2

She heard the crash bar on the heavy metal door and a cell phone chime at the same time, almost immediately followed by Esposito's voice, "Hell yeah." Then Ryan's phone chimed, and he said, "Sweet. Beckett, you in?" Whatever they just got texted, they thought she already knew about it. They looked at her expectantly.

"Uh, what?" She acted like she was looking up from her paperwork.

"Movie night at Castle's." They all knew that meant giant screen projector, theater quality surround sound, seemingly endless snacks, and open bar.

"Um. No, girls' night out. Sorry." She was extremely aware that her phone hadn't chimed with an invitation. Must be a guys' night. He wouldn't exclude her for any other reason, would he?

The boys' phones chimed again, one right after the other. Esposito looked at Beckett oddly. "Not with our girls. He says they're invited, too. Besides, Lanie and I were already planning on doing something tonight. …So… who's the girls' night with?"

Crap. She glanced at her phone to make sure it was on. "Madison." Hopefully her face didn't show that she was scrambling for a name.

The boys cut their eyes at each other, questioning Beckett's answer, but said nothing. They went to their desk and grabbed some files. Once Beckett looked like she was concentrating on her work, Ryan whispered, "Dude, did Castle not invite her?"

"I don't know, bro. Doesn't look like it." They both shook their heads at how dumb their friends could be.

xox

Castle tried to time it just right. As he climbed into a taxi, he saw Ryan and Esposito walking into the precinct. He counted out how long it took to get to the elevator, then how long the ride up would be. But what if they took the stairs? He waited a little more to make sure they were in the bullpen. He texted their invitations.

Maybe this is a bad idea. He hoped it didn't backfire. Because the pros and cons list idea worked so brilliantly, he thought sarcastically. He figured they'd had time to ask Beckett and she'd have an excuse. Lanie would be the most likely excuse. Another text, "The girls are welcome!"

And now I wait. He opened up to her and wrote how he felt. She knew there would be a group party at his place tonight. The ball was in her court. How would she play this?

He had to plan possible scenarios.

Scenario 1) She loved his list. The plan was brilliant, and it worked. She's confused about why she didn't get invited and calls or texts him in a few minutes happily saying she wants to come, too.

Solution 1) Laugh and say, "Of course!" Kiss her senseless when she arrives, no matter who is watching.

Eh, not likely.

Scenario 2) She loved his list. But it confused her because she didn't think his feelings were that strong. She thinks he's waiting on her to move next, so she calls or texts in a few minutes to ask if she can come, too.

Solution 2) Sweetly say, "Of course I want you to. I wasn't really sure if you'd want to, so I didn't want to put you in an awkward spot by asking if you didn't want to come. I hoped you would ask."

Needs work, but more probable than number one.

Scenario 3) Whether she loved it or hated it, she's P.O'd that she wasn't invited, calls the first available girlfriend, goes out to a bar, and picks up a gorgeous guy. With her record he's an astronaut who is working on a cure for cancer in his spare time.

Solution 3) I'm screwed.

Somehow, just as likely as number two.

There's gotta be a number four somewhere in my mind.

Maybe I should just invite her.

xox

She can't concentrate on her work. It's been twenty minutes, she's only filled out half of one form, and her phone still hasn't chimed. Ryan and Esposito keep sneaking curious looks and she's getting ticked about it.

She lets out an exasperated huff and picks up her phone.

I should just call him. Ask if he's got plans tonight. No, he knows the boys would have already told me. I could ask if it's a boys only night, maybe he'll invite me. Maybe he's just messing with my head. This is another thing that should be on HIS list. Couldn't he just call if he wanted me? Does that mean he really doesn't want me there? Is he mad about how I ended his pro/con list challenge? Should I really just call Madi?

She bit her lip and debated who to call. No, text. That would be simpler.

Her thumbs flew over the keypad. "Hey. Got plans tonight?" She hesitated, then pressed send.

xox

The longer he waited, the more nervous he got.

This is really dumb. Just call her, you idiot. After that list, there's nothing to lose.

But he knew there was. By not knowing how she was reacting to his list of why they shouldn't be together, he could still hope. Hope that she loved it, and was trying to wrap her head around it. Or she didn't believe it, but wanted to. That she felt the same way about him.

But once they talked about it, she could tell him he was wrong. It wasn't mutual. He'd written a beautiful fantasy in his head, but that's all it was. Fantasy.

Who was he kidding? They never talk about anything like this. They'd have movie night with or without her, and she'd act like she'd never even seen his list. They'd work another case tomorrow, and it would be the same as yesterday.

xox

She got a text back from Madi a minute later, "Hot date. You?"

Crap. I need more friends. Might as well answer. "Nothing. Movie night at Castle's. Wasn't invited. Trying to find an excuse why I'm not going."

Her phone rang. As soon as she answered, Madi's voice shot through the speaker, "What is that supposed to mean, Becks?"

"Hang on." Beckett went into the ladies room and checked under the stall doors for feet. Sure she was alone, she told Madi about the challenge, how she ended it, and how he left his list on her desk. "Madi, his list was really good."

Her friend was confused. "You claim you don't want to date Rick. You threw away the list of why you should date. He wrote a great list of why you should not. Then he didn't ask you out. I don't see where your problem is."

Kate sighed. She was glad they had reconnected, because she really needed to figure this out fast. "Except he took my list out of the trash. And it was full of things about him. Really good things. Things I really love about him. And his list, well, let me read it to you."

She pulled it out of her pocket and read: " 'Cons. She's a control freak. I'd annoy her too much. I'd spoil her rotten. She doesn't like me to pay for things. I'd move too fast, wanting forever. She'd be scared by that. She could crush me completely. She'd never risk her heart like this. Knowing what she's really like, outside of my fantasies, would be too distracting. I'd never get any work done. I'd make her lose control in every way I could think of. She's not ready for that. And she'd never get any work done, either. Our fights could be ugly. I don't deserve her. She's too extraordinary to settle for me. If it ended, I'd never find anyone else who makes me feel like she does. I'd probably give up trying.' Then under the list, there was a post-it that said, 'But it would be worth it.'"

"OH MY GOSH, BECKS! HE'S TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH YOU! Why are you not on top of him right now? Or under him? And what about the movie night you're not going to?"

Kate had to laugh at that. This is why they shouldn't date. They never made any sense.