you go?’

  ‘I wouldn’t hesitate. I loved New York when I first got here and now, after everything…’ He paused, finding the right words. ‘It’s not what it used to be.’

  ‘You should go.’ She nodded, even though it hurt to say.

  ‘What?’ He thought she’d be mad, that she’d shout and fight that he should stay, but she was letting him go so easily.

  ‘I don’t want to be the reason you miss such a big opportunity.’ She shrugged. ‘And I don’t want to keep you in a city you hate, it’s not fair.’ A part of her wanted to beg him to stay, but she also wanted him to be happy. If that meant leaving New York and moving thousands of miles away and finding a new start, then she couldn’t hold him back.

  ‘But what about us?’ He asked.

  ‘I love you, Damien Macken, no amount of distance can change that. We’ll find a way; it might be hard, but we can do it.’ She smiled, reaching for his hand. ‘Do you trust me?’

  ‘With my life.’

  The day Damien left for Seattle was the hardest day of her life. They’d spent every moment they could together before he left; they went for dinner every night, made love whenever they found the time, savoring each other’s bodies, trying to remember every single detail, but the days crept past them. In the last few days, she helped him pack up his apartment, smiling at the pictures of Amanda. They cried together, clinging onto each other like it was the last time because that’s exactly what it felt like, and then she waved hi
m goodbye at the airport. His plane left, and she suddenly felt alone in the big city, more alone than she had ever felt in her life.

  Looking at the empty desk across from her always made Olivia feel sad. Work soon grew boring without Damien, cases came and went as she waited for his call everyday. She knew he was doing well, being a sergeant suited him, but that didn’t stop her from missing her partner.

  ‘Detective Hardy. A word, please.’ The Captain one day, smiling at her from his office door.

  ‘Sir.’ She nodded as she entering his office, closing the door behind her.

  ‘I have an offer for you, Hardy. One I think you’ll like.’

  Damien was sat in his new office, looking through his newest case file. It had been a month since he started in Seattle, and as much as he was enjoying the work, he missed his job in New York, he missed Olivia, the picture of her on his desk sat smiling at him. He felt like he was still an outsider in Seattle, like he didn’t know the other officers very well. Except for Mike of course, the officer he shared his office with; their desks were on opposite sides of the room, facing each other. It was a simple glass office, spacious enough for the both of them, and Damien could see everything that was going on in the bullpen just by looking around. His Captain was a good man, very dedicated to his officers. He was invested in keeping the streets of Seattle safe.

  Mike came into the office with a cup of coffee and a newspaper and nodded at Damien.

  ‘Have you heard about the new detective?’ Mike asked, sitting down at his desk. ‘It’s about time we got some new blood. First you and now this other one. It’s been a nice change.’

  ‘I thought everyone would hate me when I arrived.’ He chuckled.

  ‘Are you kidding me? This place needed a shakeup, still does. There’s too many old detectives here, myself included. It’s nice to see some young blood. We should go and introduce ourselves.’ Mike looked to see if the detective had arrived yet.

  ‘I’ll do it later, give them time to settle in. Besides, there’s nothing worse than people crowding around, especially a sergeant.’ He chuckled. ‘Plus, I’ve just got my head around this case, may as well make some progress on it.’

  ‘Mike!’ A shout came from the main room and he sighed.

  ‘Guess that’s my cue to leave.’ He finished his coffee quickly. ‘I’ll see you in a bit.’ Mike walked out and Damien sighed to himself.

  He was alone for a while. Everyone loved talking to Mike so he was often busy for hours, talking about someone’s kids or a case that had just closed. He wished it was that easy for him to talk to the detectives, but it simply wasn’t. He didn’t have the respect that Mike had and, at times, he was tempted to just go back to New York, go back to his old life, where everything was easier. Honestly, he just wanted to see Olivia; long-distance wasn’t terrible, but it was much easier living twenty minutes away from each other.

  A knock came at his open door, distracting him from his thoughts.

  ‘I heard this is where a grumpy sergeant works.’ A light voice chuckled, one he could never forget the sound of. Olivia. He turned his head to the door.

  ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ He sat back in his chair with a cocky grin on his face. ‘Didn’t you take the hint when I moved across the country?’ He asked.

  ‘I guess I just had to give it one more shot.’ She smiled. ‘Surprise.’

  Damien stood up and wrapped her in the biggest hug he had ever given her, ‘What are you doing here?’ He asked, pulling back to look at her face.

  ‘You tell me… boss.’ She winked.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m the new detective you rudely decided not to come and greet.’ She scolded him and he couldn’t help but smile.

  ‘As if I need to introduce myself to you.’ He smirked. ‘I can’t believe you’re really here.’ He leaned down and kissed her, unable to hold himself back.

  Mike walked back into the office and coughed very obviously. They looked over to see him smiling.

  ‘Is this how you’re going to greet all the new detectives, Sergeant?’ He chuckled.

  ‘This is Olivia!’ Damien laughed and Olivia crossed the room to shake his hand.

  ‘Yes, I’m aware who she is.’ He smiled. ‘I’ve seen the picture on your desk, and considering you took one look at her and kissed her, it didn’t take me long to put two and two together. After all, I am a detective.’

