Chapter Text
"Babe, pick up the phone."
Josie huffed and curled up into her fiance trying to suppress the whine of a toddler, "Raf, I--"
"No. No, You said you would call her today. And its today. So now its go time." Rafael stopped her before she could try to interrupt him again with the endless amount of excuses her pair of pouty lips were capable of expressing. He'd listened to them like any good fiance would for days and then boy, did he let her distract him but not today.
Tomorrow was her bridal shower and she knew just as well as he did that she would have to announce her bridal party to both their families. Over the past few years being with Josie, her friends became his too and Hope deserved to know the truth.
That Lizzie Saltzman was a nightmare who was trying to ruin their wedding. Not that it was really a surprise to anyone and it wouldn't be to Hope either; that girl was tough. She would take it well but God forbid, Josie Saltzman had to hurt someone's feelings.
Raf sighed. He knew he had it easy. Landon had been his brother since they were preteens getting kicked out of the same foster home and even though he currently lived in another state, there was no one else he'd want up there with him on his wedding day. His best friend and his brother were the same person. And Landon, the sap, actually got teary eyed when he was asked, telling his brother later that visit that he worried his new job in Washington was tearing them apart at the seams. His words. Rafael always admired Landon for not pretending to be any tougher or cooler than he felt in that exact moment but always turning out to be so much tougher and cooler than he ever thought he could be. Tragically humble, he'd heard an ex say once but one of his or Landon's, he couldn't actually remember.
Shaking his head to clear the cluttered thoughts, he redirected the woman in front of him, "She is your best friend who truly wants you to be happy on our wedding day. She'll be fine, Jo." Raf grabbed her phone and unlocked it before selecting Hope Mikaelson from the contacts and handing it over.
Josie took in a shaky breath as she looked at the phone and then up at the man she loved. Pursing her lips in determination, she grabbed it from his hand and waited for the sound of her friends voice on the other line, "Hold my hand."
Rafael chucked and laced his fingers through Josie's while she waited to deliver the bad news. It was these kinds of moments where he understood the warnings he'd been given about what weddings can turn women into and it's barely started.
~
Hope took a deep breath and sighed before realizing that Josie was definitely hearing the exasperation in her voice and therefore would internalize the crap out of it.
"Hope, I'm so sorry. You know--"Josie sobbed.
"Hey! No. Its not--I'm just tired. I had a long day.--" Hope tried to explain.
"Oh no! I'm so sor--" her friend cried and tried to apologize more.
"No! You know I understand. I knew this would happen," which she absolutely did. Hope had met Lizzie Saltzman and that was all she needed to know to understand that she'd never have a chance to be her friend's maid of honour. "I told you I was honoured to be considered for a second when you have a sister. I thought they were automatic defaults in this situation anyway. And I meant it."
That was the absolute truth, plus she'd never had a chance to get her hopes up so it really wasn't worth any guilt or dramatic phone calls the day before her best friend's bridal shower. It was just how she liked it. No expectations that weren't based in attainable reality; good ol' predictable outcome. Hope couldn't ask for anything less.
"But hey, do I still get to stand up in your wedding?" she asked her friend even though she knew the answer already. Just like she knew that Rafael was right there next to Josie probably holding her hand and getting her through every second of this. God, Hope loved Raf. He was such a good guy and so good for Josie. Now if only he had a brother...oh, wait--
"Of course you can! You're gonna be the bridesmaid right next to Lizzie so really, its like I have you both...--but don't tell her I said that." The jumps in Josies voice from elation to serous warning made Hope giggle.
"I wouldn't dare. But now, soon to be Josette Waithe, you need to get some serious beauty rest for the first of many big days tomorrow," Hope used her 'mom voice' Josie had called it. Soothing and soft with a smile behind it to put ease into the hearts of any who heard it. The person who needed it tonight was her buddy, Jo, who was trying so hard to avoid becoming bridezilla. "And Jo? You did the right thing and I'm glad you told me...even if it was the night before the shower."
Josie giggled in total self awareness and Hope swore she could hear Raf right along with her, "You know this is why I love you, right? Well that and things like taking Landon to his suit fitting tomorrow while were cleaning up and getting all the gifts back to the apartment..." her face scrunched up in concern while she waited for her friend to confirm the plan they'd made weeks ago when Josie was panicking about double booking Rafael on an already stress filled day, "You remembered you're taking Landon, right?"
