I seriously have no excuses to leave this so so late. Hope you'll enjoy it nonetheless.
Special thanks to Judomom for encouraging me to continue this story.
Chapter 11.
This is goodbye - Part 2
Wade looked at the picnic basket Lemon had prepared and glanced inside of it. He quickly got rid of the flowers Lemon had laid on top of the food. He knew he needed to check it before he took Zoe out, surely Lemon would do everything in her power to trap him. When she texted him back she had asked him why he wanted to take her on a picnic and what the occasion was, so she could prepare right sort of food. Although Wade didn't understand what that meant either.
He looked at the rest of the contents, they looked safe enough. Wade could make out Lemons famous sweet tea and cucumber sandwiches he knew he wouldn't try if his life depended on it. His head shot up and he slammed the lid shut when he heard Zoe's voice coming from across the kitchen.
"Whats this? Have you joined a country club or something?"
He looked at her for a while before his head caught up with his mouth. He was planning on playing this off casually, he even wanted to get the food from the basket to a backpack so he wouldn't look like a complete ass walking down the street with it.
And he definitely never meant for Zoe to see the basket.
"Euhm… well no, actually… euhm…" Shit, he thought to himself. This is not going the way I wanted to.
"I was going to take you out for lunch." He tried casually, "I asked Lemon for some help. But she went completely overboard with it." He laughed nervously, hoping Zoe would fall for his cowardly lie.
"You planned to take me to lunch?" Zoe asked surprised. She had thought Wade would want to take full advantage of having the house to themselves as Lemon and George, Lavon and Annabeth were all gone for the day.
"Well yeah doc, I do need some sustenance after you've tired me out all week."
Zoe eyebrows flew up on her forehead. "Oh now you start with the complaining? She said hitting his chest. "You should have complained much sooner and I would have made sure I stopped your suffering all together."
"An' what would be the fun in that?" He asked her with his signature grin back in place.
"I jus' need to get changed real quick so we can get this show on the road." He said brushing past her, but not without giving her butt a cheeky squeeze as she watched him leave.
Something had changed. Something significant. She couldn't pinpoint when it had happened but something was different between them. Wade was acting different as well. Yes they were still having a lot of casual fun, but ever since they had strolled through New York together Zoe had noticed he had started to make more of an effort. What worried her even more is that she was starting to enjoy this new Wade and she was having a hard time keeping the boundaries she had set for herself in place.
XxxxxX
"George told me this was a nice place to go. I didn't really believe him but he was right. A' now I can tell people back home I went to Brooklyn." Wade said as he looked around Brooklyn bridge park and relaxed against the bench they were sitting on.
He grabbed his backpack where he had moved Lemons carefully wrapped lunch into and laid the contents out between the two of them, handing her the sweet tea he'd been carrying all the way to the park.
"I'll have to admit that this is the first time I've been here. My mother has never taken me to Brooklyn, let alone taken the time to take me to the park herself." Zoe scoffed. "She always said Manhattan had everything a person could ever need." Wade noticed how much her eyes rolled at that.
"You don't agree?"
"There is definitely more to life than just Manhattan."
"Do you even ever make it out of Manhattan?" Wade asked, actually wondering what Zoe did besides work and work.
"I used to spend summers at summer camp" Zoe said stonily. Remembering the dread she felt whenever the summer ended and she had to go back to her parents, being picked up by her nanny and not knowing when her parents would be home again.
Wade picked up on her tone of voice and the way her face contorted tried to change the subject. "You should come to Bluebell sometimes! Especially now I know you managed to survive the wilderness of summer camp, I'm sure you can survive the wilderness that is Bluebell."
"What is it like?"
"Bluebell?" He looked at her as she nodded, looking at him in interest.
"I mean I've heard from George and Lemon how much they love it, but they never managed to pinpoint what it is about Bluebell that is so amazing."
Wade smiled, "Well doc, why don't you grab yourself a sandwich, preferably the cucumber ones, an' let me tell you about the Bluebell that Wade Kinsella knows, because that version of Bluebell is a whole lot better than whatever Lemon an' George must have told you."
XxxxxX
It wasn't until the rain started to drop from the sky, that Zoe had to move from the warm embrace Wade had her in. For the past hour she had been comfortably cuddled up into Wade's side, his strong arm wrapped around her as they observed the visitors of Brooklyn bridge park. Her mind on Bluebell and wondering why George ever moved to New York.
"Of course the rain has to totally ruin my plans of spending my last day here with you in New York." Wade sighed.
"Wade don't you worry about that, there's plenty of things we can do indoors in New York."
Wade smirked suggestively and gave her a cheeky look.
"That is not what I meant!" Zoe said, poking his chest, not missing how hard his muscles felt underneath her fingertips as she did so.
