Chapter Thirteen

Charlie was a little cautious as she entered the police station the next day. From the looks of it, word had got round that she and Angelo had broken up again. Taking a deep breath, she entered her office and found Angelo busily working away. He didn't look up. Taking a seat, Charlie switched her laptop on in order to check her emails before she began to plan her day. She glanced up at her ex-boyfriend several times. The atmosphere was cold to say the least. He continued to ignore her and his typing got a little angrier the more he did. Charlie bowed her head and starting working, contenting her mind with wonderful memories of Joey instead. They hadn't seen each other since yesterday morning, but they had talked on the phone and arranged to go and see Sex and the City 2 at the weekend. Robbo's trial was due to start on the Monday and although they hadn't talked about it yet, Charlie was desperately hoping she would have the chance to support her.

"Hey, um..." she began.

Angelo turned to her. He had the hint of a bruise on his face, between his mouth and his nose. She felt a little guilty and shrank back at the way he was glaring at her.

"What?" he snapped.

"Can I, um... can I have the week off next week?"

"No," he said, turning back to his work.

"Angelo..."

He spun around, his eyes boring into hers.

"You break up with me and you punch in the face and then you expect to get a week off work? I should be doing you for assault!"

"Then I should be doing you for trying to force yourself on me," she replied curtly.

"You know it wasn't like that!" Angelo yelled. "I would never have..."

He trailed off but continued to glare.

"Angelo, I'm sorry I've hurt you."

"Again."

"Again," she agreed. "But isn't it better to break up now and save us the heartache of not being happy together, than to keep it going?"

He shook his head.

"No," he said. "Because we were happy. And I'm just about getting sick of this attitude you have towards having a relationship with me. What the hell is your problem?"

"I just don't want us to be together," she said.

"Then why sleep with me? Why get back together with me? Why agree to move in with me?" he demanded.

"I was trying to make you happy," Charlie told him sadly. "I was trying to pretend."

"Why do you want the week off?" he asked, choosing not to accept her answer as credible.

"I just have some stuff to do and I... I need a break."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Private stuff," she snapped.

"Oh, right... I'm not party to your life anymore, am I?" he replied.

Charlie swallowed. She didn't want them to argue. She just wanted to be friends. But she supposed, at least for now, that was asking too much.

"Well, you'll just have to do it another time," he told her, turning back to his computer. "You're working."

Charlie headed out to do the morning coffee run. She couldn't bear to stay in the office with Angelo any longer. As she drove to the Diner, she wondered if she could convince Watson to patrol with her in the afternoon so that she didn't have to cope with her ex all afternoon.

"Hello, love," Irene greeted warmly as Charlie approached to make her order. "Coffee run?"

Charlie grinned and nodded. Reeling of a list of requests, she waited for her drinks. Glancing down, she saw a discarded paper. Looking closer, she saw an advert for a production of Waiting for Godot. It was the same company that had been touring the year before.

"Does this belong to anyone?" Charlie asked Irene as she placed all the drinks in front of Charlie in a cardboard holder.

"I don't think so."

"Can I take it?"

Irene nodded. Charlie thanked her, paid, grabbed her stuff and headed out. In the car, she put the coffees to one side and pulled out her phone.

"Hi, could I book two tickets for tonight's Waiting for Godot please?"

"Of course," the pleasant woman on the line said. "What kind of seats are you looking for?"

"Best ones you've got."

"We've got two spare seats in the front row," the woman said. "But they are more expensive."

"It's fine," Charlie said with a happy grin.

Joey arrived early at a little cafe not so far from where she lived. She smiled as Charlie entered. I forgot how hot she looks in uniform, Joey mused as Charlie came to sit down. Greeting each other warmly, Joey couldn't help but notice how excited Charlie looked.

"Happy birthday," was all Charlie replied.

"Sweetheart, it was my birthday last week," Joey pointed out.

"I know! And I missed it! And I missed your last birthday too. I've missed all of them and I want to make up for it," Charlie said.

Joey continued to look sceptical.

"Are you free tonight?"

"Actually, I have plans..." Joey said awkwardly.

Charlie's face fell.

"Oh," she said. "Well, that totally took the wind out of my sails!"

She sighed and picked up the menu, thoroughly disappointed.

"I'm free tomorrow," Joey said.

Charlie put the menu down.

"It was kind of a pre-booked thing but... well, I guess I could buy more tickets."

"What?" Joey said. "You paid for something tonight?"

Charlie apologised for being presumptuous.

"No, it's okay," Joey said. "I was just going for drinks with some friends but I can move it to another night if you've already paid for stuff."

Charlie's eyes lit up although for the sake of politeness, she said it was okay and Joey could go and see her friends.

"It wasn't really important," she finished with a hint of sadness.

"Charlie, you looked giddy when you bounced in here," Joey said. "I'll rearrange. Now, where are you taking me?"

"Waiting for Godot is touring and I booked tickets."

Joey's jaw dropped and her eyes widened.

"I've always wanted to see that!" she squeaked.

"Hence buying the tickets," Charlie smirked. "And if you can be ready by five thirty, I've booked a table at that restaurant whose name I can't pronounce."

"Charlie! That's so expensive! You have to pay to book a table!"

Charlie just nodded.

"I really couldn't afford to eat there," Joey objected. "That's like a month's fun money!"

Charlie giggled at Joey's words. She'd always found it terribly cute that Joey was so careful and particular about rent money, bill money and fun money. Then she explained that it was all on her.

"But..."

"It's a belated birthday thing," Charlie said firmly.

She wasn't willing to go into the fact that it was overdue from last year. At least, not yet.

"You really don't have to do that, you know," Joey said.

"I know," Charlie said. "I want to."

Joey put a hand on her arm.

"Honestly, Charlie, you don't..."

"I'm not trying to buy you," Charlie squeaked suddenly.

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant. But all I'm saying is..."

"I want to do this for you," Charlie interrupted gently. "It sounds like you had a terrible birthday. And thanks to me, I imagine last year's wasn't so hot either. So, I'd like to make it up to you."

Joey smiled. Charlie was right. This year, she'd found her girlfriend cheating on her. Last year, she'd been nursing a broken heart over Charlie cheating on her. Going out tonight would definitely be nice.

"So...?"

"I'm in," Joey decided. "And thank you. It's really lovely of you, Charlie."

They smiled lovingly at each other for a few moments before Joey removed her hand and they resumed looking at the menu to choose what they wanted to eat.