Erin smiled as Jessica approached her, a wide grin on her lips. "A second party in as many weeks? You're really turning into quite the socialite couple!"
She laughed a little as she hugged Jessica tightly. "Yes, well, we couldn't just send Emily off to England and Interpol once more without saying goodbye to her in the proper way. And David does love having an excuse for a party. I am so glad that you came!"
"How could I say no? I know that things were different for the wedding, but this is where I feel like I'm in my element. Goodbye parties are much more laid back than surprise weddings." Jessica giggled a little as she stepped away from Erin. "Of course, Aaron brought Beth. I wish that I could say that I'm warming up to her, but I feel like we're still at sixes and sevens with each other."
"At least she's being halfway decent. Beth was definitely not happy at Jennifer's wedding, and all because Aaron chose to dance with me for a little while. Rather than engage in a heated conversation, I just went up to read the kids to sleep and then went to bed myself. I'm just not going to be pulled into a childish argument with her? I want Aaron to be happy, she makes him happy, and I have to be all right with that. But I wouldn't be telling the whole truth if I didn't say that I was worried about the way that Beth might treat Elise, as the relationship grows more serious."
"Well, I hope you know that we would all defend Elise to the death," Jessica replied as she slung her arm around Erin's waist and led her over to the refreshment table where Penelope and Derek were, talking lowly to each other. "Hey, it's good to see you two again!"
"Jess! You are looking great!" Penelope stepped forward and hugged Jessica tightly before turning her focus to Erin. "I promise, I will not have nearly as much to drink this evening. As much as I love your sofa, I don't want a repeat of what happened last time."
"You're always welcome in our home, though if you had waited just a little to fall asleep, we'd have shown you into Tabitha's room to sleep in a real bed."
Penelope shrugged as she picked up a glass of punch, sipping at it slowly before looking up at Derek. "Eh, after the way I behaved, I deserved the sofa. Maybe next time, when I'm not quite as sloppy drunk, I'll ask to borrow a bed. Did you see Beth's dress, though?"
Erin shook her head, wondering why Penelope's voice had lowered to a whisper. Following the direction that the woman pointed, Erin felt her eyes widen for a moment before she turned back to the group. Jessica was stifling her own gasp, and that seemed to be Derek's cue to leave them alone. "She's gorgeous, it's a warm evening, and she's obviously more confident in her body than I am. I have happily moved into a more frumpy time of my life."
Jessica and Penelope shot her dirty looks, and she shrugged her shoulders a bit. "Erin Rossi, you are the farthest thing from frumpy, you are elegant and classy. Though I can see you in a formal dress that is low cut and showing off that glorious chest of yours." She waggled her eyebrows at Erin, causing her to giggle as she shook her head. "What? You do have a nice chest! I'm not ashamed to say that I've checked it out."
"I will try not to keep that in mind, Penelope. Especially after you asked me to talk dirty to you."
"You're never going to let me live that down?" She shook her head once more. "But at least you know who I am now?"
"This is very true," Erin replied as she picked up her own glass of punch, taking a quick swallow. "Though you do have an impulsive side that might have to be tamed a little."
"Hey, impulsivity can be fun! I might try to rein it in a little for you, if that's what you truly want, however."
"I just want you to be you, Penelope. Because that is the person that I've come to like and respect a lot." The smile that Penelope gave her seemed to just beam off her like a ray of sunshine, and Erin couldn't help but smile in return as David came up to their sides. "Yes, darling?" she asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her tightly to his chest.
"I just came over to see what Derek was doing to commandeer the attention of three gorgeous women. And maybe I have to stake my claim, just to prove to a few people here that you are mine and mine alone."
Erin drew in a sharp breath as he tugged her around gently, splaying his hand out on her back as he bent her backwards before kissing her passionately. In order to keep her balance as the hungry kiss lingered on, Erin wrapped an arm around his waist, holding on tightly as her other hand slipped around his neck, stabilizing her body even as one of her legs curled around his in order to get closer to him. In the background, she could hear Penelope giggle insanely at the sight, while Jessica let out a low, gaspy, whistle of approval.
Finally, though, they had to come up for air, and David gently stood her back up as her chest heaved from the force of her breaths. "That was hot," she vaguely heard Penelope mutter, and Erin chuckled with a bit of embarrassment as she smoothed her hair back into place, allowing her arm to come to rest around her husband's waist as she tried to get control of herself once more. "I wish that I had a lover who would claim me like that in front of all my friends and family."
"Do you think that you made your point, David?" Erin asked a bit sharply, watching him glance over her shoulder to look in the direction of Aaron and Beth.
"I think that it might have done the trick. For now."
She nodded as she stepped closer to his side and rested her head on his chest. "I might not have been quite so obvious about that, but hopefully it will help to ease a little of the tension between us from now on. However, you might just have to make it up to Penelope and Jessica here, since they were a little too close to the show."
"What do you say, ladies. Do I need to make it up to you? And if so, how?"
Penelope laughed as she shook her head. "The only way that you could make up that to me would be to find me a guy who loves me as much as you love Erin. That's a pipe dream, though, since I know that I have to do that work on my own. If you'll excuse me, I have to go check in with Hotch about something for Monday. Wish me luck!"
She hugged Erin quickly before hurrying over to Aaron and Beth's side, and Erin gave her a fond smile before turning her attention back to David and Jessica. "And you, Jessie? How can we make it up to you?" she asked quietly as she looked at her friend.
"The look on Beth's face while you two were necking like teenagers was repayment enough for me. Though if Dave wanted to help me find an agent, I wouldn't say no to that."
Erin cocked her head in surprise as she looked at Jessica. "I didn't know that you were writing anything!"
"It's been something that I've tinkered with since Haley died. And I want to know if it's any good, but I can't get my foot in the door. I know, I shouldn't exploit my family, but even if it's just someone to read the whole thing and tell me it's crap, I'd be happy. I don't want to be pity published, just to know if it's something I should keep working on."
"Bring a copy of the manuscript with you on Monday, and I'll see what I can do for you." David gave her a small wink before kissing Erin's cheek. "Now, I need to continue mingling with our guests. You two are to stay out of trouble for the rest of the evening." Letting go of her waist, David stepped away from them, and Erin watched him leave, feeling so happy to know that her husband was so good at helping their friends.
"You are going to let me read your story, yes?" she asked as she linked arms with Jessica, bringing her around to where a few of their other guests were, her smile widening when Jessica gave her a small nod, and she couldn't wait to find out what story Jessica had woven over the last few years.
