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I ran out of class, I couldn't wait to see Ale-…for coffee. I saw a flash of red in a sea of college students who inhabit this space at noon.
"Hey." I greeted her, out of breath.
"Hi, were you running?" She asked with a smile.
"Exercise."
"Sure." She said sarcastically.
We walked down the block in a comfortable silence. I held the door open for her and guided her to a booth, asking her what she wanted. She offered to pay but, I politely declined and got the drinks.
"Thanks. I thought I was the one thanking you."
"Just being here is enough." I blurted out, the words slipping out without thinking.
She looked down and blushed. Maybe, I got away with it.
"So…political science. You want to be a Senator like your Dad."
"It's what he is training me for."
"You don't like it?" She said taking a sip of her tea.
"I mean I can get used to it. It's not a big deal. I should be thankful that my dad cares that much to push me to get a very prestigious degree from Columbia. But, the thing is…it's not my choice. He's always made my decisions and that's fine. Hell, he makes good ones if he's a Senator. I'm sorry. I'm talking about myself."
"I asked you. What would you want to be?"
"I don't know. I guess I just want it to be my decision. Does that make sense or my crazy?"
"I understand perfectly. Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"
"I don't exactly have that open father-son relationship. Well…enough about me. I thought you had work today?"
"I called in and told them I had a test."
"Them? Where do your work?"
"I am an assistant to Dr. Parish, she is a medical examiner at the 12th precinct. My dad is a consultant with his fiancee, Detective Beckett."
I choked on my coffee.
"You ok?"
"Yea. Detective Beckett? That's your step-mother to be?"
"Yea. Why?"
"She saved my dad's life. Car bomb. Pretty awesome."
"I didn't know that. You'll have to meet them next time."
"Next time?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yea. I enjoyed myself hence the 'next time'."
"You enjoyed yourself?"
She laughed,"Yes, are you that surprised?"
"Uh…I…"
"You are. How are you studying to be a politician, almost president or captain all of the academic teams or clubs, and yet your so shy around me?"
"You make me nervous. You're different than everyone else. My brain just stops."
"I do have that effect on people."
"Well…I need to get going. I have political theory in an hour and I have dinner with my family tonight. We should do this again like you said."
"Yea. We should."
"Well…Ms. Castle, it was a pleasure." I said standing, holding my hand out to help her out of the booth.
She took it and stood, leaning over and kissing me lightly on the cheek. My heart stopped. I wanted the moment to last forever when in reality it lasted a second.
"Have a good rest of the night." She said turning and walking away from me.
A good night in the Bracken household was impossible.