The panic in Josie's voice was back, this time laced with apology and guilt because she was figuring out that Hope had indeed forgot the plan entirely. Her friend rushed through the next part, "Because apparently Mom says Raf has to be there at the end of the shower to thank everyone and she's mad enough that Landon won't be there to help load and unload the gifts because that's the man's job--"
Hope winced but recovered quickly, "Of course, I remembered. It's not a problem," except it kind of was because she was going to meet a client for drinks but it was her own damn fault for not putting it in her calendar as soon as Josie asked. Unless, "Besides even if it was, couldn't Lizzie...you know? Sounds like a maid of honour kind of job to me."
And as soon she heard herself say it, she couldn't believe she'd let herself get roped into a maid of honour job without the damn title because it sure as shit was a maid of honour kind of thing.
"Oh, well, yeah, I guess--" and then Josie's voice was cut off by a panicked Rafael who pleaded with both of them.
"No. Please. Hope? Do me a solid. Lan's only here a couple days and--" it sounded like Raf was trying to play on their mutual understanding of how much Lizzie Saltzman could be without cluing Josie in on their secret pact to save each other in dire situations.
Hope closed her eyes briefly before saying with a strained smile, "Well good thing I didn't forget then. Everything's fine. Everything will be fine. Just try and relax tonight. Both of you. Big day tomorrow," and with that sentiment Hope ended the call and groaned into her couch cushion.
Weddings were the worst. And if it was anyone other than Josie and Raf, she would be faking her own death right now to avoid this endless circus.
It was nothing against Raf's brother, --Logan? Or whatever--he seemed nice enough when they'd met once and briefly. It was at Rafael's 25th birthday extravaganza as Josie had lovingly called it but Hope was busy and drunk and just barely getting through a terrible breakup with her last boyfriend. Roman's family despised her on first meeting and then broke up with her only to get married three months later to the girl his family loved to talk about at Sunday dinners when they were still together. Yeah, he was a real winner.
Hope could only imagine Logan's--it sounds wrong--first impression of her since she didn't remember it as well as she'd like. Especially knowing they'd be spending a few hours alone together tomorrow and eventually over and over again through all the wedding escapades. It was just awkward. They'd met at a terrible time in her life and this was the person closest to Rafael; someone she'd accepted as permanently connected to her best friend. Her friend, even, and that was saying something. Hope didn't really have many friends other than Josie and those connected to her.
Lo--Lu--whatever his name is, they were going to be connected for life through this wedding and the people they loved. And no matter how hard she tried to nail it down, her lack of memory of their first meeting put her expectations in a place of unpredictability. Great. Just how I like it.
~
The shower was beautiful, simple and elegant just like Josie and just like her mom. Luckily their taste was just about the same because Hope knew the cyclone that was Caroline Forbes wasn't consulting her daughter on flower arrangements in advance; a trait passed onto Lizzie instead. But as annoyed as Hope was, it was all washed away by the genuine grin spread across her best friend's face. Josie was happy. She had a good day and her best friend had helped by taking some bad news well and cancelling her 4 o'clock consultation to play chauffeur to the best man. A best man who'd be showing up any minute with the groom-to-be to thank and greet all the women who would be sizing them up immediately. Hope didn't envy them.
It was a nice part about being a bridesmaid instead of the maid of honour. No speech and you could hide in the crowd of taffeta with your fellow prisoners but even the chuckle at the images dancing in her brain couldn't distract her from her nerves. Obviously, she would play it cool and aloof with...whatshisname--Hope was great at aloof--and assure him that she totally remembered the last time they'd met but avoid as many details as possible. How hard could it be, really?
The only thing distracting her confidence was the few flashes of memory she actually had. A goofy smile, inky black tight curls and the most gorgeous set of...green?--grey eyes she'd ever seen. It was infuriating, honestly because she hadn't thought about it in so long that, obviously, she'd forgotten the impact. Which was a lot, apparently, as she squirmed uncomfortably in her chair in front of a room full of gazing women.
So he was hot. It's fine. Anyway, these were totally skewed, unreliable memories brought to you by drunk brain and broken heart. That might not even be the guy! Even if she'd done the worst and come onto him that night and would have to apologize and explain the whole drunk brain, broken heart thing that sure as hell was a lot better than the reality of...those eyes.
Hope was so lost in her thoughts as she obsessed over what truly seemed like nothing once she'd convinced herself that the guy she was seeing in her mind would not be the one next to her--no, in front of her. Standing in front of her right now, growing more confused by the second as his mouth moved but no sound came out. What was he saying? Hope shook her head and came back to the reality of the hustle and bustle of the bridal shower. Women chattering bouncing off the walls with no where to go and clacking of heels on tile as they got up and moved from table to table to catch up with their friends and family.
