Kate stayed with Castle and had one of his fancy latte's; she had to admit that it was really good. "Do you want another one?"
"Oh no thanks. Lanie will be looking for me shortly. She's taking me shopping this morning. Apparently I didn't bring suitable clothing with me." Kate said.
"Oh really?" He asked, eyebrows wide, a sly look on his face.
Kate laughed, "get your head out of the gutter. My wardrobe here consists pretty much of my running gear and sweatpants."
Castle made a point of looking her up and down. He definitely approved of the running gear she had brought with her. Short shorts and accentuated her long legs and her sports bra definitely showed off her tones abdomen. She was very fit, more fit than him. "Don't go and change your wardrobe on my behalf Beckett."
"Ha ha Castle." Kate hopped off the counter where she had been sitting since he had put on her band aid. "I'm gonna head back."
"Do you want to come over tonight?" Castle asked quickly.
"Another party?"
"Party for two?"
"I don't know Castle..." She was really trying to be good. She didn't know if she could trust herself around him, especially if he were to offer her a glass of wine.
"Oh come on. We can just watch a movie, order food, or I could tell you more about Alexis."
She smiled. "Sure Castle. But you better get started on that book of yours."
"Aye aye Beckett." He said, watching her walk out the back door and job towards Lanie's house. He grabbed his laptop and opened it up and began typing, his fingers moving faster than his thoughts. He started describing a young girl with brown hair and more pain behind her eyes than anyone her age should have.
CASTLECASTLECASTLE
"Wait, you fell into his lap?"
"Lanie, I tripped over his foot and cut open my knee. It was not as graceful as you like to think it was."
"Sure Kate sure." Lanie "Don't expect me to believe that you and Richard Castle, you're favorite novelist were just 'playing first aid'. Girl I know you better than that." Lanie picked a sparkly top off the rack in the store, "Try this one on."
"Lanie i'm serious. Back in New York I would have jumped at the chance to down a couple of drinks, take a few pills, and sleep with whoever was around but I am really trying not to be that person anymore." Kate looked at the top, "I would never wear this." And she put it back on the rack.
"Sweetie, I'm sorry. I know this year has been hell for you and I'm really glad my best friend is coming back to me. You were starting to scare us for a while there."
Kate sighed, "I know, and I'm sorry. But I do think Castle could be good for me this summer. He's had some writers block and just wants to hang out this summer. He'll be a good distraction and I really believe he could help me get back to the Kate I used to be before everything happened."
"I hope he will be good for you too girl. But we still need to find you something totally hot to wear."
Kate just rolled her eyes and kept absentmindedly looking at clothes, thinking more about Castle than anything else.
CASTLECASTLE
After dinner Kate walked over to Castle's house in a new pair of jeans and t-shirt. It was the most casual thing Lanie would let her buy herself. She let herself in through the back door which was unlocked. From behind the kitchen counter, Castle popped up scaring her. "Castle, what the hell are you wearing?"
"My laser tag gear." He said very matter of fact. "I thought that you would want to play? We can turn off all the lights in the house. Alexis and I have a lot of fun playing."
"You're on. But i'll warn you, I'm a good shot."
"We'll see Beckett. We will see." He handed her the second set of laser tag gear and gun and showed her how to use it. "Ok, so we will run and hide and on the count of ten the game can begin!"
They played the best of five games, Kate ending up being the winner, winning three games. It was close though. "Wow, I had no idea what a work out laser tag was." Kate said, taking the water bottle Castle handed her.
"Yea, you're pretty competitive Kate. And a good shot."
"Espositio has taken me to the shooting range a few times so he's taught me a few things. He's an amazing shot."
"Now you tell me that you know how to shoot?"
She smiled. He loved that smile. His new mission was to make her smile like that as often as possible. "I'll need a rematch sometime this summer."
"You know where to find me."
"Do you uhh, want to watch a movie or something?" Castle asked her.
"Sure, what kind of movies do you have?"
"I pretty much have everything on the TV." They made their way to the "TV Room", Kate making a comment like the size of it being comparable to her entire apartment. "This is why I wanted to get a place out of the city. For space like this."
Kate eyed the old fashioned movie popcorn machine in the corner of the room. "You're just a kid trapped in a man's body aren't you?"
"Guilty as charged." He turned on the large TV. "So, what do we feel like watching? Action? Comedy? Murder Mystery?" Kate tensed up when he said murder mystery and she hoped that Castle wouldn't notice. He did. "Hmm, I'm feeling comedy how about you?"
Kate visibly relaxed, "a comedy sounds great Castle."
"Oh and Beckett?" She looked over at him curiously. Was he going to ask her why she was so freaked out at the mention of murder? "I like the outfit you bought today." He said, turned on the movie and grabbing her a bowl of popcorn.
"Thanks Castle."
END CHAPTER
A/N: I really didn't think I would be back with this story but I've been re-watching Castle and just got inspired again to continue this story. Hopefully I can keep it up and write through my summer break. We will see. Reviews are love!