After getting Penelope's blessing I was even more excited about my date with Spencer, knowing that it wouldn't be ruining my chances of fixing our friendship or get in the way of her work family dynamic. However, I was a bit more apprehensive too. She'd really stressed how unconfident and inexperienced he was with women and even though he seemed nothing more than a bit nervous the other night, I was concerned I was in for an awkward evening.
I did want someone different from my previous kind of man though so it was a risk I was willing to take.
Spencer had suggested that I pick the place so I chose a cute, quiet little bar called Left Door. It was a lovely place, but the only other time I'd had the chance of going had been ruined by my date getting absolutely hammered and knocking over a table. I figured Spencer was unlikely to act that way so I thought it would be nice to experience it a second time with someone who would appreciate it's quaint atmosphere as well.
I got there a few minutes early to get us a table and found myself staring at the door as I waited for Spencer to show up. I was surprised by how eager I was to see him again. I'd never felt this way about a first date, usually I had low expectations and was rather blasé about the whole thing. But even though I didn't want to get ahead of myself, I had a good feeling about Spencer.
When he walked through the door, his nerves were written all over his face. He had obviously just come from work, wearing an outfit that made him look like a professor and carrying a bulging bag probably stuffed with case files. I waved, catching his attention as a smile slid on to his face and he came over.
"Hi," He greeted me as he pulled out his chair. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," I grinned. "You look very handsome yourself."
Spencer's cheeks tinged pink at my words, making me grin even wider. He was too cute.
"So," He cleared his throat. "This is a nice place."
"It is!" I agreed. "It's really cute and they do great cocktails."
"Have you ordered?" He asked, picking up a menu from the table as I shook my head. "Any recommendations?"
"I haven't been here in years," I told him, not wanting to explain how my last time here ended. "I think they've changed the whole menu since then. But I had a quick glance and the
'son of a bee-sting' one sounded nice, it has gin and sparkling wine in it."
"It does," Spencer nodded. "I think I'll get the Sláinte Mule."
I raised my eyebrow at his quick decision.
"You read that whole menu that quickly?"
"I can read 20,000 words a minute," He confessed, looking a tad sheepish despite my obvious state of awe. "The average person can only read 200-300."
Before I could comment, the waitress came over and took our orders, but as soon as she was gone I turned my attention back to Spencer.
"That's insane!" I said, referring to the talent he revealed moments before. "It must really help with your job especially since some things must be super time sensitive."
"It does have it's benefits," He admitted as a silence fell between us.
I wasn't used to being on dates with people who weren't great at small talk, but I was determined.
"So how long have you worked for the BUA?"
My question drew a chuckle from Spencer and the sound made little butterflies appear in my stomach.
"It's the BAU," He corrected. "Behavioural analysis unit. And I've been there for almost three years now."
"That's really cool, you must be really passionate about it," I assumed. "Doesn't it get really exhausting though? Emotionally, I mean. Seeing, like, the worst of humanity all the time?"
"It's tough," He nodded. "But it helps that we have such a good team. We're always there for each other when someone has a bad day. We also try to think of the positive side instead of the negative. Instead of focusing on how twisted the unsubs are, we focus on the people we save and the good that we're doing."
"What's an unsub?"
"Sorry," Spencer frowned. "It's the unidentified subject, the suspect. Sometimes I forget not everyone knows the FBI language."
"It's fine," I assured him with a smile before thanking the waitress who had placed our drinks in front of us. We quickly cheers'd before taking a sip. "It smart that you guys focus more on the good that you're doing though. I'm sure you've saved hundreds of people over the years."
"Absolutely," He agreed. "What about you? Do you have a job?"
I giggled at his bluntness about a topic that some people would maybe be more polite about asking about.
"Not yet," I confessed. "I do have a trial class at a yoga studio near my apartment tomorrow though."
"So that's what you'll be doing? Teaching yoga?"
"I hope so!" I smiled. "It's the only thing I'm qualified for and I really love doing it. Hopefully I can find a studio in the city that will have me."
"I'm sure they'll be fighting each other to hire you," Spencer assured me. "I don't know much about yoga, but training in France sounds pretty prestigious."
I was touched that he'd remembered me mentioning that I'd studied yoga while I was in Europe, most men I'd dated could hardly remember my name.
"I think my training was fairly standard," I admitted. "But I am hoping most places will see my European training as an asset. If not, maybe I'll see if the FBI will hire me. I think it sounds like you could all use some zen and meditation."
"No offense, but I don't think any of us have the patience for that," Spencer informed me with a smile. "Plus Morgan's too proud of his muscles to do any exercise that doesn't involve lifting weights that probably weigh more than me."
I laughed and shook my head.
"No one ever believes in the power of yoga until they try it!" I insisted. "I was sceptical too, but it changed my life once I started it."
