Fight With Me

Chapter 22

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HOPE'S POV

Breakfast barely finished before Josie and I were already racing upstairs, laughing like we had nowhere else to be. The plan was a quick shower, just enough to wake up and get moving.

That plan lasted maybe thirty seconds.

One touch turned into another, then teasing, then hands and mouths everywhere, water steaming the air until time completely stopped meaning anything. By the time we finally dragged ourselves out, an entire hour had disappeared and I was still grinning like an idiot.

Freya had already left to bury herself in research about the soulmate bond, pages and spells and worst-case scenarios. I, on the other hand, had a better plan.

If the universe was going to keep trying to tear us apart, I was going to steal whatever joy I could get.

So I took Josie to my favorite bar and ordered her my favorite drink.

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JOSIE'S POV

The bar was warm and dim and familiar to Hope in a way that made my chest ache. She fit here easily, leaning against the counter, smiling at the bartender like this place had held her together more than once.

One drink turned into two. Then three. Then I stopped counting.

We laughed until my stomach hurt, until my cheeks ached, until the world softened around the edges. At some point, the music blurred and all I could focus on was her. The curve of her mouth. The way she watched me like I was the only thing grounding her.

I kissed her without thinking.

She didn't hesitate. She grabbed me, pulled me closer, kissed me back like she'd been waiting for it. Like the rest of the bar didn't exist.

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FREYA'S POV

When the bartender called, I already knew what I was walking into.

"She's here again," he said. "And she's... very occupied."

I sighed, grabbing my jacket.

Sure enough, they were in the back corner, tangled together, drunk and smiling and completely oblivious.

"Alright," I said, clearing my throat. "That's enough."

"No," they whined together, clinging to each other like I was about to exile one of them.

Getting them out was a challenge. They giggled the entire way, hands wandering, whispering things I very deliberately did not want to hear.

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JOSIE'S POV

Back at the mansion, hunger hit us all at once. We tore through the kitchen until we found a box of mac and cheese and decided that was absolutely good enough.

Hope turned on the speaker while I stirred the pot, and suddenly Whitney Houston filled the kitchen. We danced like idiots, singing too loud, spinning each other around until we were breathless.

For a moment, it felt normal. Easy.

Like nothing bad could touch us here.

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FREYA'S POV

I leaned against the counter, watching them.

Hope laughed in a way I hadn't heard in years. Real, unguarded. Josie brought that out in her without even trying. They moved together like they were wired the same way, even in something as simple as dancing in the kitchen at midnight.

Eventually, they collapsed onto the floor, eating mac and cheese straight from the pot and laughing at absolutely nothing.

I didn't interrupt.

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HOPE'S POV

We barely made it upstairs.

We tripped over each other, fell onto the bed, bounced like children until the laughter faded into exhaustion. We didn't bother changing. Josie curled into me like it was instinct, like her body already knew where it belonged.

I wrapped myself around her and slept harder than I had in weeks.

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JOSIE'S POV

I woke up to giggling.

When I cracked my eyes open, three figures were standing over us with phones raised.

Freya. Keelin. And—

"Oh my god," I whispered. "Is that Rebekah?"

"Go away," Hope groaned, pulling the blanket over our heads.

"That is no way to greet your favorite aunt," Rebekah said brightly.

Hope sat bolt upright. "Aunt Rebekah!"

She launched herself out of bed, nearly taking me with her. I just sat there smiling, watching Hope light up in a way that felt... safe.

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FREYA'S POV

Downstairs, Rebekah wasted no time.

Her eyes locked onto Josie immediately. "And who is this?"

Hope didn't hesitate. She pulled Josie close. "My girlfriend. Josette."

Josie blushed. "Josie is fine."

Rebekah grinned. "Oh, good. We're huggers."

She swept Josie up before anyone could stop her, spinning her around while Josie laughed helplessly.

"Hands off," Hope said, mock-threatening, arms locked around Josie's waist.

Rebekah raised her hands. "Relax. I'm excited."

Hope narrowed her eyes. "You don't just show up excited."

Rebekah glanced at me. I failed to hide my smile.

"Fine," she admitted. "I might've told the rest of the family. They're concerned."

The doorbell rang.

Perfect timing.

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MYSTIC FALLS – ALARIC'S POV

I was halfway through my bourbon when the door slammed open.

"ALARIC SALTZMAN," Caroline snapped, storming in. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME JOSIE WAS KIDNAPPED?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Caroline, sit down."

"She was taken by Mikaelsons!"

"No," I said firmly. "She was taken somewhere safe."

I explained everything. The bond. The pain. Freya stepping in before things got worse.

By the time I finished, Caroline wasn't calmer. She was furious.

"And Lizzie?" she said quietly. "Because what she's been telling people isn't reality."

My stomach dropped.

"You think it's back," I said.

Caroline didn't answer right away.

"...She's showing signs."

And suddenly, everything felt like it was about to explode.

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