A.N. hello everyone! I know it's been awhile, but the next UD is finally here. Thanks again for the reviews and I know how frustrating HoD has been lately but I am still holding onto that hope that it'll get better. I'm probably being optimistic but I've just gotta believe that the writers know what they are doing for the long run. If there's not a hint of zade by the finale (which I know there's still a lot to go through before then) well I'm done. Anyway, let me know what you think of this chapter.

He knows about you in every way
He's memorized every part of your face
Inside and out, baby, head to toe
Yeah, he knows everything there is to know

He'll never know
The way you lie when you look at me
So keep trying but you know I see
All the little things that make you who you are
So tell me, girl

Does he know you can move it like that (like that)?
Does he know that you'll never go back (go back)?

-One Direction

That afternoon, Zoe received another text from Michael. She deleted it instantly once again as she headed into Lavon's kitchen. Inside she found Lavon cooking a late breakfast.

"Morning, Big Z," he greeted

"Morning," she greeted back with a bit of sadness

"Somethin wrong?" he asked, worried

Zoe sighed,

"If I tell you something, promise you won't tell Wade?" she asked

"You just got engaged and you already have secrets?" he asked

"No, Lavon. It's nothing, OK? I just don't want him to worry about something that's completely irrelevant," Zoe explained

"Uh huh. So what is this irrelevant problem that you can tell me, but not him?" Lavon asked, curious

"You remember how I was in a six year relationship with this one guy?" she began as he looked at her

"Six years?" he asked, in disbelief

"Yeah. Six years," she said as she continued, "Anyway, he texted me last night asking to meet up"

"And?"

"Well, I deleted it and now he keeps texting me," she explained

"If you've got no feelings for this guy then why not meet up with him and move on?" Lavon asked

Zoe sighed,

"Because when has any guy just casually contacted his ex without the hope of rekindling some kind of romance?"

Lavon knew she had a point

"Why don't you just tell him you're engaged. Just be honest, Z," he admitted

Zoe sighed,

"I just don't want Wade to feel threatened or jealous," she admitted

Lavon sighed,

"Alright. I can talk to him if you want," he offered as Zoe smiled but he added, "After you tell him about Michael. If he gets mad or whatever, I'll sit him down to talk"

Zoe gave him a look but then agreed

"Fine. I'll tell him tonight."

As the night finally arrived, Zoe sat waiting for Wade in her bedroom. She had texted him asking him to meet her at her place after work. Once he arrived and saw her, he smiled.

"What was so important that you needed to tell me?" he asked

Zoe sighed

"OK. So, I don't want you to freak out or anything, but…my ex boyfriend from New York has been texting me," she began as she handed him her phone with a text, "He just wants to meet up"

Wade took her phone and read the message

"Have you answered him?" he asked once he finished reading it

"No. I wanted to tell you first," she admitted

Wade nodded in understanding,

"You should meet up with him," he said

Zoe looked up at him in surprise

"Really?" she asked

"Yeah, sounds like he needs some closure or something," Wade said, not making eye contact

"I doubt that," Zoe chimed

"Well, either way I think you should meet with him," he said, getting up and heading back toward the door

"Wade, where are you going?" Zoe asked

"I got to get back to work. I promised Shelley I'd cover for her," he said, still avoiding looking into her eyes

Zoe nodded as she watched him leave. She knew that even though he told her to meet up with him, he was being distant and she could tell he was upset. She hated knowing that Michael-a guy she never even really loved-was causing a rift between them.

The following morning, Lavon (much to his chagrin) did what he promised Zoe he would do. He followed Wade into the kitchen for a friendly breakfast chat.

"Mornin," he greeted Wade who only looked to him with a nod, "You alright?" he asked

"Just fine," he answered in a tone that Lavon recognized as the complete opposite

"You sure about that? There ain't nothin on your mind?" Lavon asked

Wade looked at Lavon,

"Let me guess, Zoe told you about her old beau?" he asked

"She told me he asked to meet up with her," he admitted

"Yeah, 'meet up with.' Like no one knows that's code for 'let's hook up'," Wade chuckled in disbelief

"Come on now, Wade. The way I see it, you've got nothing to be upset about. She was with this guy for six years. She's known you for no more than three years and agreed to marry you," Lavon explained

Wade gave this some thought and reasoned that Lavon had a point. He was wrong to have been so upset with Zoe about something that was out of her control. So after he left the kitchen, he texted Zoe apologizing for the way he reacted. Meanwhile, Zoe read the text message from Wade during her break. She smiled, knowing how sorry he was.

