A/N: Here's a new thing I've been working on. This is a story called New Romantics, and it features a series of short chapters, hghlighting important parts in JJ and Hotch's new relationship. I hope you like it.
I also have a new Instagram account for my stories! Check out hotchnerjareau on Instagram for the condensed versions of my new stories!
Please enjoy & review!
Jennifer Jareau felt her heart pounding against her chest. She could swear sweat beads were forming on her forehead. There, across the bar, sat Aaron Hotchner. He wasn't wearing a suit for once. He donned blue jeans and a black v-neck.
"You're staring again," her friend reminded her with a small nudge to her shoulder.
JJ turned back as her eyes bulged. "No, I wasn't."
"You're a terrible liar."
"Shut up, Penelope."
"Go and talk to him," Penelope coaxed before taking another sip of her martini.
Jennifer rolled her eyes and slouched a little. She picked up her straw and swirled it around in her drink as she thought of things to say.
"JJ, you've both got kids, and they're gonna grow up and leave and you'll have nobody."
"I'll still be in love with him, though," JJ mused.
"But you won't be with him," Penelope countered with a grin. She looked over at her boss and shrugged. "Just go over there and talk to him."
"What if–"
"What if, what? JJ, he loves you. It's so obvious. He stares at you all the time, he sits next to you on the plane, and he always buys you lunch. He might not be saying 'I love you', but he's sure as hell showing it."
Jennifer bit her lower lip and stared at her drink in thought. She could feel her friend's eyes on her as she contemplated her decision. Maybe Penelope was right. Her boss always bought her lunch, sat beside her, and he even stared at her a few times. Maybe he did like her. Maybe. But what if he was just being nice? What if he was just being sympathetic, knowing she'd had a messy divorce just a year earlier?
"What if he doesn't really love me, though?" JJ asked. Before Penelope could speak, she continued. "What if he does it because he feels sorry for me?"
"So, he's been sorry for you for over ten years, then?"
JJ sighed. Once again, her eyes drifted over to him. He was sitting with some other guy, laughing and talking. He looked up, around the bar, causing her to cover herself and look away. She went back to staring at her full glass of vodka.
"I mean, he probably thinks I'm attractive. Probably, you know?"
"Oh, buttercup, I'm sure of it. You're a very pretty girl. He loves you. Just go for it," Penelope encouraged with a smile.
Jennifer slipped off of the bar stool and fixed her shirt. She took a deep breath and said, "do I look okay?"
Her friend nodded. "Don't you always?"
JJ walked through the dim bar, pushing through crowds of drunken groups of friends. It didn't take her long to find the man she'd been staring at all night. She took another deep breath and walked up to him as if she'd been meaning to all evening.
"JJ?" He said with a wide smile.
Jennifer grinned and tried to cover it, but she failed. "Hi."
"Why didn't you come over sooner?" He asked. "My friend told me you couldn't keep your eyes off of me."
The blonde's stomach dropped a little as she cursed at herself inside. How embarrassing was that? She figured she couldn't go back and act as though this hadn't happened, so she decided to tell the truth.
"I got nervous," she admitted.
Aaron leaned in close and laughed. "Yeah?"
She nodded. "Why didn't you come over to me?"
"I got nervous, too."
I hope you liked this. This series will just be short chapters of little bits in JJ and Hotch's relationship. Please leave a review if you'd be so kind! I enjoy your feedback!
