Criminal Minds x Reader

A Book Choice [S.R]

You've always loved books.

The musty smell of old pages, the endless possibilities tucked within each cover, and the feeling of getting lost in a story. That's why you opened your own bookshop. It wasn't a glamorous job, but it was your passion. You spent your days surrounded by shelves of literature, organizing books and helping customers find their next favorite read.

One day, a boy caught your eye. You noticed how he would often spend hours browsing the shelves, running his fingers along the spines of the books as if they held some kind of mystical power. There was a certain charm about him, with his messy curly hair and piercing brown eyes.

On a Saturday afternoon, as you were rearranging the items on the counter, you saw him again.

He was perusing the shelves, when he came across a book that evidently caught his eye. It was an old, dusty tome with a faded cover and yellowed pages. He picked it up and flipped through the pages, completely engrossed in the words that danced before his eyes.

Just as he was about to close the book, a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was later that you realized it was yours. "That's a good choice" you said softly.

The young man looked up, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"Thank you" he replied, an awkward smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I've always had a soft spot for old books"

"Me too" you nodded in understanding, your gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary. "I'm Y/N, by the way" you said with a bold strength you didn't know you had.

"Spencer," he replied, his eyes drifting away from yours for a moment, "Nice to meet you, Y/N"

And so began a kind of daily encounter, with furtive glances pulled at each other, not too appropriate for a purely professional relationship, and stolen smiles.

Then it became a now-and-then small talk about books, mostly classics, and a hand accidentally grazed when you gave him the bag of one of his purchased back.

It was about six months later, as the sun began to set and the bookshop grew quiet, that you both realized that you didn't want the conversation to end.

"Would you like to grab a cup of coffee sometime?" Spencer suddenly blurted out, and you swear you could see his heart pounding in his chest.

Your eyes lit up with excitement. "I would love to" you replied, a smile spreading across your face.

You couldn't believe that the boy you had been stealing glances at for so long was now the one who made your heart happy.

And it all started in your little bookshop.