I think I love you

19)

I was awoken the next day by a knock on my door.

My eyes fluttered open to the noise, groaning to myself as I pulled my body out of bed and out of my bedroom.

I made my way to my front door, opening it gently.

"shit" I breathed as Spencer stood there, doughy eyes like bambi.

"sorry for waking you" he blinked a couple times.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't get to sleep until like 5 and I must've forgotten to set an alarm uh.. um come in and wait here while I get dressed" I opened the door wider. He hesitated to step through the door but as soon as he did, I sprinted back into my bedroom, mentally cursing myself for sleeping in late.

I slid on some flared trousers and slid off my oversized t-shirt, replacing it with a much smaller one that had stars on it but ultimately matched my outfit and gave it an altogether 70s vibe which I liked.

I slid a pair of tan platform boots onto my bare feet, which I knew would later be a mistake but I didn't care for that moment.

I ran my hands through my hair a couple of times before grabbing my phone and rushing back to the living room where Spencer was looking through a stack of books that day next to my TV.

"you okay there?" I chuckled lightly.

"hmm?" he turned back to me for a moment. "oh yeah, I'm just looking through your reads. I didn't realise that you write notes in every book you read"

"oh.. uh yeah, it's a habit I have since doing literature in high school and college, I just enjoy it" I shrugged, making my way towards him.

"I always remember the thoughts I have on books but I like to do that anyway" he replied making me laugh to myself. "anyway, you ready to go?"

"uhhh yeah" I nodded, grabbing my book from the table in the middle of the room.

"you look nice, by the way" Spencer mumbled before making his way out of the apartment.

"Oh uh.. thanks" I smiled gently, following behind him, locking my door behind us as we made our way through the hallways of the building.

Like a couple of days before, we tumbled into his car and made our way to his apartment.

I still need to ask why he lives so far away from the BAU but I figured that's a rather personal question and I.. don't really know him that well yet.

"I'd ask if you want a coffee but since you just woke up, I know you want a coffee" Spencer laughed lightly as we entered his apartment.

"yes god please, I would love one" I sighed heavily, closing the door behind the two of us.

"just have a seat, I'll be with you in a moment" I nodded and made my way to his couch as he disappeared into the kitchen.

His apartment looked exactly the same as a couple of days ago.

He clearly doesn't spend a lot of time here.

I placed my book on the table in front of me before whipping out my phone.

JJ: morning gorge, didn't hear from you all day yesterday. Is everything okay?

me: yeah, just spent the day to myself, reading.

JJ: Lucy said that you were with Spencer, actually she insisted that you were with Spencer.

me: well I was reading the book Spencer gave me and I'm with him right now but I spent the day with myself, like I told her I would.

JJ: are you two okay?

me: yeah, why?

JJ: she just seems really protective and jealous lately. there doesn't seem to be a lot of communication and when you're around us, you don't even act like a couple and I know you don't have to but the only time she held your hand was to pull it away from Garcia who only touched your hand for a second. and when you mentioned that she doesn't trust you and when you accused of that, she just kissed you and got you into bed like you said she does with every argument. I know this isn't my place, but I'm just worried, I care about you a lot and I don't want to see you hurt.

I didn't know what to say because I knew she was right.

me: I appreciate your concern, but you've got nothing to worry about. We're absolutely perfect.

JJ: I believe you, just know that I'm always here <3 xx

me: I know xx

JJ: how's Spence?

me: he's doing okay, I think. he seems rather chirpy today, smiling, making little jokes, he seems to be doing good. We're just gonna go over this new book and he said that he's gonna show me his piano skills, and vice verse xx

JJ: that's wonderful. I know that he loves us lot and we love him too but it's nice that he has a friend that he has stuff in common with. I hope that you're doing okay too and I hope you both have a lovely day today xx

me: thank you, JJ. I hope that you, Will and the kids do too xx

I placed my phone down on my lap as Spencer came my way, two cups of coffee in hand. He placed them gently in the table as he sat down on the couch by my side, but he was angled in a way so that he could talk to me.

"so I figure you enjoyed the book?" he wondered.

"oh I enjoyed it a lot. even more than the movie, I think" I nodded, taking a sip of my coffee, feeling almost refreshed at the sudden caffeine.

"I knew you would. a lot of people have said the same" he smiled gently.

"it's unquestionably one of the best books ever written in the thriller genre. I'd call this required reading for anyone who enjoys, or wishes to write, popular fiction. I'm incredibly hesitant to call anything contemporary a "modern day masterpiece", but there are a handful of exceptions, and this offering from Thomas Harris is undoubtedly one of them" I explained.

"exactly! Harris' writing hits you in the heart, spears you in the gut, and raises the hairs on the back of your neck all too often. The insatiable hunger of human predators goes several shades darker in this masterpiece, pushing the envelope at all four corners until they tear. There is so much to experience, digest, and unpack in this novel that it is worth reading more than once" he continued.

Wow.