Tangled Up in You (The Story of Us Book 2)

Chapter 39- A Deal Fulfilled

Amanda woke up at 5:30 to Spencer's alarm. She quickly turns it off and gathers her stuff, not bothering to change out of his shirt as she makes her way out of his room. She creeps across the hall and puts the keycard into her door when she hears someone clear their throat. For a moment, she debates whether she can get away with the old if you ignore them, they'll go away but she knew that disappointed throat-clearing noise. Their father did it often.

She turns and faces her brother with a smile. "Heeey, Aaron," she says. "What are you doing up so early on this fine morning?" He gives her a look, noticing her clothing in her hand including her bra and panties.

"I was going to head to the station and get a head start on things because I was having trouble sleeping," he tells her in a stern voice and Amanda sees the perfect opportunity to draw attention away from her current predicament.

"Because you and Kris are fighting? She told me. According to her, you're still being a dick because you have feelings for Haley and she told you that until you can commit to her, you two are through."

"Did she also tell you that she's gone out on two dates since then?" He bites out, trying to hide his hurt with anger.

"I recall telling you not to talk to her at all until you came to a decision about Haley and yet, here you are with this knowledge that she told you, no doubt. Actions that, may I remind you, are a direct result of you being a douche to my best friend."

"Says the girl walking out of her ex-best friend's hotel room in nothing but his shirt," he scoffs.

"First of all, Spencer is still my best friend and yes he has a habit of being a douche just like you but you want to know the difference, Aaron? Spencer owns up to his action and apologizes and through everything, I know that he loves me and only me. I know that he isn't using me until the person he really wants finally comes back to me," she sneers. "And second of all, who I screw is none of your business and I only went over there because I couldn't sleep and we both know that we make bad decisions while you sit on your high horse pretending that Kristen is in the wrong when you were the one that said you weren't in a relationship."

"We weren't!"

"Then why does it hurt so much that she's with someone else?" Amanda demands. "Tell me, because I genuinely want to know, Aaron. Are you upset because you have feelings for her or were you only with her because you liked the ego boost? The knowledge that the girl that had a giant crush on you since she was 8 never let it go?" She waits for him to answer but no matter how much he wracks his brain, he can't come up with one. "Great, well when you find an answer, I'll be waiting." With that, she opens her door and heads in to take a shower before heading to the station.

________________

When the rest of the team arrived at the station around 8, they could sense the tension between the two Hotchner siblings but no one said anything. Finally, at 8:30, Garcia called with news. "Hello, crime fighters. I come bearing delightful news that you're not gonna want other people to hear." Everyone shares a look before Amanda grabs the phone and takes it off speaker, holding it to her ear.

"What is it, Pen?"

"So I was going through a list of Mennings's associates from school and it turns out that he hung out with one person a lot, like more than friends a lot, so I looked into him and found out that he works there. Detective Dennis Markum."

"Markum knew Mennings? Markum's been being a douche to Spencer since we arrived."

"Oh, I've got more, love. After I found Markum's connection I thought maybe he was the dominant partner, you know? He lost his boyfriend because his dad was crappy so I looked for possible accomplices and I found one. Detective David Sanders."