That week passed by without consequence. Work was boring, my trips to the gym was boring, even the coffee shop was boring, as I saw no one I knew.
It was weird how even a few months of change could make a week of "normal" routine seem so bland. I didn't hear from Spencer all week, so, of course, our last conversation was on the forefront of my mind.
I pondered it nearly all week. On one hand, it really wasn't in best interest to be dating, Spencer or someone else. That broke routine, allowed for more mistakes, and mistakes could lead to disastrous consequences. But it would be nice to do something different, something that lead to connection.
God, I missed that. I missed being with friends, being with family, the feelings happiness and sadness and love in equal measurements within my life. Losing that all at once was the worst thing to happen to me.
Friday night meant I was able to think about it in the comfort of my living room with reruns of trashy TV and eating takeout Chinese food. I was in the middle of an episode of Law and Order: SVU when my phone rang.
My mouth full of lo mein, I quickly paused the TV and grabbed my phone, answering without checking the caller ID.
"Hello?" I asked, swallowing my food as I balanced the phone, my takeout container, and my chopsticks in my hands.
"Sarah?" came the voice on the other end of the line. My eyes widened as I realized who it was.
"Oh, Spencer, hi," I said, setting down my food. "How are you?"
"I'm well, thanks. And yourself?"
"Yeah, I'm great…Is there a reason you're calling me …" I said, checking the clock in my kitchen, "at 9:30 at night?"
"We just got back from a case and we hadn't talked all week," he said.
"Where were you this time?"
"Oregon… there were some ritualistic murders," he began, before I interrupted.
"You can spare me the bloody details?" I said, taking another bite of my food.
"Of course," he said, letting out a soft chuckle.
"So, is there a reason you called, or did you just miss me?" I joked.
"I was wondering if you remembered our last conversation."
"Um, yeah, I-I do," I said, worried about where this conversation was going.
"Well, I was wondering if you had any plans for tomorrow night?"
I felt myself fall back into the couch. I felt my heart beat faster in my chest and my hands began to get clammy.
"No, I don't," I said, praying that being obtuse would give me a few more seconds to think.
"Well, I was hoping… I mean, I was wondering," Spencer asked.
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering if you would have any interest in getting dinner together?"
"Oh," I said. "In what capacity?"
"What do you mean?"
Great.
I wasn't the only one being obtuse.
"What I mean," I said, putting my foot down, "is, Spencer Reid, are you asking me out?"
"I was trying," he said, letting out a laugh. "How am I doing?"
"Pretty good," I said, pausing before letting out a breath. "But I got to be honest…"
"About?"
"Spencer, I'm just…not sure I'm in a position to date right now," I said, trying to figure out a way to phrase my next sentiment.
"You aren't dating someone now, are you?" he asked, but I could hear the joking manner in his voice.
"No, no… nothing like that," I said. "I just… I haven't done the whole dating thing in years and I barely know you…"
"Isn't that the point of a date? To get to know someone?"
"I suppose…"
"I haven't exactly done the dating thing much before, either," he said.
"Really? Girls don't fall for the cute, tall nerdy guy as much as I would've guessed," I mused.
"You think I'm cute?"
"Ugh, don't be getting a big head on me now, Spencer," I warned, but I felt the smile grow on my face.
"I won't," he said.
Neither of us spoke for a minute. I was deep in thought. Maybe Caroline was right. Maybe I should live a little and take a chance on life. After all, this was the thing she always advised me to do to 'spice up' my 'dull life.'
"You know what," I said, channeling my inner spontaneity. "Let's try it."
"Really? Just like that? Cause I had a whole thing prepared," he said.
"You really want to do the whole spiel?" I joked.
"I imagine you'll hear it someday."
"I better."
"So, what do you have planned?"
"Can I surprise you?"
"Mmm, you're going to have to give me a little more than that. A time? How should I dress?"
"Does 7:30 work for you?"
"Yeah."
"I'll pick you up."
"And how should I dress?"
"Surprise me," he said, and I could nearly hear the smirk on his face.
"Yeah, no… On a scale of 'going to the gym' to 'Met Gala,' how nice should I look?"
"That's a large scale."
"Well, you aren't giving me much to work with."
"Maybe a nice dinner casual?"
"I can work with that."
"Good."
"Good."
"See you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow," I said, hanging up the phone. I sunk into my couch, deciding to finish up my food as I sent Caroline a text.
I have a date? Any pointers?
I quickly cleaned up and got ready to sleep. Before I went to bed, I checked my phone and saw a text from Caroline.
Proud of you bitch! Meet for coffee at Backroads 10AM and we can talk!
I smiled before confirming. I went to sleep, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel butterflies in my stomach that I suspected were due to that of a tall, cute doctor.