Sin to Love 2 (Spencer Reid Love Story)

Chapter Thirty-One

Reid awkwardly sat in front of Carmen as she was getting her second tattoo done on her back, upper left shoulder blade to be exact. She was getting a geometric heart with a geometric arrow piercing through it, which inevitably shatter it, but it got stuck. Reid loved the concept of it since it showed how strong her heart is. Even when an arrow pierces through it, it stays resilient. What made it more meaningful was that she designed it all herself.

It made him feel uncomfortable watching Carmen get body modifications. Not that he was against it, but because it made him cringe with the loud buzzing of a needle inking her skin. He tried not to express his uncomfortable demeanor, trying to stay relaxed as he watched Carmen and the tattoo artist, Liam, engage in casual conversation. 

"Where did you say you got your previous tattoo done again?" Liam asked her.

"I did it at Pure Ink in New Jersey," she answered.

"Why didn't I guess that? That type of inking takes mad skill and that's all they got there," he chuckled.

Carmen smiled. "Yeah, I'm super satisfied with my tattoo,"

"Did you design it yourself too?" 

Carmen nodded her head.

"That's pretty sick. You're pretty great at art," he complimented.

Carmen smiled, flattered at his compliment. She looked at Reid, reminiscing about the painting of Einstein she made for him. She loved when people adored her art forms, whether it was singing, dancing or art because for once she felt as if she was doing something right. 

"For Valentine's Day I painted my boyfriend a unique portrait of Einstein," Carmen proudly announced.

Liam looked up at Reid with a face filled with wonder. Reid awkwardly smiled since all the attention was now focused on him. Lucky for him that Liam's attention faded from him as he focused once more on Carmen's tattoo.

"Aren't you lucky? My girlfriend got me a mug that said 'tatted on my heart forever' and between all of us I'd rather a painting," Liam said with a small chuckle.

Carmen giggled. "Talking about tattoos, why don't you get one since we're here, Spence?"

Reid looked at her alarmed. She knew how much he was against getting tattooed, especially since he hated the thought of getting something permanent and regretting it later. He rapidly shook his head in disapproval.

Liam laughed. "What's wrong, buddy? I could hook you up with a real good tattoo right now if you'd like for a two for one price."

Reid shook his head. "I think Carmen's more enthusiastic about these original Neolithic time art forms than I am."

"You sure, babe? It would be really cool if this innocent baby that I told my friends about got a tattoo just before meeting them. It would blow their minds, especially if it was something risky like a flaming skull or something," Carmen joked, but Reid was taking every word seriously.

"Um, I'll pass. Tonight I need to keep that image up and keep it going for a very long time," Reid said.

Carmen pouted. "That's no fun,"

"My grandma would love you," Liam mentioned casually.

Both Carmen and Reid chuckled, but it was cut short when Reid felt his phone vibrate. He was really hoping that it wasn't a case because Carmen had been planning for awhile now for him to meet her friends and now that it was actually happening he didn't want a case to ruin it. He took it out and saw a text message from Hotch, but it wasn't telling him that there was a case; it was a brief meeting in ten minutes. Carmen noticed the nervousness and confusion on his face. She worried that he had to go on a case and miss meeting her friends tonight, but it didn't seem as if that was it.