Zoe paced back and forth in Lavon's kitchen. She had messed up – badly. It wasn't going to go over well with Lavon or Wade. How could she had been so stupid to make up a story? She shook her head knowing this wasn't the first time she had worked herself into a corner.

"Zoe?" Lavon came into the kitchen. "It's like 6AM; pastries aren't here yet." He rubbed his eyes.

"Forget the pastry, although I'll probably be needing them pretty soon. Lavon, you have no idea what I've done." She heard him groan. He sat on a stool and braced his elbows on the counter, waiting to hear what she got herself into this time.

"Maybe I should go back to bed." He started after she refused to speak.

"No." Zoe put her hands over her eyes.

"Z, what did you do?" Lavon asked. She sighed.

"I maybe told some people that Wade was my boyfriend, and now they're coming to Alabama to work." The words came out fast, and Lavon had to consider each one slowly. The biggest phrase that stuck out was that Wade was her boyfriend, which hadn't been true for some months. Zoe left Bluebell after Wade expressed his love for her. Her intent was to return in three months. Instead it took five, and Lavon wasn't even sure that she was going to stay. Wade was out of the picture. While they got along well, Lavon knew that Wade was only pretending there was no love lost; he was hurting. Her running away after saying those three words was a knife to the heart.

"Wade your boyfriend?" Lavon asked. She nodded.

"I know, I know. It's so stupid, but I was trying to get out of a date and – "

"Stop. I am not the one you need to be telling this too."

"Lavon, these people are coming. To the Rammer Jammer. Tomorrow."

"Well, then I guess you better go fix it." He shook his head. "And don't wake Wade up. He'll be grumpy. Wait a little while." Lavon disappeared out of the kitchen, leaving Zoe to her own thoughts.

"I am a horrible person." She mumbled to herself.

After waiting till what Zoe thought might be an opportune time to talk to Wade, she trudged her way over to his house. She picked up his favorite beer, hoping that would help He was playing video games when she knocked on the door.

"Doc," He said slowly as she stood before him. She raised the six pack up and smiled, and he moved out of the way to let her enter. "I can only imagine what this is all about." He said as he sat back down on the couch. Zoe couldn't sit; she was too nervous.

"So, something happened." She started, and her eyes darted to the side. "I sort of made up a little lie, for a good reason though."

"Zoe." His voice was firm and he leaned forward.

"When I was working in New York, this doctor in the same program kept bugging me about a date. I mean over and over, and he just wouldn't take no for an answer." Wade leaned back on the couch. "So, I told him I had a boyfriend." She spit the words out quickly, hoping he picked up on what she was truly trying to say.

"A boyfriend."

"In Bluebell." She added. Wade's eyes narrowed, but he was taking too long to make the connection. "Wade, I said it was you!" She exclaimed. And now he sat silently, his arms crossed. She waited on edge for him to answer her. "Aren't you going to say anything?" She asked. He just started to laugh.

"This is too much." He continued to laugh and stood up. He went to her, his hand on the small of the back leading her to the door.

"Wade wait." She stopped him. "I need your help."

"With being your boyfriend?" He laughed even more. "Zoe, I have no intention of pretending to be your boyfriend." He opened the door. "You'll just have to figure this one out on your own." The last thing he was going to do was make a fool of himself again. It was enough that Wade Kinsella had professed his love to her, the only woman beside his Mama the words were uttered to. Zoe took that sentiment and left him. He wasn't about to put himself out there again.

"Wade, please. You don't understand." She braced herself against his door. Her eyes dropped, and he saw her expression change. "It wasn't meant to hurt you. I just –" her voice trailed off. "It was just this guy who wouldn't take no for answer." She was quiet now, calmer, and he saw that she was telling the truth. "You were just the first person on my mind." He gritted his teeth, looking away. The last thing he wanted was to be involved with her again because it killed him to watch her leave the first time. "I'm sorry." She said softly. "For it all." The words fell out slowly. Her blanket apology wasn't enough for him, but he appreciated it. They hadn't had time to talk since she'd been back. Honestly, he didn't even want to hear what she had to say. He just wanted to be over her and move on his life, let it return to the way it was before she changed it. When he looked back down at her upturned eyes, he knew he was in trouble. Only Zoe could wrangle him into some fake and ridiculous situation.

