I Hate the Way...

Part 49: "Fancy Meeting You Here"

"I want you," Josie responds transparently.

The forwardness makes Hope's eyes flash gold for a mere second, reflecting the heat Josie feels at the reaction.

She averts her gaze when she continues, "But I'm scared."

Hope nods slowly, still dragging her thumb across Josie's knuckles reassuringly, "About feelings getting involved?"

Josie glances back up to meet Hope's gentle gaze, nodding her head, suddenly more bashful than before.

"We've just been getting so close, and I really like—I really love spending time with you. I'm just scared that the physicality could lead to me confusing those feelings for something else...I know it's stupid—"

Hope shakes her head, "It's not stupid, Jo. That's completely understandable, and I actually agree."

"You do?" Josie furrows her eyebrows while Hope nods.

"Yeah, I do. I mean, you're like my best friend, and sometimes I worry we might be jeopardizing that."

Hope realizes what she said after the words leave her mouth, though she tries not to draw attention to it.

Josie smiles sweetly at the sentiment, having never heard Hope address her as her best friend, "Yeah, I feel the same way...But we're also—"

"Married." Hope finishes her thought, and Josie nods.

"I obviously enjoy all of the perks that come with being your wife," Josie adds flirtatiously, a subtle smirk on Hope's lips as Josie adds more seriously, "...and I trust you. You make me feel comfortable enough to express what I want. We've always been able to openly communicate about these things, and I've never experienced that with anyone before."

Josie lets out a sigh of contemplation.

Does she want to face her fears, risk falling in love, and move forward with Hope physically.

Or does she want to pull back, keep their growing friendship in tact, and stop the physicality?

Hope squeezes her hand gently, sensing all of the thoughts running through her head, "Hey, you don't have to decide what you really want right now. And whenever you do decide, I promise that I'll respect whatever you choose. I know our marriage isn't a conventional one, but I still want to make you happy."

Josie smiles softly with a nod, "I know. And you do—make me happy."

It's the reason Josie is worried about falling in love with Hope. Their relationship, at many different occasions, has felt like a real marriage, like real love. And while Josie really enjoys the feeling, it's also terrifying.

And more recently, there's been an additional fear she's realized. She doesn't want to completely lose Hope when this is all over.

"Do you—" Josie pauses, trying to find the right words, while Hope waits patiently for her to continue, "Do you think we'll stay friends, even when this is all over?"

When Hope furrows her eyebrows, Josie reads into the expression wrong, immediately trying to clarify, "I just—I like having you in my life, and you've made me a better person. I just don't want to lose—"

"Jo."

The brunette lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding while Hope only smiles sweetly, looking her deeply in the eyes.

"I will always be here for you, okay? I like that we've grown closer, and I like being the person you feel like you can talk to about anything. So, when this is over, if you'll still have me, I'd love nothing more than to remain a part of your life. As a friend."

She squeezes Josie's hand to reiterate her words, and Josie feels like a huge weight is being lifted off her shoulders.

Until she sees a smirk form on Hope's lips,
"...Or as your friend with benefits, either way," She winks playfully.

And Josie can only shake her head, reaching for her glass and bringing it to her lips to try and hide her rising blush.

"Speaking of..." Josie sets her glass down, her gaze shifting to Hope's hand, which still holds her own, "According to my attorney, Alaric has still been radio silent. I'm assuming he's still trying to find a way to steal my inheritance like he did Lizzie's."

Hope senses the worry and anger suddenly radiating off of her wife. "Hey. I won't let that happen, okay? You've come too far now to lose everything your mom left behind for you to him."

Josie looks back up to meet Hope's sincere gaze, nodding her head. And she really believes that Hope will do whatever it takes to help her. It's a refreshing feeling.

Hope smiles softly when she sees Josie's anxieties diminish, "Good. Now, let's just enjoy tonight. We can worry about that tomorrow. This is our first official date, and I may or may not have something else planned for you after we finish dinner..."

Josie's eyes widen, "What? There's more?"

Hope half shrugs, happy that she's successfully distracted the brunette, "Possibly. But only if you're a good girl." While Hope smirks, Josie only deadpans, making the auburnette chuckle.

"Hope, you don't have to do anything else for me—"

Hope interrupts her, more serious now, "I want to. I know dinner is really just so we're out in public as a couple, but I figured we could do something, just you and I, for ourselves too. Like Lizzie said, the closer we are in private, the easier it'll be to convince people we're together in public."

Josie's heart flutters at the thought of Hope doing something special just for her, no ulterior motive, and blush intensifies on her cheeks, though she doesn't try to hide it. She just gazes at her wife with a look mixed with disbelief and adoration.

And three forbidden words nearly leave her lips involuntarily, but thankfully, their server interrupts before that ever happens, bringing their food to their table.

And so they eat and finally enjoy more lighthearted conversation. And Josie decides by the end of their meal that it is, by far, the greatest first date she's been on—actually, it's the greatest date she's been on, ever.

While Josie gets lost in that thought, Hope contemplates something else, "Should we order dessert, or eat ice cream when we get home later?"

Josie is snapped back into reality, humming in thought, "Ice cream, definitely. Maybe we can watch a movie before bed, too?"

Hope nods a single time with her signature smirk, "I like the way you think, Mrs. Mikaelson."

Heat suddenly envelopes Josie in a relentless embrace, her cheeks feeling like they're on fire, her mouth running a bit dry as she grows flustered.

And Hope's knowing smirk only grows as she stands to her feet and buttons a single button on her suit jacket before holding a hand out for Josie, "Ready to go, love?"

Josie takes Hope's hand, but furrows her eyebrows, "Wait, did we pay the bill?"

Hope helps Josie to her feet, dismissively answering as they make their way to the exit, hand-in-hand, "Don't worry, I covered it earlier."

"What?! Hope, you didn't have to do that. I could've—"

"I know I didn't have to. I wanted to—"

Josie stops in her tracks suddenly as they reach the lobby, making Hope pause worriedly too.

But before Hope gets the chance to ask her what's wrong, a hard, cold voice hits Josie's ears.

"Fancy meeting you here..."