Meet your for lunch?
-Z

Of course. It's on me,
-W

When Zoe took her seat at the bar at the Rammer Jammer, Wade greeted her with a smile.

"Hey," he said

"Hi," she greeted back

"Look, I'm sorry again for the way I acted last night," he admitted

"It's OK. I should have told you as soon as he texted me," she admitted

"So, did you agree to meet him?" he had to ask

Zoe hesitated,

"We're meeting tonight"

Wade raised his eyebrows as Zoe immediately reasoned

"Well, you did agree to it"

"I know. I don't mind, Zoe," he smiled, sincerely

"You're positive? I can always cancel," she said

"No. It's OK. Besides, if he tries anything you just gotta flash that ring," he teased

Zoe laughed,

"Oh, so is that what it's for now?"

"Uh huh," Wade smiled as they shared a kiss

Later that night, Zoe got ready for her meeting with Michael. She decided to wear something a lot more conservative than what she usually wore out on dates as she was now obviously taken and didn't plan on going on dates with anyone other than one man in particular for the rest of her life. And as she continued to remind herself that this was in no way a date her phone chimed.

Have fun on your date,
-W

Zoe smiled at Wade's teasing. She was glad that Wade was no longer upset or jealous about her meeting with Michael. He may not have complete trust in Michael, but he trusted her and that was what mattered.

When Zoe arrived in Mobile, she found Michael instantly who recognized her and headed her way from the table he was at.

"Hi, Zoe. Wow, you look amazing," he greeted

"Thank you," she said, "You look good too"

"Come on, have a seat," he said, making his way back to the table and pulling out the chair for her

After the waiter took their drink order, Michael spoke

"So, I hear you've got a practice in Bluebell?"

"It's a shared practice, but yeah," she replied

"That's amazing, Zoe. I know how much you want to be a surgeon and this is a big step in making it happen," he said

"Yeah, so what about you? I'm sure you have your own building by now," she said with a chuckle

"Actually, I stopped pursuing a career in the medical field," he admitted

"What? Why? You loved medical school," she asked, surprised as the waiter poured wine in their glasses

"Yeah, it just didn't work out. I'm a writer now," he said with a smile

"Really?"

"Yup. I'm getting my first book published," he admitted with a smile

"Wow. Congratulations," she said, suddenly finding herself placing her left hand on his.

He looked at her hand then up at her as she instantly regretted what she did.

"You're married?" he asked with a smile

"Engaged, actually," she said, pulling back her hand as the waiter interrupted them by asking what they wanted to eat

Once the waiter had their order, Michael spoke

"Well, congratulations to you and your fiancé. He's quite a lucky guy," he admitted as he took a drink of his wine

"Thank you," Zoe smiled as she did the same

"So, you're probably wondering why I wanted to see you," he said

"More like curious," she admitted

"Well, the truth is, I have something for you," he began as he slid over a manila folder that had already been placed on his side of the table when she had arrived

Zoe looked at him curiously as she opened it up

"What is this?" she asked, fumbling through the papers

"You remember back when we were together we started investing in a house?" he asked

Zoe nodded, remembering perfectly well how that went. After moving in together once they hit their 18 month anniversary, they made it their mission to own a house a few years in their future. It almost happened, but before they were able to find a home, with the help of Michael's wealthy father, they split up.

"Yeah, but we never actually went looking for a house or anything," Zoe admitted

"There's something I have to tell you," he said nervously as Zoe waited for him to explain, "When we started talking about investing in a house, my father told me to invest in a particular house which I did…with the money we collectively saved up."

"Why didn't you ever tell me this?" Zoe asked, shocked

"I know. I'm sorry, I should have told you, but I wanted to surprise you," he admitted

"But then you dumped me," she admitted

"Yeah, sorry about that too," he apologized

"So what are these papers then?" she asked, not wanting to dwell on the past.

"That's the good news. My dad helped me-or us-finish paying off the house and now they are tearing it down to make room for a new shopping center. They need the land and they made a pretty great offer and one that we can't oppose even if we wanted to since the city is behind it," he paused, "Basically, I thought it was only fair that since some of that money you invested was put into owning that land, you get a share of the money. Those papers explain everything in detail and the amount of money you'll get."

Zoe fumbled back to the first page and her eyes grew wide,

"No way," she said in disbelief as she read the dollar amount.