"Sorry, its louder in here than I expected," he was talking to her but it still didn't feel quite real so Hope looked around the room to get her bearings.
How long had she sat there consumed by her thoughts?
"I don't know if you remember me..." her eyes shot to his finally because he was still trying to get her attention for some reason and now she at least knew this wasn't a dream.
The confusion her face must have told him she couldn't hear a word he said either so he threw his hand out in her direction and bent down closer to talk to her privately,
"I'm Landon. Josie wanted me to come grab you so we wouldn't get held up by the crowd. I think she's worried about our timeliness." A goofy smile grew on his face as he joked and suddenly Hope was reminded of those memories she'd just dismissed as imaginary. He was very real.
Hope let herself smile through pursed lips but she could feel the warmth from him tug at them. We're playing this cool. She nodded and decided to take his hand let him lead her out of the banquet room before saying anything else. She almost forgot about Josie and Raf entirely--and what kind of friend did that make her--but caught their eyes quickly at the door and silently signaled thank yous and smiles while they were being attacked by aunts and cousins alike before making an escape. It was just enough time to get ahold of herself before she had to actually talk to him.
"Of course, I remember you," Landon! Finally turning to him as she lead him to her car, Hope assured him with a bit too much exaggeration, "Landon. It was getting so nuts in there, you caught me when all I could hear was my headache getting worse. It was at Raf's birthday thing, right?"
That was casual enough. Even if something had happened between them, they were both adults and it definitely didn't need to be a big deal. All the while unlocking and getting into her car, Hope barely realized that she'd avoided looking at him longer than a second or two since the moment he'd broken her out of her daze. It happened when she was focused on a goal or on avoiding something staring her straight in the face. But it wasn't usually a human man with warm, calm presence and the most direct stare attached to a pair of truly dreamy hodded eyes. God, I hate myself.
She didn't want to look at him because she knew he was just staring at her. Staring at her with unknown intent until she actually looked back but that seemed so damn dangerous at this point. He spoke just before she turned the key and Hope decided that driving was the perfect excuse not to have to look at him at all. It wouldn't work at the tux place but she was coming up with all of this off the cuff as it was.
"Yeah, you remember? Good, I was worried for a second. I didn't want it to be weird and it's been a while--" Hope's face shifted as she searched his words for any details left out from her foggy memory but he was being extremely vague. She stopped her overactive brain from spinning long enough to hear him abruptly stop and filled the space as best she could with reassurance.
Even turning to give him her best quick but warm smile, she said, "It's not weird at all." This time their eyes met and man, was that a mistake. Hope's first response was to pull herself away as quickly as humanly possible but everything else was working against her. His eyes begged her to stay and his slightly parted mouth asked to be discovered. Or rediscovered. Finally managing to pull her eyes away, she swore she would not look at him again unless absolutely necessary.
Hope could only hear him now...and honestly, that wasn't much better. Landon's voice was so low and gravelly, like he'd spent years smoking something. Well, that could help whatever the hell was going on with her. Smokers smelled terrible...except there wasn't a whiff of anything other than maybe Old Spice sitting inches away from him in an enclosed vehicle.
Now that husky voice was laced with more confusion and concern as he spoke, "So, when you saw me you weren't worried about--because you didn't--"
Hope couldn't tell why he'd stopped himself or what he was trying to say. It really wasn't helping this cool as a cucumber thing she was so dedicated to. There might have been the slightest wince in his voice but honestly the drawl of it was so sexy, she was really having a hard time picking up his intonation.
Hope decided to take charge of this muddled narrative herself. She was a part of it just as much as he was and even though she couldn't remember it, he couldn't even spit it out, "Landon, honestly, whatever you're worried about, don't. I'm not," she shrugged her shoulders and threw him a quick friendly glance with her best carefree smile, "Like you said, it was a while ago."
Hope could see him nodding slowly in the passenger seat and he didn't say anything until he reminded her of the name of the place for his tux fitting.
They exited the car and again went her spinning mind, trying to figure out exactly why she was losing her mind over this guy all the while trying to avoid his stare and figure out exactly the kind of trouble she'd caused him when they first met. Lost in her thoughts, Hope looked up to see those eyes again, asking her much more than the words coming from his mouth, "You ready for this?"
"Absolutely," Hope replied as easily as she could fake it. It came out with a bright smile that seemed to pull one straight from Landon too before they headed towards the tailor.
Nothing could have been farther from the truth.