Chapter Eight

Zoe quickly put on a black dress that stopped midthigh and showed just enough cleavage to be enticing. After slipping on a pair of black pumps she checked her makeup one last time and walked outside to Wade. As soon as the door closed behind her he looked up from studying his dress shoes, which was a big change from his boots, and smiled at Zoe.
Wade reached for her hand and helped her down the stairs to the waiting black SUV.

"Where's your car?" Zoe asked with a confused glace between Wade and Lavon's SUV.

"It's.…it's not workin' real well at the moment," he said rubbing his neck, his biggest give away that he was uncomfortable about something.

It wasn't a rare occurrence for Wade's car to need work due to it's age but he was diligent about keeping up with it. Zoe's suspicions were raised further when Wade opened her car door and a dozen red roses were waiting on the seat.

Wade reached inside and picked up the flowers then handed them to Zoe. "Hope these are alright, I know they're cliché but,"

"Roses are not cliché," Zoe said cutting Wade off, "they're classic. They're beautiful, thank you. I'm going to put these in water, I'll only be a minuet then we can leave."

Forty-five minuets later the two were driving through Mobile. Wade refused to tell Zoe where they were going, all ten times she asked. He was ready to tell her to just be quiet when they finally pulled in to the restaurant parking lot.

Zoe was surprised to see they were at La Vérité, a beautiful five star french restaurant. Zoe almost asked Wade if he accidently parked in the wrong lot until she saw how nervous he looked. Then it all made sense, Wade was trying to be what he thought she wanted. Once his motives were clear her heart broke and any inclination she had about lauging was gone.

She didn't know if she should go along with Wade's plan for the night or tell him none of this was necessary. Zoe just feared if she did the later she'd upset or inssult him. Her decision was made for her when her car door suddenly opened. She hadn't even seen Wade get out of the SUV.

"You alright Doc?" he asked when she just sat wriging her hands. He already felt like a fool way out of his comfort zone, he didn't think he'd be able to handle her changing her mind about giving him another chance.

"Yes, of course. Sorry it's just been a long day."

"If you want to go home and do this another night I understand Zoe," Wade said looking down at his polished dress shoes.

Zoe wanted to kick herself, she had been lost in thought and said the first thing that came to mind as a response. Wade rarely called her Zoe unless he was upset with her or being serious. Neither scenarios made her feel particulary happy. "Of course not. I'm starving and have been looking forward to dinner since I skipped lunch."

"Well okay then, lets get in there," Wade said taking her hand and leading her inside.

They were seated and served wine in a quick manner. When the waiter asked if they like appetizer Zoe knew by Wades request that the night was headed for disaster. She was proven correct when the waiter set the plate of Escargot in front of Wade. He tried to hide his disgust but she could see through his mask. She's wanted to help him order but hadn't wanted to make him feel inept. Now she wished she had chanced it. She would give anything to be at the Rammer Jammer eating a burger with her cocky, sure of himself Wade.

After watching Wade try to gag down his second snail she couldn't take it anymore. "Waiter? Can we have the check please?" Zoe asked as soon as he came to take their dinner order.

"Certainly," he answered, looking curious.

"What are you doin' Doc?" Wade asked, looking devastated.

As soon as we are in the car I will explain, okay?"

Wade nodded as he handed the waiter his credit card.

"What the hell Doc? I thought you wanted to give us another shot, you couldn't even have dinner with me. What did I do wrong?" Wade asked as soon as he was in the SUV. "I dressed nice, I borrowed Lavon's SUV so you wouldn't be embarrassed by my car, I found a fancy restaurant, hell I got you flowers. You gotta tell me where I messed up!" he said, his voice steadily rising.

"It was all wrong," Zoe whispered looking at her hands, unable to see the hurt and disappointment in his eyes.

"I don't get it. I thought this was what you wanted," Wade said letting out a long breath as he slumped back into his seat.

"There was a time this is what I wanted, but the second I met you Wade, what I want changed. I didn't even know it was happening."

"What does that mean?!"

"It means I don't want to go dinner where the menu isn't in simple English, that dressing up is nice but black tie isn't necessary," Zoe said finally looking him in they eyes. She didn't know what she was expecting but anger wasn't it.

"So it's not that ya don't want fancy food, it's that ya don't want to get it with me. I couldn't even order an appetizer without makin an ass outta my self. I'm no Golden boy George, trust me I get it. I'll just take ya home and we can forget this ever happened," he said sounding like it was over, like he'd figured it all out.

"Wade Kinsella, don't you dare. I wanted to leave because neither of us were comfortable, we were both on edge. I wanted to go because I don't want to start to try and repair our relationship on a foundation of pretending to be people we aren't. I appreciate all the thought and time you took into planning tonight, I do, but if its okay with you I'd like to get take out from the Rammer Jammer and go back to your place, after maybe we can talk" Zoe said, hoping he'd say yes.

"If that's what you want to do, then let's get goin'."

Zoe finished her food before Wade, she was unsure if it was because she really had been starving or because Wade didn't seem to have an appetite. "You don't seem like you're enjoying your burger, is it okay?" Zoe asked causing him to look up from his plate.

"Burgers fine, I'm just not hungry I guess."

"If you're done, I'd like to talk to you about tonight," Zoe said moving from her place across from him to sit next to Wade on the couch.

"Not sure what else there is to say Doc."

"There's plenty left to say, you're an idiot is a good place to start," Zoe replied snapping.

"That ain't news, I'm pretty confident I've proven that a time or two," Wade said slipping into his sarcastic refuge.

Zoe took a deep breath then slowly let it out. One of them had to keep a rational cool head and it was clear it was going to have to be her. "I meant you were acting like an idiot. You tried to be someone you aren't, you tried to be George Tucker," she said, unable to find a better parallel. Before Wade could say anthing she continued, "I'm not sure if you've noticed but I have no intrest in George, or anyone like him for that matter."

"Fine, then I'll ask you again what exaclty it is that you do want Zoe," Wade said, his voice lacking his usual charm.

"You, I want you Wade. I want picnics out of wooden crates, cheap wine from a box, occasionally a decent bottle would be good too, drinking beer while kicking your butt in video games, do I need to continue?"

"I.…I'm not sure what to say. You seemed to hate all of those things."

"I thought i would hate them, I never imagined I'd prefer a greasy burger to caviar but I do. I'm not sure if you've noticed but I don't handle change well. I did everything possible to keep my self from having feelings for you."

"Let it up to me to destroy the best thing to happen to me when you finally did," Wade said with a sarcastic laugh.

"Nothing is destroyed Wade. Right now there are pieces that are broken but they can be healed with honesty and time. Trust me, I'm a doctor I know these things," she said trying to use humor to lighten the mood.

Wade reached out and took Zoe's hand. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I tried to sabotage us on my terms, well maybe term isn't the right word but, ya know before you decided I wasn't good enough or did something else to mess up….. I just thought if I was going to lose you eventually sooner was better then later. I really was an idiot."

"From now on, if you feel pressured or like you need a way out talk to me. The only way we can even attempt to make this work is if we trust each other."

"I trust you Doc, the real question is can you ever trust me again?"

Zoe smiled, "Yea, I think one day I can. I'm starting to trust it's just not going to be instantaneous."

"I can respect that. It's gettin' late, why I don't I walk you home?"

"That would be nice. One more thing though," Zoe said as the started the short walk to her house.

"What is it?"

"I wouldn't mind….actually I want you to kiss me, generic beer breath and all," she told him as they reached the steps that lead to her house.

Wade hesitated only a second before gathering Zoe in his arms. "Your wish is my command," he said before leaving her breathless.