Hosie~ One Shots

Choosing Us

It had been months since Hope and Josie had first taken the plunge and started dating. Their connection had deepened into something beautiful, and they were planning to take the next step—moving in together. Josie's apartment was cozy and perfect for them, and it felt like the logical next move for their relationship. But despite the happiness surrounding their new chapter, an unspoken issue lingered in the background: marriage.

Josie had always dreamed of getting married one day, of having the kind of love story that ended with vows and forever. But Hope... Hope saw things differently. Her marriage to Landon had left deep scars, and she swore she would never walk down that road again. It had been a bitter, painful experience—one she didn't want to repeat.

One night, as they were packing up some of Hope's things, the topic came up.

"Do you think..." Josie began carefully, avoiding Hope's eyes as she folded some clothes, "we'll ever think about... more? Like, beyond just moving in together?"

Hope paused, her hands hovering over a box. She knew what Josie was hinting at. "You mean marriage?"

Josie nodded but said nothing.

Hope's face softened. "Josie, I love you. I want to be with you. But... I don't want to get married again. I've been through it before, and it was... awful. I just don't think I can do that."

Josie's heart sank a little, but she forced a smile. "Yeah, I get it. I don't want to get married either. I just want to be with you."

The lie tasted bitter on her tongue, but she wanted to be with Hope more than anything.

On the day of the move, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Boxes were being unpacked, and the two of them were trying to settle into their new life together. But Josie couldn't help but feel that the conversation about marriage wasn't truly over. As they sat together, surrounded by unpacked boxes and the beginnings of their shared life, Josie spoke up again.

"Hope," she started, her voice tentative, "Are you sure you never want to think about marriage again? Not even in the future?"

Hope's expression hardened a little, and she shook her head. "I told you before, Josie. I'm never getting married again. I can't go through that again. My mind's made up."

Josie felt her heart crack. She had hoped that maybe, just maybe, Hope would change her mind. But it was clear now—she wouldn't. And Josie, despite her love for Hope, knew she couldn't let go of her dream of marriage.

"I get it," Josie said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. "But... I won't change my mind either."

And just like that, the unspoken issue that had hung between them finally broke them apart. They decided to separate, each needing time and space to think about what they wanted. But as much as they missed each other, neither reached out, each too hurt and too stubborn to take the first step.

A few weeks later, Josie found herself spending more time with her old ex-girlfriend, Penelope. Penelope had always been charming and confident, and before Josie knew it, they had slipped back into dating. But despite how comfortable things were, Josie couldn't shake the ghost of her relationship with Hope. She still missed her, still thought about her constantly.

When Penelope suggested a trip to Mexico with Lizzie and MG, Josie agreed. Maybe the trip would be a good distraction, a way to clear her mind and figure out her feelings.

On the third evening of the trip, as they were lounging by the pool, MG pulled Lizzie aside with a worried expression.

"You're not going to believe this," he whispered. "Penelope told me she's planning to propose to Josie tomorrow."