"What is it you need me to do?" He asked.

"My friends are coming to the Rammer Jammer tomorrow night. They're in Alabama, including this guy. I told them you worked there." The side of his mouth twitched. She didn't even know he owned the place. "They want to meet you. We can pretend, and then it'll be over." She said her hands cutting their fake relationship before it began.

"Okay, well I have to work tomorrow night."

"Perfect. Then you can say hi without answering a bunch of questions." Wade nodded.

"Okay."

"Okay." Zoe took a deep breath. "Thank you, Wade. I will make it up to you. Anything you want."

"Anything?" His lip turned up and that familiar glint was in his eye.

"Well," She rolled her eyes, "not that." She pushed at his chest. "Bye." She said with a wave. Wade shut the door behind her. He wasn't sure what the warm feeling he was getting was all about, but it was certainly connected to Zoe Hart. He didn't think this was going to turn out well, not for either of them, but that wouldn't stop him from having a little bit of fun.

Zoe was at the Rammer Jammer earlier than she had said. Wade noticed her walk in right away. She looked different than usual, more done up, darker eye makeup, maybe even higher heels. "Look at you, Miss New York City." He said eyeing her up and down as she slid on a stool.

"Shut up." She said playfully. "I'm trying to keep an image up."

"You look hot. Nice job." She blushed. "Red wine?"

"Bourbon. Then the wine."

"Zoe, I'm not so sure that's a good idea. We all know you can only drink so much." She glared at him. "A shot of bourbon it is." He poured it, and she took it down fast. "So, anything I need to know?" She shrugged. "I look alright?" He mentally kicked himself for even asking. When did he even start caring what people thought? The plaid shirt and jeans would be enough. This wasn't New York City.

She looked him over. He looked good. Zoe pushed the thought to the side. She didn't need her brain to be clouded by how the shirt fit his chest, or what she remembered of taking it off a few too many times. She bit her lip. "Yes. You're a bartender in Alabama." He nodded. "They're nice people." Zoe affirmed.

"Except for the jerk who wouldn't leave you alone." Wade poured her glass of wine.

"Yes." She answered. She took a deep breath. "I'm kind of nervous." She drummed her fingers on the bar. A group of four people came in. "Here we go." She looked back at him.

Wade watched the woman and three men greet Zoe. She kissed each on the cheek and gave them hugs. Typical, he thought. She gestured to a table, but then looked over at him. He figured that was his cue. When he came to the table, he felt his own nerves start.

"Everyone this is Wade, my boyfriend." She said grabbing onto his arm.

"How y'all doing?" He asked. He shook hands with each guy, learning their names. The woman, Karli, was so excited to meet him, she jumped up and hugged him. "It's great for you to come out and visit Zoe." He looked down and winked at Zoe.

"She's our favorite," Karli said.

"So, you just bartend?" That came from Justin, perhaps the snarkiest looking one of the group. He barely even looked up at Wade when he asked him the question. Justin was the guy who was after Zoe; Wade could tell even before Zoe pointed him out. He was arrogant from the weak handshake he gave Wade, clearly showing he felt was above Wade, all the way to the question about being a bartender. If old Wade still existed, he would have socked him right in the jaw. New Wade thought of Zoe – at least fake boyfriend Wade.

"Actually, I own the bar." Zoe's mouth opened slightly and closed quickly. She hadn't known. "Yup, bartending is just part of the job." Justin nodded, slightly amused at this information. Wade wanted to punch his lights out. "Well, I got to get back to work, but first round is on me. Enjoy."

"Oh no! We thought you were going to sit with us!" Karli frowned. "I was so hoping to get to know you better. Zoe has so many good things to say about you." Karli said. Wade glanced over at Zoe who couldn't meet his eyes.

"Maybe later I'll have some time." He pulled Zoe with him for a bit till they were out of earshot. "Justin's a grade A moron." Zoe nodded. "And you were talking about me?" He smirked.

"Wade." She drawled out. "I did say you were my boyfriend." She linked her hands with his and leaned forward a little. She was laying it on thick, but in reality it felt good to have someone to flirt with, hold hands with, and smile at, even for this one night.

