New chapter. Finally, right?
So I want to thank you for still following the story and I hope you are still liking it. Today I was rewatching HoD and now I feel like I need more ZW right now. Do you?
A Yes or No Game
Chapter 4: The Ace Up Your Sleeve
"He's cheating on me," Zoe blurted out and AnnaBeth almost snorted all her coffee through her nose and choked on it, coughing while her wide eyes looked at her petite friend.
"Wade?"
"Yup." Zoe hummed as she put her elbows on the table and cradled her head in her hands. She looked more than sad – she was depressed and she couldn't help it because she knew something was up with Wade.
During the last week he had been overly affectionate and nervous, as if he was hiding something from her. He always had excuses about his duty as a best man and work but before he found time for them. She also knew she was no one to call him on his BS because she was usually at the practice until late and even went to Mobile to work a few hours a week at the hospital.
Maybe it was her fault that he had looked for someone else. Had she been neglecting him?
"No!" AnnaBeth screeched. "No. He wouldn't dare. He loves you, Zoe." She clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Look, hon, you might be thinking like this because of my problems with Jake, but he's nothing like that. Wade waited years for you and I've never seen him happier than when you two are together."
Zoe pursed her lips and furrowed her brow.
She knew they were happy. She couldn't hide it because being around him made her feel complete. They could spend time together in silence and be perfectly fine, like when she leaned against his chest while he played video games and she read her medical journals. They had learned to be together and love the things at the beginning seemed to make them so different.
"But he's being so weird," Zoe retorted.
AB gave her a weird look, as if she felt sorry for her. "Maybe it's the wedding."
"Right." The word rolled off Zoe's tongue as if tasted bitter.
"Sweetie," AnnaBeth murmured, placing a hand on Zoe's forearm to comfort her worries. "Wade is not a man who has dealt with family duties before. He was detached to some point and now he has more people around him than ever before."
"You think that is what this is about?" Zoe bit on her bottom lip and worry lines marred her forehead. "Perhaps he's got more on his plate than he can handle. He's trying to save up money for his own bar, you know? And with the renovations at our place, my dad's wedding, his job and me being a pain in his butt…" She heaved a long sigh. "You could be right."
"Of course, I am!" AnnaBeth chirped cheerfully.
Zoe laughed at her friend.
It was so different to have friends here in Bluebell than it was to do the same in New York. Of course she still talked to Gigi and Laura, even Jonah from time to time despite Wade's jealousy – she often told him how he was so hot, after her graduation she had to break up with Jonah because she couldn't stop thinking of him.
"Okay, enough about me. How have you been?" Zoe asked, taking a sip of her latte. "Do I need to talk to Wade so he kicks your ex-husband's ass?" she murmured conspirationally.
AnnaBeth smiled sadly but shook her head. "No need. And he's not my ex yet. I was talking to George this morning and he promised to make things fast about the divorce."
"That's good, I suppose."
"I just want to get on with my life." AnnaBeth looked down at her cup and frowned. "I always saw myself being a mom more than a wife but… I guess I'm not being any of those any time soon."
"AB," Zoe drawled, reaching for her friend's hands. "You'll be an awesome mom. And you deserve to be with a man who loves you with all his being."
"Like Wade?"
"Yes." Zoe smiled and soon she blushed, thinking about her stupidity. He would never do such thing to her, not when they had fought so hard to end up together. Not when he had waited for her when she asked for time.
"You know you sounded silly when you said he was cheating on you, right?" AB arched an eyebrow and Zoe sighed.
"I know!"
"Just because he's being overly nice and sweet-"
"And sexy, never forget that about him," Zoe complemented, provoking the laughter in AB.
"And sexy, okay," AnnaBeth conceded. "You should enjoy him and the love you two share."
"You're right."
"Good."
"Now," Zoe whispered as she leaned over the table. "How long do you think it's proper for me to wait until Iset you up on a few dates?"
"Zoe Hart!"
"What?" Zoe snickered at the shock in AnnaBeth's face. "You need to get back on the horse – well, not that way. Oh God. I've been listening to Wade's crude jokes for too long."
AnnaBeth laughed wholeheartedly and for that Zoe was thankful. Her friend needed to have a good time after being ignored by her husband and miserable for too long. And she had made a promise to help her get through this rough time.
"We'll wait a little longer," AnnaBeth relented. "But not too long."
"Agreed," Zoe replied in a stern voice but with a mischievous smile on her lips.