"I was actually thinking about taking you to this arcade place I used to go to with my favorite nanny when I was younger, but I'm not sure if it is still there. It's a small arcade inside this big cinema, we used to kill our time there with racing games before the movie started."
"Let's check it out doc." Wade said already getting to his feet and pulling her with him. "Lead the way."
Zoe was amazed by how easily Wade had gotten used to the hustle and bustle of New York. He had told her all about Bluebell during their lunch, how he knew everybody in the town, how safe it was and how everybody turned up for big events like weddings, engagements and births. Not forgetting how the town had pulled together when his mother had died and how he craved to have a day by himself after her death, nearly offending Bluebells residents in the process when he asked them to keep their distance. He told her about how he had known Lemon, George, Lavon and Annabeth since birth and luckily for Zoe, he even shared some stories about a rebellious Lemon when she was younger and apparently very different to the southern belle Zoe thought she knew.
Zoe glanced over at Wade and her eyes fell to his big yet soft hands where he was holding her small one in his. Yet again they were roaming the streets, bodies pressed closely together, their hand entwined. Zoe enjoyed the feeling of being so close to Wade, yet it scared her at the same time. They kept crossing the boundaries of their silent agreement to keep it casual, and Zoe was dreading tomorrow morning. As far as she was concerned she didn't want to discuss it and whenever any conversation came close to tomorrow, she quickly changed the subject. As long as she didn't mention it, it wouldn't exist.
At least that's what she kept telling herself.
"This the place doc?" Wade asked and Zoe noticed they had come to a full stop, Wade looking up at the arcade that hadn't changed a bit to how she remembered it. She didn't have much time to take it in, as Wade was already pulling her Inside, his eyes big with excitement.
"Looks amazing doc." He said as he looked around the arcade and his eyes fell on an air hockey tale. "How about I beat you at a round of air hockey?" Wade asked with a boyish look on his face.
Zoe crossed her arms and glared at Wade. "Who says you'll be able to beat me?"
"You know what kind of magic these hands are capable off." He shot back holding up his hands and looking at Zoe so intently it made her blush. She was happy for the dimmed light in the arcade. She didn't think she would be able to stand Wade knowing he was making her blush, but his eyes were still on hers and she groaned silently when a mischievous grin appeared on his face as he moved closer to her.
"Are ya blushing?" He asked in hushed tones that made Zoe's heart skip, yet annoyed her at the same time. Wade knew damn too well what sort of effect he had on her.
"I'm not blushing" She lied, sticking her nose in the air. "It's just hot in here." She said turning her back on him to get them some coins for the arcade.
"Not that I'm complaining, you do have a very nice back...side…." He trailed off. "But the front definitely doesn't disappointed either."
Wade probably thought he was being funny, but his words made Zoe blush even more. She ducked to retrieve the coins from the machine, buying herself some time to make sure she could face him again without giving him any reason to tease her even more.
"First rounds are on me." She said, turning around to face him again and showed him the coins, throwing one in the air hockey table.
"Well, only because you're so damn proud. But this behavior wouldn't go down well in Bluebell, you'll have to give me at least one chance to be a real southern gentleman to you tonight doc, or Lemon will raise hell."
"I'm pretty sure you'll find a way to treat a lady." She replied cheekily and raised her eyebrows at him suggestively, which caught Wade's attention in more than one way.
He was about to give her a cheeky reply, but suddenly looked down as Zoe's puck flew straight into his goal.
"Ha!" And that's one point to me! You better get your A game on southern boy." Zoe teased gleefully throwing her hands in the air in celebration.
"That wasn't fair doc, you can't say things like that to me and not follow though." He pressed on, not letting Zoe get away with her little game.
"Who said I won't?"
"Ohhhh well, can't wait to call in on that debt." He joked back. "But first, be ready to get your ass kicked!"
XxxxxxxX
Zoe had been right, she was a champ at air hockey. Wade stopped keeping count after he lost for the 4th time in a row and Zo grew more confident. It might have had to do with the fact he could look down her top whenever Zoe lunged for the puck. Not that he was complaining.
Even though she had told him she used to play a lot of racing games with her nanny as a child, she was pretty bad at those and Wade was happy he finally found something he could beat her at. After winning countless times Zoe finally called defeat when she finishing dead last for the 8th game in a row.
"Okay, I give up." I am the queen of air hockey, but clearly the biggest loser at racing. I remember winning all the time though." Zoe added thoughtfully, still sitting in the chair of the semi car of the console.
"Maybe, just maybe your nanny let you win on purpose." Wade joked, glancing sideways at her.
"Ha … ha Wade." Zoe said, sticking out her tongue and thinking of a smart remark when a large group of people rushed through the arcade towards the cinema. Zoe looked after them and craned her neck to see where they were going.
