Chapter 6: Green-Eyed Monster
"Reid, if your goal was to get under Morgan's skin, you achieved it." Prentiss smiled at him as she backed her car out of the parking spot.
"Oh I'm pretty sure I had some help in that- from more than one person." She didn't bother to lie. He was a genius and a profiler; to do so was pointless. She shrugged her shoulders and gave him an impish grin.
"Emily," Reid paused, "two things. First I wanted to apologize for biting your head off the other day. I overreacted."
"Reid, it's okay. That was like two weeks ago. Besides, I know you were just protecting Morgan." Reid nodded in agreement.
"The other thing, is, well, JJ told me what you said about me and Morgan, about us being attracted to each other, and um, I was just wondering if that was what you really, um, thought?"
"Reid, I wouldn't say something like that if I didn't mean it. And to be clear, I think that the feelings are mutual. Morgan's are just kind of buried in the back of his closet." Reid smiled ruefully.
"Well, I suppose that particular scenario is possible."
"It is. So tonight, I made the unilateral decision to pretend to give Morgan some competition because it's not wrong to remind him that you're a catch." Reid blushed at the compliment. "We're here," Emily said as she parked in the lot aside the bar. "Let's go make Morgan jealous." She pulled his arm around her shoulders and they walked into the bar.
It was relatively early, so the team was able to procure a corner booth large enough to seat them all. A waitress came and took their drink order. "C'mon Reid, I wanna play some pool." As they walked towards the pool tables, Reid leaned down to whisper in Emily's ear.
"Emily, you know I win every time. Why are we playing?" She smiled that impish grin again.
"Reid, I know you kick my ass every time, but I'm hoping that while you're bending over the table to do so, other people will be checking out yours." Reid blushed. "Oh Reid, you're too much. Why don't you break?" He felt self-conscious at first, but then decided to just enjoy conspiring with his co-workers.
"Damn JJ, where did baby genius get that outfit? Especially those jeans! Every time he bends over that table I just want to go over," Garcia restrained herself slightly due to the presence of Hotch and Rossi, "and squeeze those cheeks!"
"Excuse me." Morgan abruptly left the group and headed for the bar. He wasn't altogether certain why, but he felt like he needed a couple of shots.