Chapter 14
"So, Ryan is making you crazy, huh?" Kate couldn't help but smile thinking of the last time Jenny had Ryan do a cleanse, he had actually attacked Espo over a donut.
"Well, you know how he gets when he's hungry."
"That I do!"
"So, girl. What would you like to do today? Kick back, order a pizza, watch a little baseball? I hear there's a game on today."
"That would be awesome,Espo. I haven't had time to sit and watch a whole game in years. Probably not since dad and I went to the game for my 18th birthday." She ran to the cabinet to get some snacks.
"They had baseball back then?" That one earned him a Beckett glare. "Whoa, ok, sorry chica. Just kidding."
"You will be, when I decide to keep this entire bag of nachos for myself, wont you?"
She laughed as she grabbed a chip from the bag and popped it into her mouth, making a loud crunch with the first bite.
"You wouldn't do that."
"I might."
"Nah, you won't."
"Oh yeah, what makes you so sure?"
"Cuz, if you are busy guarding that bag, you won't be able to get any of these honey roasted peanuts from me!"
He laughed as she chased him around the couch, tackling him and sending chips and peanuts flying. They both sat there gasping for breath looking at the mess they had made.
Beckett looked at the food on the floor. "Well, I guess no one gets to eat those."
Espo gave her a grin with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Yeah? Screw that!" He pushed her out of the way as he dove for the bag on the floor. "5 second rule!"
By the time the game had ended, the pair had finished off a bag of nachos, what was left of the peanuts, an entire large pepperoni pizza, and a quart of ice cream. As Espo sat contemplating how a woman her size could possibly have eaten all that, he heard the front door open.
Castle walked in to probably the cutest sight he'd ever seen. Espo was sitting with his feet up on the coffee table, sipping a beer, and staring out the window, completely surrounded by what looked like the results of a wild frat party. He was just about to ask where Kate was, when he noticed her snuggled into Espo's side, sound asleep.
"Looks like you guys had fun."
"We did. Watched a game, had a few snacks, nothing too exciting."
"A few snacks? Did you leave us any food for the rest of the week?" He smiled, looking around at containers and wrappers littering the living room.
"Before or after craft services stopped by and restocked the kitchen?" He replied sheepishly. "What can I say, we pigged out a bit."
Castle laughed. "Well, I'm glad you guys had fun. How long has she been out?"
"About an hour. Fell asleep during the ten o'clock news."
"Sorry I got back so late, I kinda over slept. I was more exhausted than I thought."
"No problem. You needed the rest. So, you wanna leave her here, or..."
"No, no. I'll go lay her in her bed. She'll sleep better there." He lifted her up in his arms, and with a last "good night" to Espo, he carried her in and tucked her in to bed.
She rolled over and grabbed "his" pillow and pulled it closer to her chest as she snuggled deeper into the bed. He smiled as he turned off the lights. "Good night, my friend. Wherever you are."