Hosie~ One Shots

The Unexpected Guest

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow over the lake as the group of friends settled into the cozy warmth of the Saltzman twins' lake house. Inside, the laughter and chatter of Hope, Josie, Lizzie, MG, Kaleb, Cleo, Jed, and Ben filled the room. It was a rare night off from the chaos of their usual lives, and they were determined to enjoy every moment of it.

"Okay, who's ready to lose at Monopoly?" Lizzie announced, holding up the classic board game with a mischievous grin.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Kaleb replied, cracking his knuckles in preparation. "I've got strategies you've never even dreamed of."

As the game began, the room buzzed with friendly competition. Hope and Josie sat close together, their hands occasionally brushing as they reached for the dice or moved their pieces. It had been a year since they'd started dating, and despite the ups and downs, they were happy—at least, Josie thought so.

After a few rounds of Monopoly, they decided to switch things up with a game of charades. The atmosphere was light and playful, everyone enjoying the break from reality. But just as Lizzie was miming out her latest clue, a knock echoed through the room.

"I'll get it," Lizzie said, pausing her performance to jog over to the door.

When she opened it, her eyes widened in surprise. "Landon?"

Hope looked up at the sound of his name, her expression shifting from confusion to a hesitant smile. Landon Kirby, her ex-boyfriend, stood on the doorstep with a sheepish grin.

"Hey, Lizzie. I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Landon said, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of something else.

Lizzie glanced back at the group, then stepped aside to let him in. "Well, you're already here, so..."

As Landon walked in, the room seemed to tense, especially when he caught Hope's eye. Josie's stomach twisted uncomfortably as she noticed the way Landon's gaze lingered on her girlfriend.

"Hey, Hope," Landon greeted, his voice softening. "It's good to see you."

Hope stood up, offering him a friendly smile. "Hey, Landon. I didn't know you were coming."

He shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I was in the area and thought I'd drop by. It's been a while."

Josie tried to push down the unease rising in her chest, but it only grew as the evening wore on. Landon made sure to sit near Hope during the games, his comments and glances a little too familiar for Josie's liking. She watched as Hope, seemingly oblivious to his intentions, laughed at his jokes and chatted with him like old friends.

After an hour of strained politeness, Josie couldn't take it anymore. During a break in the games, she pulled Hope aside into the hallway, her expression tense.

"Hope, can we talk?" Josie asked, her voice low but urgent.

Hope looked at her with concern. "Of course. What's wrong?"

Josie hesitated, trying to find the right words. "It's about Landon. I don't think he should be here."

Hope frowned. "Why? He's just hanging out with us, Josie. We ended things on good terms, and he knows I'm with you now."

Josie's frustration bubbled to the surface. "That's not the point, Hope. He's been flirting with you all night, and you're just...letting it happen."

Hope's brow furrowed in confusion. "Flirting? Josie, he's not flirting. He's just being nice."

Josie's voice shook with emotion as she spoke. "You don't see it, but I do. He's trying to get under my skin, and it's working. I can't stand the way he looks at you, like he's still got a chance."