"You okay Zoe?" Wade asked uncertainly following Zoe's gaze.
"Yeah, I was just wondering what movie is playing that is attracting so many people." She mumbled, not wanting Wade to think she was no longer interested in spending the day with him. She could tell he had put a lot of effort into planning this day for them together, even though the rain had clearly messed up his plans.
"Do you want to check it out?" Wade asked, taking Zoe by surprise and she looked at him for a moment to make sure he was serious.
"Are you… are you sure?" Zoe asked.
"Well, as long as it's not some chick flick or romantic themed anything, I won't mind."
"But won't that mess with your plans?" Zoe asked quietly.
"I'm gettin' to spend the day with you don' I?" Wade asked with a grin although his eyes were sincere, he gazed at her long enough to make her blush once again.
XxxxxxX
"I am so glad X-men is playing." Zoe murmured against Wade's mouth as she pulled her mouth away from him long enough to speak. "And nothing chick flick related." She copied his earlier words and she felt him smile against her mouth before his tongue entered her mouth again.
"Hmmmm, me too." Wade mumbled quickly, connecting their lips for a long probing kiss, their tongues exploring each other as Zoe tried to manoeuvre herself out of her chair and onto Wade's lap, but Wade gripped her tighter at the hip and kept her from doing so. His body leaning over the armchair keeping them separated, his mouth moving to her neck nibbling at the delicate flesh.
"Doc?" He whispered in her ear, loud enough for her to hear over the loud noises of the movie playing in the theater yet not too loud to draw any attention to them cuddled together in the back of the cinema.
"Hhmm?" Zoe asked, although it came out like a strangled moan when Wade's mouth found her pulse point and sucked on it gently.
"Maybe we should….. He placed a few kissed up her neck.
"Go." He whispered against her skin, leaving a bite just underneath her jawline.
"Your place." He breathed against her lips before he slipped his tongue in her mouth, a low groan escaping the depth of his throat as her hands traveled high up his leg making him jump in his seat.
Wade stood up very suddenly, pulling Zoe with him. It was either leaving the cinema now to continue their heavy petting session elsewhere, or continue and risk getting caught and arrested. Still holding tightly onto Zoe, stealing kisses whenever he could, he hurried them back to Zoe's apartment, his intuition and desire to have Zoe back in bed with him as fast as possible guiding him through the busy streets and finding her apartment rather fast much to his surprise
As soon as the doorman opened the door for them shaking his head at their actions, they stumbled through the doorway, their lips glued together yet again. Blindly they found the way the elevator and to the top floor where Zoe pushed Wade against the front door. Zoe finally pulled away from Wade for a few seconds to open the door, his hands roaming around her waist, digging his nails into the exposed flesh of her waist as he teased her by placing butterfly kisses behind her ear.
She jerked up her shoulders at the ticklish feeling he was creating and turned around to grab his hand in his, pulling him towards her bedroom where he kicked the door shut behind them. He glanced at Zoe who was looking at him, biting her lower lip. He smirked at her as his eyes traveled down her body. However fun their short date had been, he knew this was what they did best. Just the two of them behind closed doors. As soon as he was close enough he wrapped his arms around her waist, pushing her towards the bed, gently laying her down on top of the comforter as he climbed on top of her.
He leaned on his shoulders to support himself as he looked at her. Her eyes bore into his until they fell on his lips. For a moment he thought about telling her how much this week had meant to him, how he had never met someone he felt so close to, but Zoe's hands roamed through his blonde locks and her eyes fluttered closed as she pushed his face down towards hers so she could kiss him and all thoughts about talking about his feelings flew out of the window. He didn't hesitate to push his tongue between her lips and explored her mouth, his hands traveling underneath her ass to push her even closer against his body as her hands moved from his neck and found their way underneath his shirt, up to his chest. Zoe could feel the rapid beating of his heart against his hand as he kissed her more passionately than he ever had before. She could tell something had shifted in the way they were together, in the way he kissed her and touched her. She knew this was no longer just about lust.
Her trail of thought was interrupted when his hands moved in between them and he fumbled with the button on her jeans, flicking it open and pulling it slowly down her long lean legs. He crawled down the bed pulling her jeans with him and discarded the offending piece of clothing on the floor. He stood at the end of the bed and quickly rid himself off his own clothes. Leaving him standing in his boxers. He smirked when Zoe's eyes fell on his chest, traveling down to his navel and below.
"My eyes are up here ya know." He said and raised an eyebrow at her when their eyes met. She held his gaze as she reached behind her, opening the clasp of her bra and removing it from underneath her top. She amused herself in the way his eyes traveled down her chest. He swallowed audibly and bit his lip trying hard to look up into her eyes but gave up the fight as soon as she reached for the hem of her shirt and slowly pulled it off, throwing it towards him. He didn't attempt to catch it. All he cared about was getting back on the bed as fast as he could. However, if she could tease him, so could he.
