[Castle] Ch: 72 [Official Date with Lanie] (Patreon)

[Later That Week]

Lanie had been the one to choose the aquarium.

Travis had expected a restaurant, maybe drinks somewhere quiet, or even one of the jazz clubs she used to drag him into whenever neither of them wanted to go home after a long shift. Instead, she'd looked him straight in the eye and announced that their first official date was going to involve sharks, jellyfish, and absolutely no dead bodies.

Travis hadn't argued.

By late afternoon, they were walking slowly through one of the darker aquarium exhibits while blue light moved across the walls around them. A massive tank stretched from floor to ceiling beside the walkway, filled with schools of silver fish moving together through the water.

Lanie stood close to the glass with her hands inside the pockets of her coat. “Okay, this was definitely the right choice.”

Travis stopped beside her and watched a stingray glide overhead. “You sound surprised by your own planning.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t complained about all the children running around.”

“I’ve survived Castle for a year and a half. My tolerance for loud distractions is extremely developed.”

Lanie laughed and bumped her shoulder against his. “You really missed having someone around to insult, didn’t you?”

“Yep. Kate’s gotten too good at fighting back.”

They moved toward the next exhibit, where several jellyfish drifted through glowing water beneath soft purple lights. Lanie slowed immediately, watching them rise and fall with almost hypnotic movements.

Travis looked at her instead.

She looked different today than her usual self. He could tell that she was really happy... and more relaxed. She wore dark jeans, boots, and a burgundy sweater beneath her coat, while her hair fell loosely around her shoulders.

Lanie noticed him staring after several seconds. “You’re supposed to be looking at the jellyfish.”

“I can multitask.”

“You’ve been staring at me for at least thirty seconds.”

“I’ve missed the view.”

Her expression softened slightly before she looked back toward the tank. “You’re dangerously smooth when you try.”

“I’m usually smooth.”

“You once asked me if I wanted breakfast while you were butt naked.”

Travis considered that memory and nodded. “That was still romantic. And for the record, I was trying to seduce you into a naked cooking session. If not for that damn call, I'd have rocked your morning.”

Lanie shook her head while laughing.

They spent almost two hours walking through the aquarium. Lanie insisted on stopping at the shark tunnel, where several large sharks swam directly above them while children pressed against the nearby glass. Travis made the mistake of mentioning that shark attacks were statistically rare, which led to Lanie joking that his freakishly fast healing probably wouldn’t help much if a shark decided to take a chunk out of him. (No, she doesn't know about his powers. She just knows he heals faster than others.)

He told her he had absolutely no interest in testing that theory.

By the time they finally left, evening had settled over the city.

Their next stop was familiar.

The restaurant sat on a quieter street several blocks away from the busiest part of Manhattan. It was the same little Italian place they used to visit during the period when neither of them had been willing to call what they were doing a relationship.

The owner recognized them almost immediately.

Lanie noticed the knowing smile he gave Travis before leading them toward their old corner table.

“Oh, great,” she murmured while taking off her coat. “He remembers us.”

Travis pulled out her chair. “We used to come here twice a week.”

“Usually after midnight.”

“And usually starving.”

Lanie sat down and looked around the restaurant. Very little had changed. The same framed photographs covered the brick walls, the same candles rested inside red glass holders, and the familiar smell of garlic, bread, and tomato sauce filled the place.

Travis sat across from her and opened the menu, though both of them already knew what they wanted.

They ordered almost the same meals they used to share years earlier. Lanie chose chicken parmesan with roasted vegetables, while Travis ordered seafood linguine. They added garlic bread and calamari for the table, along with sparkling water.

For a while, the conversation stayed easy.

They talked about work, Castle’s latest ridiculous theories, Ryan’s attempt to fix a printer that had somehow made the machine worse, and Esposito saying he could repair anything after watching one instructional video.

Then Lanie became quieter.

She rested one hand around her glass and watched Travis across the candlelit table. “I missed this.”

Travis stopped halfway through reaching for the bread. “The restaurant?”

“You know what I mean.”

He lowered his hand.

Lanie looked toward the table for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “I missed spending time with you when there wasn’t a body between us or ten other people standing around.”

Travis leaned back slightly. “I missed it too.”

“You did?”

“Of course I did. You were one of my favorite people even when you were driving me crazy.”

Lanie smiled faintly. “I thought I’d ruined that.”

“You complicated it.”

“That sounds nicer.”

“It’s also true.”

Her fingers slowly traced the edge of her glass. “When you stopped calling, I kept telling myself it was better that way. Then every time you walked into the morgue, I wanted to ask whether you wanted dinner.”

Travis smiled. “You could’ve asked.”

“I know that now.”

He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “We’re here now.”

Lanie looked down at their hands before curling her fingers around his. “Yeah. We are.”

After dinner, neither of them was ready to end the night.

A local band was playing at a small venue nearby, so they walked there instead. The place was crowded enough to feel alive without becoming uncomfortable, with warm lights hanging above the stage and people packed around small tables near the dance floor.

Lanie ordered a cocktail.

Then she ordered another one about an hour later.

Travis stayed with soda.

She noticed during her second drink and raised an eyebrow. “You’re really staying sober?”

“I’m driving.”

“We can take a cab.”

“Nope. It's my duty as your boyfriend to make sure you reach home safe and sound.”

Lanie smiled and leaned closer. “Responsible Travis is strangely attractive.”

“Wanna see irresponsible Travis?”

“I have.”

“It's been a while...”

Lanie leaned over and kissed his neck before whispering near his ear. "How about I show you irresponsible Lanie?"

Travie touched her chin and looked into her eyes. "Don't tempt me, woman." 

Lanie licked his lips with a smirk before pulling away. 

When the band shifted into something faster, Lanie grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor before he could object.

They danced through several songs, sometimes apart and sometimes close enough that Lanie’s arms rested around his shoulders. Lanie had a couple more drinks. By the end of the final set, the alcohol had loosened her enough that she laughed more easily, though she remained steady on her feet.

Travis still watched her carefully.

When they eventually stepped outside, the colder night air made Lanie move closer against his side.

“You okay?” Travis asked while slipping an arm around her waist.

“I’m fine. Slightly buzzed and extremely happy.”

“That’s a dangerous combination.”

“Only for you.”

He looked down at her. “Should I be worried?”

Lanie smiled without answering.

Twenty minutes later, they reached her apartment building.

The elevator ride upstairs stayed surprisingly calm.

The hallway did not.

The moment they reached her apartment door, Lanie turned toward Travis, grabbed the front of his coat, and kissed him. Travis barely had time to react before she pushed closer, her arms sliding around his neck while his hands settled carefully against her waist. They kissed like there's no tomorrow.

She pushed him against the wall, pushing her tongue into his mouth. He grabbed her buttcheeks, giving them nice squeezes.

The kiss deepened for several seconds before Travis pulled back enough to look at her.

“You’re sure you’re okay?”

Lanie’s eyes stayed locked on his. “I’ve had a couple of drinks over several hours, Travis. I’m buzzed, not confused.”

He studied her expression for another moment.

Lanie caught his collar again. “And I’ve spent months wanting to do this.”

“That part I believe.”

“Good.”

She kissed him again before he could say anything else.

Travis leaned back against the wall beside her apartment door as Lanie pressed close, kissing him with months of frustration finally breaking through. She moved from his mouth to his jaw, then lightly nibbled near his neck before returning to his lips.

Travis laughed softly against the kiss. “You’ve really been holding this in.”

“You have no idea.”

“I’m starting to get one.”

Lanie opened the apartment door, and both of them walked inside. She closed the door, and both of them began to take their clothes off fast...