AN/Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words. Read and review!
Second Chances are a Sweet Solace
Zoe looked at Wade sitting on his sofa through red-rimmed eyes, physically and emotionally exhausted from the events of the past few weeks. Her voice shook as she spoke, standing in his living room, and her hands trembled as she struggled to find the right words to say.
"Wade?"
"What do you want, Zoe? We both know enough has been said and done for a lifetime. Or at the very least, until the next of Bluebell's town functions. I just hope that by then you're able to keep yourself from drooling over George the WHOLE DAMN DAY!"
She'd heard Wade shout, but she'd never heard him spew quite so many words in a row quite so hatefully. She deserved to hear it, though. She'd embarrassed herself and Wade. And, worse, she'd used him. She didn't know if she could go on with what she had intended to say, but she had to try.
"Wade, can we just start over? Can we pretend we're meeting again for the first time and put all the bad stuff behind us?"
He rubbed his eyes with both hands and his shoulders hunched before he looked at her again.
He raised both arms and shrugged in an expression of helplessness as he spoke, "You think it's that easy, Zoe? That easy to just forget you and everything that's happened? If that were the case, we wouldn't be standing here in the first place. I'd be at the Rammer Jammer flirting with a fine example of Bluebell breeding and you'd be happy with Judson or my brother or, hell, maybe even George for all I know or care."
"I know that, I know all the things we've said and done to hurt each other. But I also know I'm not the only one who thinks of the joking and the laughing and the good things that have happened between us. And you do care who I'm happy with or you wouldn't still be listening to me right now. We may not have taken that free pass, but we BOTH wanted to, Wade. We BOTH wanted to."
There was a long moment before either of them spoke and when the silence was broken. He spoke so softly looking down at the floor, she had to strain to hear him.
"Why should we bother trying to start over? Because we BOTH still want to? And not just for a free pass either?"
New tears filled her eyes as he finally looked up at her standing across the room, her hands finally still. Her voice no longer trembled when she answered him. "Yes, Wade. We BOTH still want to. Very much."
She tried to smile as she said it, but too much had happened and she was so scared to hope that they might actually be able to fix this, mend what this had become. When he saw her attempt at a classic-Zoe-Hart grin, he stood and strode to her so quickly she was caught off guard and almost fell backward. He caught her arms in his hands and righted her before he swallowed and spoke.
"We should try then. For Levon. He can't be wrong about anything, you know. Hurts his ego too much."
She rewarded him with a genuine laugh and he saw the twinkle in her eye he had always found to be a magnet, always keeping him wanting, hoping to someday be in her orbit, close to her.
She quieted and looked up at him, his hands still on her arms, and held out her hand to him. She saw the confusion on his face and chuckled once more.
"My name's Zoe Hart. I'm new to town and would love it if you could show me around sometime."
Zoe saw what she knew was probably the most authentic smile Wade had ever shared while in her presence. It was a dazzling one, a smile for the storybooks as the natives of Bluebell would tell her.
"Well, I'm Wade and if you want a Bluebell Welcome Wagon, I'm your man, Miss Hart."
"Zoe, call me Zoe."
"Alright, Zoe. You can call me anytime."
She couldn't resist smacking his arm for that one, but as they made their way onto the porch, out onto the road to take a walk to town, she knew he meant it. She knew they both meant it all.