"Changed your life how?" He asked, his disbelief written on his face. "Isn't it just a different way to exercise?"
"It can be," I nodded. "For people who just want a gentle way to build some strength, it can be just an exercise, but it can also be a lifestyle and a mindset. If you just hit the poses and go through the motions, it's just exercise, but if you use your time on the mat to explore the movement and yourself, it can help you work through a lot of issues."
I hoped my explanation had made sense, but I could see he still looked unconvinced so I continued.
"For me the biggest thing was how much it helped me cut down on my drinking. It's harder than you may think to hold downward dog for more than a few seconds if you're so hungover your brain feels like it's about to explode. I got to the point where I found myself wanting to be fresh for a morning yoga class more than I wanted to be out until two AM doing tequila shots."
"Were you an alcoholic?"
Spencer eyed my drink nervously as he asked the question. He was probably wondering if I would be the one knocking over tables at the end of the evening, but I shook my head finding his bluntness endearing once again.
"I don't think so," I assured him. "If I'm being honest, I was probably close to it, but I never found it to be a compulsion. It wasn't that I had to do it, I just wanted to."
"How did you end up that way? Garcia likes a good time, but as far as I know she wasn't a wild child when she was younger so if she was your best friend how did you end up on such different paths?"
"We made different friends," I explained, feeling like our conversation was starting to seem more like an interrogation. "Penny bonded with the computer nerds and I bonded with the cheerleaders and football team. We always stayed close, but the other people in my life weren't always the most responsible. I ended up in a bad situation in my junior year and I coped by giving in to their bad influence and self medicating and then as I got older I just didn't have anything better to do with my time, I guess."
"Well I'm glad you found a reason to get away from it all," Spencer smiled. "And I'm glad you came back to patch things up with Garcia."
"Me too," I said, returning his smile before changing the subject to focus on him for a while. "So Dr. Spencer Reid, what does a man with what? Five degrees? Like to do in his spare time?"
Our date was going incredibly well. It was hands down the best first date I'd ever been on. We were halfway through our second drinks and it felt so easy and natural. There was the occasional awkward silence and Spencer wouldn't always know what to say, but his sweetness and genuine interest in my life made up for it. And considering how Garcia had stressed his lack of confidence with women, he was doing just fine with me. Which was why I was surprised when he broke one of silences with a bold question.
"Why did you choose me?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, frowning at his unsure tone.
"Why did you choose me to talk to? To kiss?" He repeated. "I'm not charming, I'm socially awkward and horrible at flirting and I would assume you could find someone much more on your level physically."
My heart panged at his words and his obvious insecurity.
"And I'm sure you could have found someone much more on your level mentally," I pointed out. "I chose you because you're different. You're smart, kind, interesting and very handsome. It's been nice going on a date with someone who seems present and engaged and isn't just hoping I'll suck him off in the bathroom."
Spencer blushed up to the tips of his ears at my comment, just as I expected he would.
"I-I-I s-suppose that makes sense," He stuttered out, very flustered all of a sudden earning a giggle from me.
"Why did you accept my invitation?" I asked, flipping the question on him.
"I think you're really pretty," Spencer answered honestly. "Not many women pay any attention to me, especially not in a romantic way so when someone as beautiful as you was willing to give me a shot, I wasn't going to pass up the chance."
I chose to ignore the fact that he'd basically just told me I was his only option and focus more on the fact he'd just called me pretty and beautiful and pressed him even more.
"Well are you glad you took the chance?"
"Absolutely," He nodded frantically. "You're so much more than I expected. You're fun, you make me laugh and you're smarter than you give yourself credit for. I've had a lovely time this evening and I'm hoping you'd like to go out again sometime."
"I would love to!" I smiled as I finished the last of my drink. "I should probably be heading out now though. I have my yoga trial in the morning and I want to be rested and ready for it."
"I should probably head out too," Spencer nodded. "Have to be at the office bright and early as usual. How are you getting home?"
"I was going to walk," I said with a shrug. "Should only take me about twenty minutes or so, not much point in taking the subway."
"I'll walk with you," Spencer informed me, finishing the last of his drink. "Just let me settle the bill first."
"Spencer, no!" I protested with a smile, touched that he would even offer. "You don't need to walk me home or pay for the drinks. In fact, I believe I'm supposed to pay to make up for the taxi fare."
"Don't worry about it," He insisted. "I've seen enough horrible things to know better than to let you walk home alone at night and a gentleman always pays for the first date."
I sighed, shaking my head with a smile. I could sense this was one argument I was going to win.
"As long as you let me pay on the second date!"
"We'll see," Spencer smirked before scurrying over to the bar to settle our tab, leaving me at our table watching the adorable new geek in my life with a wonderful feeling in my chest.