…
There was this little black dress in the back of her closet – it was a piece of clothing she didn't get to wear because it was expensive and too fancy for the venues she frequented. But that day she decided to wear it to feel better and give a boost to her ego. She also decided to don those Manolo Blahniks her mom had given her for her last birthday.
Needless to say, when she strutted inside the Rammer Jammer, she felt like she owned the place.
She tried her best to walk sexy and not to trip on something – and did a happy dance in her head when she managed to reach the bar.
Behind it, a familiar blonde and roguish man gave a low whistle of appreciation while his eyebrow arched suggestively.
"My, oh, my," he leaned carelessly over the bar. "May I help you, miss?"
"Bourbon. Straight." She kept her face impassive but looked at him through her eyelashes, hoping the smoky eye shadow was enough to let him know about her intentions.
"You sure?"
"Do you have a better suggestion?" she dared him and his mouth curved into a smirk that was sinfully attractive.
"Many but… I wouldn't like to piss off your boyfriend."
She wanted to laugh but she loved their games so she played the part.
"Are you scared of him?" She cocked her eyebrow as if daring him to say so. "He's just a scrawny little guy."
"Not scared," he muttered, eyes narrowing at her comment. "But I already have a girl. Sweet little thing." He pretended to feel almost sad but also as if he regretted not to climb over the bar and kiss her senseless.
"Just sweet?"
"Funny, too."
She glared at him but Wade only chuckled.
"And sometimes she's this sexy wildcat I can't get enough of," he purred in a deep voice.
She licked her lips and decided to grab a seat to continue this game of theirs. So she held onto a stool and tried to perch her behind on it but her height wasn't helping. In a second her behind ended up on the floor instead of the stool and her eyes met the mahogany bar instead of Wade's green eyes.
"Baby?" He rushed to her and helped her to stand up as he bit the inside of his cheek to keep his laughter under control. "You okay?"
She groaned. "My butt is a bit sore but my pride took the worst of it," she shot back.
The sound of his soft laughter wasn't something that made her embarrassment worse but it eased the moment away, turning it into a memory of them having fun – especially when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest.
"You still look hot as hell," he murmured once he buried his face in the crook of her neck, dropping a teasing kiss right under her ear. "And if you want me, I'll kiss better anything that hurts."
Zoe snorted a very unladylike laughter as her face grew hot. It was just like Wade to whisper inappropriate things when they were surrounded by people who could see her reacting to his words.
She smacked his arm to scold him but he only laughed. Pulling away, he dove in for a quick but intense kiss and then took her hand to lead her to a stool. This time he lifted her and planted her rump firmly on the seat.
"Don't fall again, understood?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. He grinned and tried to walk to his place behind the bar but she tugged on his arm and forced him to kiss her again.
Despite how many times they had kissed during the span of the years they had known each other, it always felt wonderful. Perhaps that was it. Wade was so acquainted with her mouth, and her reactions, that he knew exactly how to kiss her, how to massage her lips with his and keep his tongue under control because she wasn't fond of PDA – it was different when they were alone.
"I have a new bottle of pinot grigio for you," Wade offered as she finally let him go back to work.
"You spoil me," Zoe said, smiling at him. "I like it."
"It's the least you deserve," he replied as he poured the glass of wine.
Watching him like that, graciously serving her a glass of wine and moving around, showing how fast and skillful he was, hypnotized Zoe.
She remembered a particular moment, three months after they had gotten back together. It had been a rainy night and they were cooped up in the house with just a few candles lit up since the power was out. It was nice to create an atmosphere but things between them were never really serious if they were having fun. He was an extremely creative and passionate lover, but also very attentive with what she wanted. They ended up drinking a bottle of wine – he drank from the bottle while she refused to behave like a cavewoman and drank in a mug. Since that day, Wade called her ironic coffee mug, her classy wine mug.
"What's going through that hard and beautiful head of yours?" Wade asked as he tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"Nothing." She took a sip from her glass and looked sheepishly at him through her eyelashes.
He tilted his head to the side and his eyebrows knotted together. "I know you."
And that was completely true. They could pretend they were these kids basically, having fun and living the life but they also shared deep things – and he read her just like she read him.
Shaking her head, Zoe leaned over the bar and pecked his lips. "I want to go home with you and cuddle."
"Cuddle?" He snorted a laugh. "You don't like to cuddle according to your words."
She shot him one look so he could explain himself.
"There are only two reasons you want me to hug you in bed – after we have sex or when you're sad."
"I'm not sad," she said with a tiny smile in her lips.
