The Stuggle of Loving You | a. hotchner | ✔

Chapter 24

Directly after everything was over we took pictures outside with our degrees. Chloe took a picture with Aaron and I, it was one of my favorites.

"I'm framing this one." He glanced down and raised his eyebrows, "Better send me a copy." I smiled and we got ready to leave.

Taking all of our gowns off we tossed them into the trunk of our cars.

"Are we meeting you there?", Anthony said from his car pulling out of the parking lot.

"Yeah." They drove off and I got into the car with Aaron. He started following them to the club. As he drove I stared at the sun as it slowly made its way behind the buildings and trees. The moon rose on the other side of the sky.

Aaron looked out the window muttering, "It's beautiful." I turned my head, not hearing what he said.

"What was that?"
He nodded off, "The sky... it's beautiful." I agreed and looked at it with him.

"What now?"

"What do you mean?", I assumed he meant now that I had my bachelors... I could finally apply to the academy. I knew the wait time and I was definitely going to need a job in the meantime.

Needing to have some amount of money.
"Now... I apply. I've wanted this for so long, I can't believe it's actually happening."

"That's how I felt too, and now that I'm back at work maybe you can unofficially help me on some of my cases." I held his hand, leaning my head back against the seat. The light turned green and he continued to drive.

Meeting my friends we walked inside... they were already there. In the corner booth enjoying themselves to some shots. "Y/n get your ass over here!" I held Aarons hand and dragged him over with me.

"Loosen up", Anthony gave Aaron and I two shots. Letting go of his hand I tossed back the liquor. It burned on the way down my throat but in the end it was worth it.

My whole goal was to just get drunk, be happy that my years of work might actually be worth it.

Aaron was holding back a bit ordering whisky. He would probably be the one drinking home and ultimately was the one with a higher tolerance.

I had got all of us some food so we weren't drinking on an empty stomach.

As my friends and I were talking Aaron was sitting next to me somewhat silently, only talking after I had said something. His gaze was fixated on me and the glass of whisky in front of him.

I leaned back and put my chin on his shoulder, "Are you okay?" He nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine."

I brought my hand to his bicep, holding onto him. "Come on... tell me."

He glanced down at me, "I know you want me here, and I wanna be here for you. Y/n I don't know them." He was referring to the people sitting in front of him. "I'm just-- feeling out of place", I gripped him tighter.

"Then let's go."

He furrowed his brow, "What?"

I slowly pushed him out of the booth, taking one final drink and Aaron finished the last sip of his glass. I brought him over to the center of the floor.

Feeling all of the body heat around me from the people dancing everywhere.

My hands went around his neck, "Then let it just be us... I'll have time with them later." He gripped my hips and he followed my lead, swaying my hips back and forth.

Both of us got into it... the beat dropped and Aaron turned me around so my back was flush against his chest. I could feel his breath on my neck when he dipped his head down. My ass pressed into his front.