  ‘You solved the case pretty quickly.’ Olivia agreed, chuckling.

  ‘It’s nice to have you on the team, Detective.’ He winked at her and sat at his desk, picking up his paper so it covered his face, giving them a small piece of privacy.

  ‘It’s nice to be here.’ She smiled towards the paper. ‘Sergeant, I don’t suppose you can spare twenty minutes for a very lost and hungry detective?’

  ‘Anything for a new recruit.’ He smiled, taking her hand.

  They went and found a small park and had lunch together in a small cafe, catching up on everything that had led her to Seattle. She told him about the Captain’s offer: Damien’s new precinct also needed a new detective, and the Captain couldn’t think of anyone better to recommend.

  ‘The only problem is, I don’t really have a place to stay.’ She explained, smiling shyly. ‘I’m booked into a hotel indefinitely.’

  ‘Liv, you can’t live in a hotel.’ He sighed. ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘I was hoping that a very lovely sergeant could offer up his home for a homeless detective who’s just moved across the country?’ She shrugged and Damien pretended to think.

  ‘Well, I’ve already had a word with him and he think that would be perfect.’ He smiled, leaning forward and kissing her. ‘I love you.’

  ‘I love you too.’ She smiled, pulling him in for another kiss. ‘I told you we could make this work.’

  ‘You win. But are you sure about moving here? I know you loved New York.’

  ‘I fell in love in New York.’ She corrected him. ‘I’m perfectly happy wherever you are.’ She smiled. ‘Plus, I’m closer to my family here. We can go back to New York and visit the precinct.’

  ‘Sounds like you’ve got this all planned.’ He laughed. ‘Would you like a tour of your new home?’ He smiled, taking her hand.

  ‘I’d love one.’ She kissed him again, pouring everything she felt for him into it. This was it for them. No more sneaking about, no more arguing, no more terrible first dates. They loved each other, and they were going to spend the rest of their lives proving it.

  Thank you for reading.

  Join my newsletter for bonus chapters and free stories:

  Amber Heart’s Newsletter!

  * * *

  Check out my other stories & please leave a review so I can improve <3 X

  Amber Heart’s New Releases!

  * * *

  Turn over to enjoy a bonus chapter of Good Cop, Bad Cop!

  BONUS CHAPTER

  Olivia walked back into the bedroom, wine glasses in hand, and a phone hit the bed next to her, landing hard on the pillows.

  ‘She’s doing this now?’ Becca started pacing, frustrated. ‘Over text?!’ Becca’s love life was never that successful, resulting in a broken-heart, then a wild night out frequently.

  ‘Just ignore her.’ Olivia reasoned, putting the glasses down on the dresser. Crossing the room, she pulled a dress out of the wardrobe and pushed it into Becca’s arms. ‘Get dressed.’ Olivia had arrived and was expecting to find her friend ready to leave, instead, she was still in her uniform, typing fiercely into her phone, scowling at the screen.

  ‘She can’t just break up with me over fucking text! If she thinks I’m gonna go running back to her after this-’ Olivia raised an eyebrow at her and Becca sighed, standing still. ‘Then she’s right. Let’s go get drunk.’ She looked down at the dress in her hands and put it back in the wardrobe, picking out a lower cut dress instead.

  ‘Come on, don’t let her ruin the night. We’re single and we’re celebrating.’ She
smiled and Becca nodded.

  ‘God, I need a drink.’ She muttered as she got changed and Olivia picked up the glasses again, handing one to her friend.

  ‘To getting drunk and getting laid.’ Becca smiled and they tapped their glasses together.

  Olivia sighed and stared down into her drink, the glass was almost empty. Becca had left her at the bar to go and dance with some guys, but she wasn't really interested in dancing, she was still tired from work. They were supposed to be celebrating; she’d finally closed a big case she’d been working on for months and yet, she was sitting at the bar, alone, because her friend had something else on her mind.

  ‘This seat taken?’ A smooth voice came from over her shoulder. The sound pulled her out of her thoughts and she turned to look at the man. He was very handsome, his smile was charming and shy all at once, and Olivia already liked him.

  ‘Not at all. I’m Olivia.’ She smiled, offering a hand as he sat down.

  ‘Damien.’ He smiled back, taking it. ‘You look a little bored, no offence.’

  ‘None taken.’ She shrugged. 'My so called best friend ditched me.’ She chuckled. ‘Did your friends leave you too?’

  ‘I’m here alone, I’m afraid. I’m new to the city.’ He explained. ‘I’m trying to get my bearings. I thought a bar was the way to go.’

  ‘Always is.’

  ‘Can I buy you a drink?’

  Talking was easy between them, they laughed constantly, smiles never leaving their faces. As time went on, Becca seemed to disappear from the bar, Olivia couldn’t see her anymore but she wasn’t upset. Damien was good company, she soon began to enjoy the night with him; they kept teasing each other, joking around, and eventually, it was like his hand was stuck to her knee, tracing idle patterns on her skin. Her stomach had little butterflies and she knew how this night was going to end.

  ‘It’s getting a little loud, do you want to go somewhere a little quieter?’ She suggested, finishing her drink.