Next Door Neighbor

CHAPTER 5: WE WANNA KNOW

SPENCER'S POV:

I'm trying to focus on paperwork, but I keep getting distracted by Stephanie's texts. We've been texting on and off all day. My phone buzzes as I get another text from her.

STEPHANIE: I need your height I can't reach the cookbook on the top shelf

SPENCER: I would give you some of my height but that's scientifically impossible. Unless you surgically attached my legs to yours

STEPHANIE: As awesome as that would be, I'm gonna pass :p

SPENCER: Smart choice, but if you change your mind you know where to find me

STEPHANIE: I climbed onto the counter and got the book down, I no longer need your height

SPENCER: Careful, if you fall you could get injured

STEPHANIE: Meh, I'd probably just get a bruise or a sprain

SPENCER: You could fall at the right angle to break bones and/or your neck, you could also land on your head and get a concussion or traumatic brain injury

STEPHANIE: I am now scared of heights

SPENCER: Oops

I feel someone tap me on the shoulder and I look up from my phone. Morgan is standing there with a smirk on his face. "Who ya texting, pretty boy?" I put my phone face down picking up another piece of paperwork. "No one, why?" I answer quickly. "You were smiling at your phone for a good ten minutes. And not a small smile, you had a big goofy I'm-In-Love smile." Morgan tells me. I roll my eyes. "I'm not in love with anyone, I was just texting my friend."

"You have friends? Since when?" Emily calls from across the room. "Very clever." JJ says, shooting Emily a friendly glare. "She's just my next door neighbor, okay?" I say exasperatedly. Morgan raises an eyebrow. "Is that the same neighbor who you invited for drinks tonight?" I nod my head yes. JJ and Emily perk up at this. They get up and come over to me, surrounding me on all sides to make sure I can't escape. "So, who is this 'friend' exactly?" Emily asks. "She's just a friend I met, she moved in next door a week ago and we got to know each other." I explain.

Garcia chooses this opportune moment to walk in. She sees them all huddled around me and comes over. "What's with the gathering?" she questions. Before I can speak, JJ interrupts and says "Spence has a 'friend' who he's been texting with all day." She puts extra emphasis on the word 'friend'. "Ooh, who's the lucky lady? Have you two planned a wedding date yet?" Garcia asks, smiling wide.

"Her name is Stephanie and we're just friends. Really, that's all we are." I tell them. I don't mention that I wish we were more than friends. Stephanie would never like me like that, I'm sure of it. "Sure, pretty boy, sure." Morgan says, walking back to his desk. "I need a last name. I have to make sure she's good enough for our Spencer." Garcia explains. "Nope. I purposely avoided giving you a last name. You are not internet stalking Stephanie." Garcia frowns at this. "It's not internet stalking, it's more like... internet researching with a few illegal hacks."

"I'm still not giving you her last name."