Page 18 of Cooper's Command

Bellamy nodded. “I get that, but plans change.”

“You really think she’s going to give up the last ten years without a fight? All the work she’s put into carving out the next twenty?”

“If she’s found something better, then, yeah.”

Cooper snorted. “Oh, to have your optimism.”

“You seriously don’t think she’s invested in what you two have? Are you telling me you’ve just been fuck buddies for the past few weeks, then? That it meant nothing?”

Cooper turned. “First, we never have — and will never be — fuck buddies. And second, it’s not what I think or feel that’s in question.”

“So, you’re admitting it hasn’t been just sex between you.”

“Bellamy, let it go. I’m really not in the mood to talk about this.”

Bellamy paused, staring at Cooper before his eyes widened and he glanced around the bar to see if Ethan or Rusty werelistening. Not that Cooper thought it would stop his buddy from voicing whatever was on his mind if they were.

Bellamy leaned in. “Wait. Are you saying that Nova’s been sleeping in your bed — and don’t even try to deny that because we all saw the way she kissed you — and you two haven’t actually…”

Cooper groaned when Bellamy made some weird hand gesture. “You’re an ass, you know that?”

“Apparently. Because I’m not sure I would have had that much restraint.”

“You got Octavia pregnant the first night you were reunited, so I think it’s safe to say restraint isn’t your or her forte. And not that I need to explain myself, but we were in the middle of an op, and Nova had just lost her partner. The last thing she needed was me taking advantage of her when she came over to my place absolutely wrecked about Tate but determined not to show it.”

“So, when Hawk interrupted you two tonight, you were finally…”

Cooper groaned. “Feel free to stop talking any time, now.”

“You were. Then, all that crap goes down with her boss and now, you’re sulking.”

“Seriously. Go harass Rusty or Ethan.”

“Well shit. This isn’t a passing thing for you, is it? You’re in love with her.”

Cooper clenched his jaw, mentally listing all the reasons punching Bellamy would be an epic mistake, like the ones Nova’s boss had accused her of making. “I’d really hate to have to explain to Octavia why you’ve got a split lip and a black eye.”

“Please, like I wouldn’t dodge. Besides, you’re so blinded by love, you’d probably miss.” Bellamy chuckled when Cooper stared at him. “Coop. Stop worrying. Nova was just caught off-guard, like we were when Moody had us eliminated from the K9 pilot program. Let her work through her issues on this casewith Emery. No one better to show her all she has to gain, professionally, by sticking around.”

“Assuming she doesn’t get fired for kicking this Paulin guy’s ass the moment they’re in the same room together. Which is really what I was thinking about, wiseass. There was something about his call and what she said that isn’t sitting right.”

“You’re not even going to balk at the love comments, are you?”

“Can you focus, for one minute, on the real issue?”

“You’re only fooling yourself if you think being stupid in love with Novaisn’tthe real issue, but whatever you say. So, what rubbed you the wrong way about this guy?”

Copper pushed down the riotous skip of his heart at the thought of Nova being in his life permanently, focusing on how they’d parted at the crime scene. That she’d obviously been hiding something when she’d told him Paulin wanted to talk about things. “It’s not him, it’s how she ended it. She said, ‘when and where’. Just like that. As if she was setting up a drop. And her expression…”

He’d had to fight every instinct not to tail her because she’d been whiter than the cocaine powder. “She looked as if she’d just seen a ghost.”

The fact she’d also suggested they talk hadn’t helped him feel any better about the situation. Especially when he knew she’d been brushing off his concerns over the meeting.

Bellamy nodded. “You think she’s in trouble?”

“I think there’s something far more dangerous going on than a simple drug lab. And I have a bad feeling she’s walking into the middle of it.”

“What does Emery think?”

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