lat·er
adverb
at a time in the near future; soon or afterward.


Late, the next night

*Max sends Spencer a selfie. She is dressed for the day, and made sure to stand by her windows to get good lighting. Her eyes shine. She wears a black and white striped tee, and her hair is half way up, and curled. *

Max: sign of life

Spencer doesn't respond until the next morning.

Spencer: hey, I was working on stuff when you texted. I got a few minutes of sleep on the station couch 😜

*Spencer sends a picture of himself on a couch, dark circles ring around his eyes, but he attempts an silly smile with his face smashed into a decorative pillow. *

Max: ️

Max: not about the picture. About the on the job sleeping arrangement.

Spencer: I don't have you, so it wouldn't matter if they put me in a Raddison.

Max: do you think you can call me ?

Spencer: I don't know. Luke is dragging me up now to go pick up breakfast for everyone with him. This case is a doozy.

Max: ok, well I miss you.

Spencer: I know. I'll talk to you soon.


"So bro, how's Max?" Luke says as he straps himself into the SUV and shifts it into drive, he notices Spencer finishing up a text message before looking at him, "we need to get together one night... I gotta meet this girl."

Spencer slides his phone in his pocket and sighs, "I'd love that," he says, shaking his head slightly and throwing it back into his seat.

"You good?" Luke asks giving him a quick look.

"I-it just wasn't a good time to get called out," Spencer says.

Luke let's out an exhale, "yeah this job definitely has its pros and cons to the love life... some girls find it exciting at first, but I have a feeling—-from the bits you have shared about her—- that a girl like Max might not be too crazy about the added... stress."

Spencer rolls his head to look at Luke, his lips are pursed, and the dark circles under his eyes make him look almost haunted.

"Yeah, you could say that," Spencer says, then slowly looks back to the road ahead, gradually sinking into his seat.

"Well whatever it is, I hope you two work through it. You've been different the past few months, I can tell she makes you happy," Luke says.


Max didn't hear from Spencer again until two full days later, but that wasn't uncommon when he was deep in a case.

However, the silence was starting to make her feel insecure.

He texted her at noon time, letting her know he was getting on the jet, and would be coming straight home by 3.

At 2:45 she starts watching the hallway.

She leaves her door open so she can hear him come, and sure enough at 3 o clock on the dot she hears his familiar gait.

He smiles when he sees her, but only barely- the exhaustion practically seeping from his pores making his whole being sag.

They make it to his door at the same time, and he is almost in a daze as he aimlessly puts his key in the knob.

He faces her before turning it.

"Hi," Max says.

"Hey," says Spencer with a sigh.

"I... I don't like the way we left things," Max rambles.

"I don't either," he says.

"So, I'll tell you anything you want to know. If—- you want to know."

"Max—-"

"It's just... you're right, all I've done this whole time is push and pull on you, and it's not fair so—-" she trails off as she sees him shaking his head.

"Max... I'm exhausted, I have a headache... And I have no energy for any more drama." Spencer says, pushing two fingers into his forehead as if trying to snuff out a flame.

Max flinches, "Oh... Right. I'm sorry..." she turns around robotically, back towards her door, eyes glassing over with moisture.

"No, Hey," he says, softly grabbing her arm. "I didn't—" his hand moves down to her wrist and gently tugs her sleeve, "I didn't mean that I don't want to see you..."

She blinks the tears away before she is facing him again, showing him only a subtle scowl.

"Come here.." he says softly, leading her closer to him. "I just meant I ... I need us to do that- that thing that we do... where we pretend we're normal."

He tucks her hair behind her ear and twists the end of the strand in his fingers. "Just for tonight, and then we can deal with everything else... later."

He's chewing on the inside of his cheek now, making it look hallow, the dark circles under his eyes beg for mercy.

Max's face softens.

Spencer had let her play the normal game for months, she could give him some time too.

"Ok" she says looking up into his tired eyes.

He slides a hand up her cheek and she instinctively leans into his touch.

"You're still my girl," he says softly, pushing his fingers deeper into her hair, "this doesn't change anything."


Later that night, after a nap, and some take out for dinner, and an entirely normal evening, they are consumed in a twist of limbs, breath, and swollen lips.

Max pulls Spencer's face from her neck so their eyes meet.

"I love you Spencer," she says as he's catching his breath.

His face contorts, and it's his eyes that glisten this time, but when he blinks a tear rolls down his face.

"And I know you love me too."

His head nods slowly in her hands, his breath steady now, eyes locked on her's.

She wipes away the tear with her thumb, and instead of words he responds by meeting his lips with hers.


✈️

"I am strong, but I am tired." -unknown