Slowly, he kissed his way up her legs, dragging his lips over the soft skin as Zoe laid back against the bed. He pressed a wet kiss behind her knee and moved further up her legs, reaching her thighs, trailing his mouth to the inside of her thighs, without warning he kissed her lace covered center and she let out an involuntary whimper, her hands flew to his hair and she grabbed a clump of hair, pulling his head towards hers so she could kiss him, successfully stopping his teasing ways.
She sighed contently when he joined their lips again, his tongue finding hers in a heated kiss, their hands roaming over the newly exposed flesh. Wade swallowed her moan as he grinded his hips against hers, seeking any kind of friction as Zoe slipped her hands underneath his boxers and groped his ass. She wrapped her long legs against his waist and arched her hips to meet his grinding ones. He pulled his mouth away and buried his face in her neck, groaning in her ear as he could feel the heat emanating from her center against his throbbing erection. He hooked his thumbs underneath the delicate material of her lacy panties and dragged them down her legs as far as he could without moving his face from her neck where he bit the delicate skin before he found her mouth in a heated carres.
Zoe wriggled underneath him to free herself from her panties, pushing down his boxers as well before lying back on the bed, Wade's body covering hers as he lowered himself on top of her. He brushed his hand up the length of her legs and hooked them around his waist as he settled himself in between her legs. He looked at her for a moment until her hands wrapped around his neck and she pulled him down to kiss him, their mouths moving against each other, their tongues exploring each other as he aligned himself with her center. Their hearts racing in their chests in anticipation until neither of them could take it much longer.
Zoe arched her hips towards his and he entered her. She threw her head back and let out a groan in pleasure as he filled her. He stilled for a moment leaning his head against hers, gasping as her warmth surrounded his every nerve ending. He reached for her leg and wrapped it higher around his waist before he moved inside of her again, allowing him to move deeper inside of her. Zoe moaned at the new angle, her long nails digging in his back as he started thrusting inside her. Their hips arched, mouths gyrating together as he they moved together.
Their movements became faster, more desperate as they seeked their release. Zoe clung to him desperately as the building tension inside of her threatened to burst. She tightened her grip on him as the splintering sensation of her orgasm rushed through her and she let go, her walls pulsing around him pushing him over the edge. He groaned in ecstasy before slumping against her body, his head nuzzling into her neck murmuring sweet nothings against her skin as she held him against her, trying to catch her breath.
Eventually Wade lifted his head enough to press a gentle kiss against her lips as he rolled off her, pulling her with him and held her against his chest as she relaxed in his embrace.
They laid there holding each other for a long time, neither of them speaking or looking at each other. Neither aware of how long they just laid there, their bodies entangled, unable to let go. The deafening sound of their screaming hearts not wanting to let each other go, thick in the room.
Wade was the first one to break the silence, one of his hands in his hair as he spoke. "As much as I hate this city, I really don' wanna leave, don' leave you I mean." He finally admitted, his voice thick with emotion as he thought about saying goodbye to Zoe. She remained silent in his arms, unsure how to react or reply to his words.
He just said everything she felt, but Zoe knew there was no point on dwelling on the matter. He was leaving tomorrow and that was it.
George would soon follow him back to Rosewood and she'd be alone yet again. She was still deep in thought when she felt Wade shift underneath her and he rolled onto his side, propping his head on his hand and looked at her, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and lifted her chin up so she had no choice but to look at him.
"Zo?" He mumbled searching her eyes.
"Wade, what do you want me to say?" She whispered and knew if she would let herself drown in his eyes much longer she would never be able to face the morning.
"I jus' told ya I don' wanna leave an' you're askin' me what I want you to say?" He asked indignantly, a little hurt the first woman he managed to bare his feelings to shut him down the moment he did so. "I never told anyone anythin' like this before." He pressed on trying to explain just how much his words meant something.
"Wade, this…" She started and pointed between their bodies still pressed tightly together. "This will never be anything, I have my life here and you…."
"An' I belong in hillbilly town?!" He asked angrily as she looked away from him, staring at the duvet. He scoffed, he really believed Zoe was different, thought she had gotten to know the real him. Not just the Wade, joker of Bluebell, born on the wrong side of town. But the real him.
He sat up and threw the covers off him angrily. Zoe reached for his arms begging him not to leave, but he was too strong for her. He brushed her hand away and pulled on his boxers as he walked to the door. He looked back at her and swallowed.
"I really thought you was different doc." He said as he slammed the door behind him.
XxxxX
