Hosie~ One Shots

Loving You From Afar Part 5

The next morning, Josie woke early, feeling a sense of unease. She glanced at her husband, who was still asleep, and quietly slipped out of bed. She made her way to the kitchen to make coffee, hoping it would help clear her mind.

As she stood by the counter, waiting for the coffee to brew, she heard her husband stirring in the bedroom. He soon joined her in the kitchen, looking just as tired and worn as she felt.

"Morning," he said, his voice thick with sleep.

"Morning," Josie replied, handing him a cup of coffee. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Not really," he admitted, taking a sip of the coffee. "I couldn't stop thinking about what we talked about last night."

Josie nodded, understanding. "Maybe you should talk to your friend, get a better sense of the situation."

"Yeah, maybe," he said, though he seemed unconvinced.

Later that day, Lizzie met up with Hope at the coffee shop in town. Hope arrived looking weary, dark circles under her eyes.

"Hope, we need to talk," Lizzie began gently.

Hope sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Is this about Josie?"

Lizzie nodded. "You need to tell her how you feel. She deserves to know the truth."

Hope looked away, pain flickering in her eyes. "But she's married now, Lizzie. I don't want to ruin her happiness."

"Keeping your feelings hidden won't make things better," Lizzie said softly. "Josie needs to know, and you need closure, one way or another."

Hope took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "You're right. I'll talk to her."

Later that day, Hope gathered her courage and called Josie. "Hey, can we meet up? There's something I need to talk to you about."

Josie sensed the seriousness in Hope's voice. "Sure, Hope. Where and when?"

"How about the the dock at our school? In an hour?"

"I'll be there," Josie replied, her heart racing.

Josie arrived at the dock, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and fear. When she saw Hope waiting, the emotions she had been suppressing surged to the surface.

They stood facing each other, the silence heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Hope took a deep breath and spoke. "Josie, I've been hiding something from you for a long time. I love you. I've loved you for years, and I can't keep it to myself any longer."

Josie's eyes widened, shock and confusion filling them. "What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Hope stepped closer, her eyes pleading. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I had to tell you. I can't stand the thought of not being honest with you."

Anger flared in Josie's chest, her hands trembling. "Why now, Hope? Why after I'm already married? Why wasn't I ever your first choice?"

Hope looked stricken, tears filling her eyes. "I was scared, Josie. I thought I'd missed my chance, and then you got married. But I can't keep pretending that I don't love you."

Josie shook her head, backing away. "You had so many chances to tell me, Hope. But you didn't. And now you expect me to just throw away my marriage because of some old crush?"

Hope's tears spilled over, her voice breaking. "Josie, please..."

But Josie turned and walked away, her heart pounding with anger and hurt. "I can't do this, Hope. Not now."

Josie left Hope standing alone on the dock, tears streaming down her face. She walked quickly, her emotions swirling in a tumultuous storm. She couldn't believe that Hope had kept such a huge secret for so long, only to drop it on her now, when she was trying to move forward with her life.

When Josie returned home, her husband was waiting for her, concern etched on his face. "Josie, what happened?"

She looked at him, her eyes filled with turmoil. "I need some time to think."

He nodded, respecting her need for space. "I understand. Take all the time you need."

The next morning, Josie woke feeling more exhausted than ever. She went through the motions of her day, but her mind kept drifting back to the conversation with Hope. She knew she needed to talk to someone about it, to sort through her feelings.

Meanwhile, Hope spent the night in tears, her heart breaking at Josie's reaction. She knew she had taken a huge risk, and it hadn't gone the way she'd hoped. But despite the pain, she didn't regret telling Josie the truth. At least now, everything was out in the open.

That evening, Josie and her husband sat down together, the weight of the unspoken tension between them.

"Did you meet with Hope?" he asked gently.

Josie nodded, tears filling her eyes. "She told me she loves me. And I got so angry at her. I don't know what to do."

Her husband took her hand, his own eyes filled with sadness. "Josie, we need to talk about this. Honestly and openly. I want you to be happy, and if that means being with Hope, we need to figure it out."

Josie looked at him, her heart aching. "I don't want to hurt you. You've been so good to me."

"I just want you to be happy," he repeated softly. "Even if that means letting you go."

Over the next few days, Josie and her husband had many heartfelt conversations. They discussed their feelings, their hopes, and their fears. It became clear that while they cared deeply for each other, Josie's unresolved feelings for Hope couldn't be ignored.

Finally, with mutual understanding and respect, they agreed to part ways. Her husband moved out, giving herself the space to process her emotions and figure out what she truly wanted.

Hope, meanwhile, struggled with her own guilt and regret. She had wanted to be honest with Josie, but now she feared she had only caused more pain. She didn't know if Josie would ever forgive her, or if they could find a way to move forward together.

There will be a Part 6