slow
adjective
gradual but achieving the required result eventually.
They sat on opposite ends of the back seat for the ride home, the driver clarifying the return to the previous pick up location as he eyed Max.
"Yeah, same as before," Spencer says, when he notices the driver's smirk, he clarifies by saying "we're neighbors."
He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, and looks out of his window.
Max stifles a laugh and notices the driver look almost disappointed as he nods his head and pulls out to the road.
Soon after, Spencer loosens his tie and rolls his neck slightly, before catching Max watching him.
Thanks to the scotch, he's able to hold eye contact with her longer than usual.
"Not so nervous now," she thinks.
It's she who looks away first, but slowly, with a smile as she feigns great interest in the street lights they pass from her own window, but she feels his eyes stay on her.
They sit in silence for some time until Max finally turns to him and asks, "Y-your mom? You mentioned before that her health wasn't great, and then that she couldn't be there tonight, is she doing ok?"
He looks away from her, finally, after a beat, and says, "She is up and down. I got her into a long term facility recently, and it's been a really good fit."
"I'm sure she would have loved to have been there tonight," Max says.
Spencer runs a hand through his hair, before saying, "definitely, it's just not good for her to get out really in crowded places like that."
He looks back at Max and says "she has memory problems and a history of schizophrenia."
"Wow" is all Max can say at first, then adds, "When did it develop?"
"It's been an issue pretty much my whole life." He looks down again, this time at his hands, flexing them absently.
"That's horrible... she trails off, then states, "It makes sense why you feel so close to your team. Having mentally ill family members can be really isolating..." she whispers the last part, "I imagine they have been around long enough to be a good support system for you."
He answers with a nod and an appreciative smile.
The car slows and positions itself in front of their building.
Spencer hands the driver some cash for a tip and the two make their way out of the car, and up the familiar steps to their hall.
After walking up the steps, Max notices a silly smile playing at her lips.
When they get to her door, Spencer notices it too, and tilts his head in question.
Max laughs and answers, "I'm still feeling that champagne a little."
"Yeah," Spencer says thickly, indicating a similar feeling.
He's taken a few steps towards his own door, but not enough to make Max feel as if he's done talking for the night.
"I've got to say though, that was some of the best food I've had in a while," says Max.
"Eh, not going to lie, I'm still thinking about the ramen from that day at the park," Spencer responds, he slips one hand in his pocket, and absentmindedly pulls at this bottom lip with the other hand, before sliding it into his other pocket.
Max smiles slightly and takes a step towards him. "I also forgot to mention the suit."
She brushes imaginary lent off the chest of his coat, and he watches her hand as she does it.
His eyes follow her fingers as they leave him to tuck hair behind her ear.
She trails her fingers to the ends of her hair, twirling it in her fingers slightly.
From her fingers, his eyes move to her colar bone and follow the black strap of her dress down until he sees green.
He then slowly lifts his eyes back to hers.
She sees this, and lets out of shaky breath.
"All black was definitely the move," She says after a beat, "You look perfect."
"You look perfect," she says, with a shaky breath.
His eyes narrow slightly, flickering with question, but he doesn't say anything.
The corners of his mouth turn up as he nods his head slowly, and shifts his weight on his feet.
She then sees his eyes dart to her lips before resting on her eyes again.
Max felt like she was pulling against a magnet as she looked at him, unsure when either of them had blinked last, or how much time has passed as they stand there, looking at each other.
She suddenly realizes he was making good at his promise not to kiss her again, throwing the proverbial "ball" in her court.
Everything after this moment seemed to happen in slow motion, Max partly feeling as if something deep inside took over her body and tongue...
"It seems to me..." she pauses, "that you... maybe want to come in?" She asks, nodding towards her door.
His face shifts with a feigned look of seriousness as he takes a step towards her, not answering her question but instead saying slowly, "what do you want?"
She looks him over, tasting the words as they roll from her mouth, "You tell me, Doctor Reid. I hear you're good at reading people."
His smile grew and he shook his head this time, just as slow and deliberately as before.
She notes now at some point she has all but pressed herself against her door.
He rolls his bottom lip slightly between his teeth, before putting a hand on her door frame, leaning over her.
His face was close enough now that she could smell the scotch again on his breath, the spirits allowing him to be so calm, and slow.
He breaks eye contact finally, as if remembering himself, and looks down to the floor with a laugh.
"I'm trying to get better about that. Not make so many assumptions. Be more normal."
He looks back up at her, "so I might need you to spell it out for me," He finishes.
"Normal." She simply says, nodding her head a few times before moving in to him and closing the already paper thin space between them.
After all, normal is all she has ever wanted.
She swears she hears a metallic click in her head as they let magnets do what they are meant to do.
He'd been waiting for that.
His hands fly into her hair, kissing her back.
Max breaks away to take his hand in one of hers, and swiftly unlocks her door with the other.
When she pulls him in, he has just enough time to close the door behind him with a smooth kick.
So much for slow.
✈️
"Is it cool that I said all that?
Is it too soon to do this yet?
'Cause I know that it's delicate" -T. Swift
Don't forget to comment so I know what parts y'all are liking!
