Still don't own the characters.
It was just after the morning rush when Wade entered the Rammer Jammer. He'd spent the last few hours driving to all of his usual hideaways, but nothing felt right. He couldn't stand the idea of seeing people, but he couldn't handle another moment of being alone with his thoughts. Going to the bar felt safe, and his only option.
A familiar voice greeted him as he entered the bar. "Wade Kinsella, you best be getting a late breakfast or an early lunch to-go," Lemon chirped, coming out from behind the bar. "I told you I didn't want to see you for the next three days at least!" Her smile changed to a look of concern as he brushed past her, scoffing. He took his place behind the bar, swinging a towel over his shoulder as he began to rinse the glasses from breakfast.
"Wade," she said, following him behind the bar, her voice low. "What in the world happened? Did you talk to Doctor Hart?"
"Didn't need to, Lemon," he replied, his eyes looking straight ahead. "She said just about all she needed to when her shiny new man showed up at Lavon's this morning."
Lemon was clearly flustered. "Well, that is it. We are definitely going to have to use Lemon Breeland's plan B to bring Zoe Hart to her senses."
Wade gave her a sidelong glance. He didn't know what the plan was, but he was sure he wouldn't like it. "Lemon," he started to say, as the door to the Rammer Jammer opened, revealing Zoe and her mystery man from New York.
"Just play along," Lemon hissed in his ear, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Oh sugar bear," she started, loud enough for them to hear across the bar, "you are just too much!" Her fake flirtatious giggle was accompanied by a playful push to his arm. She leaned up to peck him on the cheek. "Loosen up," she whispered, "we have to sell this." As Wade was about to put an end to the charade, he saw Joel pull the chair out for Zoe, her eyes glued to the couple behind the bar. She broke her gaze to smile at Joel, and Wade felt the jealousy well up. He put a hand on Lemon's hip and kissed her temple.
"There you go," Lemon said, a smile plastered to her face. "Now you're getting the plan. Follow me," she said, putting her hand on top of his and leading him to the back office.
Shelley delivered menues to the table, and Zoe immediately took up hers, studying it thoroughly. "Joel glanced at the menu before asking, "what's good here?"
"Uh huh," Zoe replied, her eyes glued to the text. He chuckled and nudged her foot under the table.
"Earth to Zoe," he said, peeking over her menu. "I asked what's good."
She looked up and realized Lemon and Wade had disappeared. Probably to the back room. Why hadn't anyone told her about them? And since when could Lemon Breeland and Wade stomach each other long enough to work a shift together, much less date? This was not the homecoming Zoe envisioned. She looked at Joel's smiling eyes. "Um, you know what," she said, "I'm starving. Let's go to the bakery, it'll be faster." She couldn't tell him that what she wanted to order was the French Toast, because she knew Wade would make it especially for her. Joel raised an eyebrow, but nodded at her, pushing his chair back as she stood. He followed her out into the Alabama heat.
In the back room, Lemon spun around with a serious look on her face. "OK," she began, pulling out her phone. "We start with damage control."
Wade sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets, "what are you doing, Lemon?"
Lemon rolled her eyes at him, "Annabeth and Lavon need to back us up. We'll have to get Dash to post-date a blog entry. One that at least hints that we were spotted together at places other than here. Oh! We'll have to get daddy on board, too. He probably won't be happy, but we can use that." She pulled a pad of paper from the desk and started scribbling down notes.
Leaning against the wall, Wade reached up to rub the back of his neck, "I'm not sure this-"
"Don't be silly," quipped Lemon, flipping her hand in his direction. "We are just going to remind your Doctor Hart what a catch you are. We'll have her chasing that intruder out of town and knocking down your door in a few days." Wade groaned in response. He wasn't sure this was a smart plan. In fact, it felt like lying to Zoe would be far from moving forward. But what were his other choices? She didn't even look in his direction last night. It wasn't until she saw Lemon hanging off him that she'd even glanced at him. Maybe this would be enough to at least get her to talk to him. Wade looked up to see Lemon looking at him, expectantly.
"Fine," he grunted. "No more than a week." She smiled broadly and scribbled furiously on her pad of paper. Wade knew he was in for a hell of a week.
