She ran her fingers through his now-long, wavy hair. She remembered when it was shorter, but still long enough to tuck behind his ears. Now he looked slightly older, more mature, like a free soul. He would fit into L.A. perfectly.
He let her caress his cheek. He had missed her. When they had met, things just felt too rushed. He didn't have enough time to really get to know her. He had always meant to call her, but after Tobias Hankel kidnapped him, he hadn't really been thinking straight. He was better now, but it wasn't until he found out that JJ was pregnant that he realized he could make it work with Lila.
He told the team he was going to Las Vegas to visit his mother. He hoped Rossi and Morgan wouldn't check up on him like the last time he lied about that.
"Lila, I—"
"I missed you, too," she whispered into his ear.
"And I'm sorry for not—"
"Calling me back?" She laughed. "It's okay. I understand. What's important is that you're here now."
"Lila, please. I need to tell you something."
He looked serious. She noticed that he didn't have the childish glimmer in his eyes anymore. She hadn't seen him in almost 3 years. But she missed that glimmer.
"Lila, I… I… sorry. I…"
"Spencer, what's wrong?"
She looked at him lovingly. He knew he could tell her about the drugs. She'd understand. But it wasn't like he was trying to make an excuse for himself. He just wanted her to know.
"Lila, two years ago, while I was working a case, I was kidnapped by a man suffering from multiple personality disorder. His brain split into himself, his father, and Raphael, the angel." Lila was beginning to look worried. He took a deep breath. "His father held me captive, Raphael almost killed me, and Tobias kept me drugged. He eventually saved me, and I got out of there fine, but…" he trailed off.
Lila clasped his hand in hers. She lay her other hand on his shoulder.
"But I struggled with the drugs. I had a serious Dilaudid addiction for months. I got help, and now I'm clean, but the drug controlled me for so long. It changed me. I'm so different now. I'm not as trusting. I'm not as open. And I'm worried that you won't like me anymore." Those last few sentences came out all in one breath. He glanced at her pure blue eyes, then looked down. He wasn't one for pouring out feelings. But Lila made him feel different. Lila made him fall for her.
Lila softly touched his cheek and lifted his face to meet hers. "Spencer, you didn't have to worry about telling me. I'm glad you were able to get that off your chest. But Spencer, you're clean now. That's all in the past."
"I know, but—"
"And I'm here for you now. Nothing's going to change that."
"But you live—"
"3000 miles away?" She smiled. Now I have something to tell you. I filmed a pilot for a show, and it got picked up. We're set to film in New York, which isn't 3000 miles away from D.C.—"
"228 miles," he muttered.
"What?"
"228 miles. That's how far away New York City is from Washington, D.C."
She rolled her eyes at him, and giggled. "Oh, Spencer. But that means that on weekends, I could take the train into D.C. to see you."
"Lila, I don't want to be a burden. That's a lot of traveling—"
"I know. But it'll be worth it. Don't you want to see me more often?"
Now it was Spencer's turn to roll his eyes. Lila had this annoying way of asking questions and making him feel guilty about his answers even before he said them. "Of course I do. But—"
"No. No more buts. End of story. I'll come to D.C. for the weekends. And we can go on dates. And be a real couple."
Reid opened his mouth to say something, but didn't know what he wanted to say. He wasn't used to a girl taking control like that. He wasn't used to girls, either.
"You don't have to say anything, Spencer," Lila whispered again. She pulled him in closer until their noses were touching. "Don't say anything."