Hosie~ One Shots

When Paths Collide Part 4

Both Hope and Lizzie turned toward the staircase, and Hope's heart stopped. Walking down the steps, with the same captivating smile and bright eyes that had filled her mind every night since their meeting, was Josie.

Josie's eyes widened in shock when she saw Hope standing there. She paused mid-step, her mouth slightly open, and her gaze locked onto Hope's. Time seemed to freeze as the two of them stared at each other, disbelief and recognition clear on both their faces.

Hope's heart pounded in her chest as she scrambled to her feet, barely able to process what was happening. "Josie?" she whispered, her voice full of wonder and disbelief.

Josie's stunned expression slowly transformed into a smile, one that sent a flood of warmth through Hope's entire body. "Hope," she said, her voice soft yet full of a thousand unspoken words.

Lizzie, still sitting on the couch, watched the scene unfold with a satisfied smirk. "Well," she drawled, looking between the two of them, "I guess introductions won't be necessary."

Hope's face flushed a deep, burning red at Lizzie's teasing words, and she struggled to find something—anything—to say that wouldn't betray how breathless she felt. Her heart raced, and her mind seemed to have gone completely blank.

"Uh," Hope stammered, her cheeks still burning as she turned back to Josie. "Hi... again."

Josie chuckled softly, the sound making Hope's heart skip a beat. "Hi," Josie replied, her eyes sparkling with recognition and something else, something warm. "So... you're Lizzie's friend?" She descended the last few steps and stopped a few feet from Hope, her gaze never wavering.

Hope glanced quickly at Lizzie, who was now leaning back on the couch, clearly enjoying every second of this reunion. "Yeah," Hope managed to say, her voice shaky. "I had no idea you were her sister."

Josie raised her eyebrows in playful surprise. "And I had no idea you were the friend Lizzie's been talking about," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Guess it really is a small world, huh?"

Hope couldn't help but smile, even as her heart kept pounding. "Yeah... really small," she murmured.

Lizzie finally stood up, clapping her hands together with a triumphant grin. "Well, now that you two have found each other again, how about we get back to our movie night?" She waggled her eyebrows mischievously. "With some added company, of course."

Josie's smile widened as she looked at Lizzie. "I'd love to join," she said, her eyes flicking back to Hope, "if that's okay with you."

Hope swallowed hard, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "Yeah, that'd be great," she said, her voice softer now. She couldn't believe her luck—after days of searching and wondering, Josie was here, right in front of her, in the most unexpected way.

Lizzie's eyes danced with amusement as she guided them all back to the couch. "This is going to be fun," she whispered to Hope with a knowing grin.

Hope couldn't help but smile, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation as Josie sat down beside her. The evening had just taken an incredible turn, and she had no idea where it would lead—but she was excited to find out.

The three of them moved into the kitchen, the air thick with a mixture of excitement and nervous energy. Lizzie immediately began rummaging through cabinets, pulling out ingredients and announcing what they'd be cooking.

"Alright," Lizzie said, her voice full of determination. "We're making my famous build-your-own-tacos. Everyone gets a say in what goes on the table." She turned to Josie and Hope, who stood side by side, trying to avoid each other's eyes but failing to keep small smiles from forming. "Josie, you're on vegetable chopping duty. Hope, you're with me on seasoning the meat."

Hope nodded, grateful for the task. Her hands were a bit shaky, and she needed something to focus on. Josie made her way to the counter, grabbing a cutting board and knife, while Lizzie handed Hope a bowl filled with ground beef and a set of spices.

"So, Hope," Lizzie said as she poured a bit of oil into a pan, "are you good with spicy food?"

Hope took a moment to register the question, her attention drifting momentarily to Josie, who had started chopping vegetables with practiced ease. "Oh, yeah," she replied, snapping back into focus. "I can handle spice."

Lizzie grinned. "Good, because Josie and I like things hot." She shot Josie a playful look, and Josie rolled her eyes.

"Lizzie exaggerates," Josie said with a laugh, glancing over at Hope. "She once made salsa so spicy that it was basically inedible."

Lizzie put a hand on her chest in mock offense. "That was an experiment gone wrong, and you know it."

Hope couldn't help but chuckle, the tension she'd been feeling loosening bit by bit. She sprinkled some chili powder and cumin into the bowl, carefully mixing it with her hands. "I think I can handle a little culinary adventure," she joked.

Josie's gaze lingered on her for a moment, and Hope felt her heart flutter. "We'll see about that," Josie said, her voice warm. She continued chopping, her movements quick and precise, and Hope couldn't help but watch her out of the corner of her eye.

The kitchen filled with the aroma of sizzling meat and freshly chopped vegetables. Lizzie was orchestrating the process with the confidence of someone who had done this a hundred times, but she occasionally shot amused glances between Hope and Josie.

"So, how did you two meet?" Josie asked, looking up from her chopping. There was genuine curiosity in her eyes, and Hope felt her cheeks heat up again.

"Uh, well," Hope began, glancing at Lizzie for backup.

"Oh, it's a great story," Lizzie interjected, smirking. "Hope practically saved my life in college. I was having a major meltdown over a failed project, and she came in with, like, this heroic pep talk and a pint of ice cream. Been best friends ever since."

Hope laughed. "I don't know about 'heroic,' but yeah, Lizzie was a mess."

Josie smiled, her eyes softening. "Sounds like you've been a pretty great friend."

Hope's blush deepened, and she focused on the bowl of seasoned meat in front of her. "Well, she's always had my back, too."

Lizzie, sensing the emotional tension, clapped her hands together. "Alright! Let's get this taco feast going." She looked at Josie and then Hope, her grin mischievous. "And maybe, after dinner, we can hear some embarrassing stories about each other."

Josie's laugh filled the kitchen, and Hope couldn't help but smile, feeling like this unexpected reunion might be the best thing that had happened in a long time.

There will be another part :)