"Then I hope you didn't bang other guy."
She snorted a laugh. "Wade."
"My ego wouldn't take it well and, you know, I might demand a name so I can break his face." He scrunched up his nose as if his words were nothing.
Zoe laughed at him and with him at the same time. Her hands reached for his face and she smiled. "No other guy. I was hoping to… you know." She shrugged a shoulder.
"I know," he babbled and leaned forward for another kiss. "Just half an hour, baby. Keep that idea in mind."
"Okay. Hurry."
In the meantime, Zoe decided to people-watch. In Bluebell there was always something going on. Despite the small town's limited amount of locations and people, they always managed to have a story developing. And lately there were many involving part of the most notorious citizens.
Not that Lemon and Lavon's story had reached the ears of anyone besides Wade and Zoe so far.
But as Zoe waved at one of her patients who was having dinner at the other side of the Rammer Jammer, her eyes fell upon a couple sitting very close to each other in a secluded corner, as if they wanted to hide from each other. Her face fell as she thought of Lavon.
Lemon and George were all smiles and whispers as they ate.
It was difficult for her to admit it but Lemon had always seen more docile around George, as if the man's own nature calmed the blonde. George had always been the one who kept her less tense and the only one who saw past her snootiness.
Lavon had tried but maybe they had only had a torrid affair. Maybe Zoe's best male friend had been more committed tp the relationship than necessary.
Zoe sighed heavily as Lemon rested her head on George's shoulder. She wanted to disagree but they did look like a couple having a great time. It was time for Lavon to move on and for Lemon to stop giving him hope.
"Baby," Wade called and she turned to him. "I'll go for my jacket and we're outta here." He winked at her and she nodded.
As soon as he went to the back office, Zoe jumped off the stool and walked to the table where George and Lemon were sat.
"Hello," Zoe said with a big and sort of fake smile. She knew Lemon was not happy to see her by the way her face fell before smiling when George greeted her.
"Hi, Zoe. Want to join us?" George. Oh, sweet old George, always clueless about the world around him. He was such a great guy but so naïve sometimes – Zoe didn't really know how he had survived in New York for so long. Or maybe that's why he had left – he was tired of worrying about being a shark in the firm he worked for.
"No, thanks. I'm just waiting for Wade." She nodded and wished this was as awkward. "So I decided to say hi, since I haven't seen much of you lately."
George snickered. "Yeah. Well, we're trying to keep things low-key while we date."
"Right," Zoe drawled and then her eyes fell upon Lemon, as if asking for an explanation. "I'm guessing you aren't anymore. Ready to give the news to everyone?"
Lemon paled and her smile grew smaller.
For a second, Zoe felt bad for her. She didn't know what it was like to choose between two guys because she had always wanted Wade. But then she was angry at her for not telling Lavon what was really happening.
"We're good," George grinned. He looked so happy, it was hard to blame him about the drama but it was his arrival that had messed things up.
She was about to say something, an ironic joke so Lemon could get the hint, but Wade showed up and he wrapped his strong arms around her from behind. She wasn't known for keeping her train of thought when he was around.
"Ready to go, Doc?"
Lemon let out a breath and seemed thankful for the interruption.
"Yes, I was just making small talk with the new couple," Zoe replied in an overly friendly voice that she knew didn't suit her – and Wade made it perfectly clear by the look he gave her.
He had time and time again advised her to stop meddling in Lavon's love life. They had enough of the drama by just hearing about their friends' problems. Besides, they were all adults. But what Wade seemed to forget every time was that he also stuck his nose where it didn't belong.
Instead of correcting her, George grinned widely at that and Lemon closed her eyes tightly before she looked at George. It was then that Zoe knew the woman had made up her mind.
"We could double date sometime," George offered, clueless as always that Wade and Lemon looked at each other, cringing with the mere suggestion.
Zoe was about to laugh.
"George, sweetie, we are all very busy people. It wouldn't be right of us to impose us." Lemon stared at Zoe, who only gave her an imperceptible nod.
"Well, maybe one day."
"Maybe," was the only thing Zoe replied before saying their goodbyes.
Once outside the Rammer Jammer, Wade tugged on her hand to pull her to a stop. To be honest, she was going pretty fast and angrily but he was able to keep up – he was almost a head taller than her after all.
"Stop," he uttered quietly and took her face in his hands. "This ain't your problem."
"Wade-"
"No. I get that you worry for Lavon and he's my friend too but he decided to give her a chance." He pressed his forehead against hers. "Don't do her dirty work. You'll give her the easy way out if you go to him and say it."
