Hosie~ One Shots

Loving You From Afar Part 6

Hope lay in her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She hadn't spoken to anyone for days, isolating herself in her room, consumed by regret and sadness. She had replayed the scene at the dock over and over in her mind, each time feeling a fresh wave of guilt and heartache.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was Lizzie.

"Hello?" Hope answered, her voice hoarse from disuse.

"Hope, it's Lizzie. How are you holding up?" Lizzie asked gently. "I heard from Josie what happened at the dock."

Hope swallowed hard, tears welling up in her eyes. "I feel horrible, Lizzie. I think I've destroyed Josie's marriage and her happiness. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Lizzie took a deep breath. "Hope, you should know that Josie and her husband have separated."

Hope sat up quickly, her heart pounding. "What?!" she exclaimed. Without waiting for more details, she hung up and rushed to get dressed.

Hope's mind raced as she hurried to Josie's house. She couldn't believe what Lizzie had told her. She needed to see Josie, to apologize, to explain. She had to make things right.

When she arrived at Josie's house, she knocked on the door, her heart in her throat. After a moment, the door opened, and Josie stood there, her expression a mix of surprise and guardedness.

"Hope, what are you doing here?" Josie asked, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

Hope looked at her, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry for everything, Josie. I didn't mean to cause you any pain."

Josie's face hardened, and she moved to close the door. "You should leave."

But Hope pushed her way inside, determined not to be turned away. She stood in the living room, looking around at the place that had once felt so warm and inviting. "I won't leave until we've talked about everything."

Josie crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with anger. "You want to talk? Fine, let's talk. How could you, Hope?! How could you wait until now to tell me how you feel? Why didn't you say anything before I got married? Do you have any idea how much this has messed everything up?"

Hope felt a pang of guilt and sorrow. "I was scared, Josie. I thought I'd missed my chance, and then you got married. I didn't want to ruin what you had. But I couldn't keep pretending I didn't love you."

Josie shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "You had so many chances to tell me, Hope. And now, after I've committed to someone else, you decide to drop this on me? You don't get to just walk in and turn my life upside down."

Hope stepped closer, her voice breaking. "I know, Josie. I know I messed up. But I couldn't keep lying to you, or to myself. I love you. I've always loved you."

Josie looked away, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. "It's too late, Hope. I don't know if I can do this anymore. And I didn't want to give up my marriage because of some old crush."

Hope reached out, hesitantly placing a hand on Josie's arm. "I understand, Josie. And if you tell me to leave, I will. But please, just hear me out. I've made so many mistakes, and I don't want this to be another one. I need you to know that my feelings for you are real, and they always have been."

Josie turned to look at Hope, the anger in her eyes softened by the pain and confusion she felt. "I need time, Hope. I need time to figure out what I want, and how I feel."

Hope nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Take all the time you need, Josie. I'll be here, waiting, no matter what."

Josie sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "Alright. But don't expect everything to be fixed overnight. This is going to take a lot of time and effort."

"I know," Hope whispered. "And I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

With that, Hope left, giving Josie the space she needed to process everything. It wasn't going to be easy, and the road ahead was filled with uncertainty. But for the first time in a long while, they both felt a glimmer of hope.

After Hope left, Josie lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She reached for her cell phone and began scrolling through old photos. She saw pictures of herself and Hope, their smiles wide and genuine. Each photo was a snapshot of their history, filled with moments of laughter, support, and unspoken affection.

As she looked at the photos, memories flooded back. She remembered the first time she saw Hope, walking into the Salvatore School with her mom. The instant connection she felt, even as a young girl, was undeniable. She recalled the letter she had written to Hope, confessing her feelings, and the pain she felt as she burned it, convinced that Hope could never feel the same way.

Josie wondered what might have happened if she hadn't burned that letter. Would she and Hope have ended up together? Would they be married now, living the dream she had envisioned during her honeymoon? The thought sent a pang through her heart.

She thought about the dream she had in Paris, where they were married and deeply in love. It was then that she realized what she truly wanted. She wanted Hope and only Hope.

Determined, Josie got up and grabbed her car keys. The rain was pouring heavily outside, but she didn't care. She drove through the storm, her heart pounding with anticipation and fear. When she finally arrived at Hope's house, she was drenched, but she didn't hesitate.

Josie knocked on the door, shivering as she waited. The door opened, and Hope stood there, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Josie? What are you doing here? I thought—"

Hope's words were cut off as Josie stepped forward, pressing her lips softly against Hope's. For a moment, Hope was shocked, but she quickly melted into the kiss, her hands moving to Josie's hips and pulling her closer. They kissed with a fervor that spoke of years of suppressed emotions, their need for each other evident in every touch.

They finally broke apart, gasping for air, their foreheads resting against each other.

"I realized something tonight," Josie whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I've always loved you, Hope. I tried to move on, to live without you, but I can't. I don't want to. I want to be with you."

Hope's eyes filled with tears, her hands gently cupping Josie's face. "I love you too, Josie. I've loved you for so long. I was afraid I had lost you forever."

Josie shook her head, smiling through her tears. "You haven't lost me. I'm here. I'm yours. Always and Forever."

They kiss again but this time with more passion. Hope's hands are still on her waist and she pulls her into her house.
They pull away from each other for a second.
What happens next should better happen in her house.

There will be a Part 7,  with or without smut?
Let me know :)