"Then I think we should act like it." He leaned down and kissed her sweetly on the lips. "That's to make sure they believe you." She smiled. In all her time away, she hadn't forgotten what it was like to kiss Wade, even the small kisses. When she pulled back, he was grinning at her. He shot her a wink.

"Thank you for doing this." She whispered.

"Yup." He went back behind the bar and watched her walk away. She was beautiful in her tiny black dress. The thought that for a few hours she was his, even if it was pretend, was good. It felt right. She looked over at him once she sat down and he winked again. There it was, that smile he had come to love so much. Wade dropped his eyes to the bar top. It was surreal to think that this was a game. It wasn't that long ago that they had been together. He shook his head reminding himself it wasn't real.

All night Wade watched the interaction at the table. It was strange to see her interact with people from New York, people he didn't know, people just like her. She was almost in her element. He could tell she was uncomfortable with Justin, who often leaned a little too close in her direction. But this other guy, he remembered his name as Duke or something weird and upper class, Zoe laughed at everything he said.

He cleaned some glasses as they got up from the table. "Wade, I'm so sorry we didn't get to spend more time with you." Karli said. Wade walked them outside of the bar and agreed. He shook everyone's hand again. "We'll see you again?" Karli asked.

"Yeah," Zoe added looking up at Wade. "I just found out all four of them will be relocated to Mobile." Wade saw Zoe's fake smile.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah, I already work down here in construction," Andrew said. "But my girl is finally going to make it her home."

"And these two just want to follow me wherever I go." Karli said pointing to Justin and Duke.

"Hey, I can't help it if there's a good opportunity here." Duke said. Justin was silent, and Wade wondered if the reason for his move was to be closer to Zoe. He didn't like him at all. Justin was too busy watching Zoe too much. Wade slid his arm around her waist and pulled her a little bit closer. They may have been faking a relationship, but he certainly wasn't going to let anyone harm her.

"Well, that's great." Wade said. "I look forward to seeing y'all again." They said their goodbyes, and Wade and Zoe waved them off. Once they were back in the bar, Zoe slid back on the stool.

"Thank you, Wade." She yawned.

"Keeping lies straight is exhausting." He said with a laugh. She nodded.

"I had no idea they were going to be moving here. Especially Duke." Wade watched her eyes drift to the side, something was there with Duke, he couldn't put his finger on it. "I'll just have to tell them we broke up and that'll solve it."

"What about Justin?" Wade asked.

"I don't think he'll bother me from Mobile." Zoe shrugged. He wasn't too sure about the guy. "Thanks again." Zoe said looking up at him. "I couldn't have done it without you."

"Literally." Wade replied. "I'm going to be getting out of here in another ten minutes or so, you want a ride home?" Zoe nodded. "Okay."

Zoe drummed her fingers on the bar. She watched Wade work, dipping in and out of the kitchen and back room. He cleaned his area and then grabbed a jacket. When he nodded in the direction of the door, she slid off the stool. Wade threw his arm around her shoulders and walked her to his car. The red car, the one that they had first made out in on Miller road. Zoe swallowed. Her time away from Wade had been to give herself space, to learn how to forgive him for his infidelity. She had, but she still hurt. Even in that, this night pretending to be each other's again had given her some comfort, peace, even though it wasn't real.

He opened the door for her. "Familiar, hey?" He asked. She nodded. They rode home in silence, but Zoe couldn't help her mind from going a mile a minute. "Zoe? I know you're over thinking. Your brain is clearly going at warp speed." Zoe laughed.

"Nope." She lied. "Just thinking about how great things went, planning my next move." She stared out the window.

"Right." Wade said. "Just keep me updated. Want to pull over and make out for old time's sake?" She slapped his arm. He pulled up in front of the carriage house.

Zoe shut the door and hung in the open window. "Stay out of trouble, Wade." He shook his head slowly, but she could see that knowing smirk.

"Night, Doc."

"Night." Wade watched Zoe climb the short staircase to the front door. She waved over her should before disappearing into the house. This could be interesting, Wade thought as he drove his car the short distance to his home.

I do not own Hart of Dixie. So, this is my first Hart of Dixie fic. I'm obsessed after watching all four seasons on Netflix. I have written previous fan fiction, but thought I would try in the HOD fandom. I know the show is over, but I do wish there was more fan fiction. Happy reading! Kind and gentle reviews are always welcome! -B.