She frowned and pursed her lips. "He'll be devastated. I mean, I don't know why he likes her but he does. And I tried to be supportive despite how awful I knew it was going to turn out."
"Z," he whispered. "I know."
"I don't like to see my friends hurting and I feel every time we're around, we just remind them of how lonely they are. Even Rose."
Wade snorted a soft laugh. "I seriously don't know how this gorgeous head of yours is not bigger when you have so many things going on inside it."
She poked him on the side, between his ribs, with her fingers.
A smile appeared on his face and his hands combed her hair back soothingly.
"I want to cuddle," he muttered with his lips against her cheek. "I want to hold you and kiss you until morning have come and you get out of our bed to save the world again," he said after kissing her cheek and before nuzzling her hair above her ear. "Okay?"
She sighed like those young girls who had just heard their long-time crushes admitting they love them back. "Okay."
…
That morning Wade had to leave early, so he was going to have breakfast at the Rammer Jammer. He not only had to go and pick up some things for the wedding but also a few parts for his car that was always in dire need of attention – and more often than not felt as if it was his other baby.
Wade only laughed at her jealousy over a car.
After the previous night, she felt renovated and as if out of the sudden, she could dance – not that she was going to do it, mind you, but it felt nice to have that kind of tingling feeling over her skin.
"Good morning, Lavon," she said more cheerful than usual as she got into the kitchen. "Isn't this a nice…" she trailed off as soon as she got one look of the town's mayor with his mouth full of cookie and his sad puppy dog eyes. It wasn't hard to guess he had already found out about George and Lemon.
"She picked him."
"Oh." Zoe felt her happy bubble popping and gave thanks that Wade would be there for here as soon as she finished her shift that day because he would need to give her her fix of happiness to get by. "It's her lost."
"Then why does it feel like it is mine?" Lavon retorted, shoving another cookie into his mouth.
Zoe walked to him a planted a comforting hand on his forearm. "You deserve a woman who loves you like you love. You're a sweet man and tall and big… so perhaps you need a woman who has extra love instead of pies."
"She did bake a lot of pies to come here."
It was always Lemon's excuse to be buttering him up so the Memory Matrons wouldn't gossip about her and all the time she spent with the mayor.
"And you need less cookies," she added as she took the bag of baked goods away but he didn't allow it. "We don't want our ex NFL star player losing his shape now. You must be your best to find a good woman. And I'll help."
"You'll help?"
She narrowed his eyes at him. "Yes. Is there something wrong about it?"
He looked away as his expression showed doubt on her words. "Just that you aren't known for knowing much about dating, Big Z."
"What!?" she screeched. "Haven't you seen me with Wade?"
"That doesn't really count because you haven't really date like normal people do. You just… happened."
And he was sort of right. She and Wade had been so drawn to each other that they suddenly found themselves into each other's arms. It had all started with them hating each other and then becoming friends. From then on, they fell in love. And officially, they only dated while still in high school.
"Well, but I know about being with someone and when it is good and when not. You and Lemon weren't happy. You hid from people and couldn't enjoy what relationships are really about." She planted herself firmly in front of him, with arms akimbo. "As painful as it sounds, you both deserve more."
Lavon nodded, accepting defeat. No matter how much he wanted to find happiness with Lemon, maybe they weren't destined to be together if they weren't capable of admitting their relationship to the world.
"That doesn't mean Lavon Hayes doesn't need a day to mope about it."
Zoe smiled sympathetically at him and bobbed her head to agree with him. "I'll call your office for you to let them know."
She was pulling her cell phone out of her handbag when she started to feel a little queasy. "I, I," she stuttered to Lavon who shot her a strange look. "I think I shouldn't have eaten the sandwich Wade had put in our minifridge. I'll just, I mean," she trailed off and took a mouthful of air.
"You look a little green."
"I'm fine," Zoe muttered, rolling her eyes. "But if you excuse me for a second." She lifted a finger to emphasize her words and then ran out of the room and into the nearest bathroom.
Lavon could hear the retching sounds in the kitchen and scrunched up his nose, pushing the bag with cookies away. "No more cookies for me." He stood up and slowly approached the bathroom. "You okay, Big Z? Need anything?"
"Hold my hair?" she replied pathetically.
Lavon heaved a sigh. He wasn't expecting this when he thought about doing things to forget his misery but life wasn't fair and friends were like family to him. He just hoped this wasn't as disgusting as it sounded.
