Happy Wednesday everyone. So I am going to say that I hate only being able to update once a week. I really do miss the two a week updates and I can't wait to get back to that schedule. In the mean time of waiting, here's a little Wade to get us through until the next one.

Enjoy!

Wade jumped up onto the counter in the mayor's laundry room, waiting the last few minutes for the dryer to end. The jammer had kept him busy for the day, his mind not having the time to think about the big life-changing date tonight. And no matter how you look at the date that is looming over him, it's every bit life changing. No way around it.

With his thoughts free to think of Zoe and what he has to look forward to, with it being a real date. And not one he had planned when he was a teen, with it being a date between friends. He's excited that he can finally say he has a real date with Zoe, prom not counting, as that was purely as friends. Now he's practically giddy with glee because he gets to be selfish and have the one girl he's dreamt about having.

When stationed overseas, it was the idea of coming home to Zoe that kept him going. When things got bad over there, and it would have been easier to give up, it was the idea of getting some sort of after with Zoe, that kept him determined to make it out of the hellish place he was. Thoughts of Zoe commonly flitted through his mind. When he couldn't sleep because the place was too hot, Zoe would be there. As much as he fantasized about having this so-called cliché happily ever after with Zoe, there were the times that he would think or confess to himself that she didn't want him, that she had moved on and doesn't love him the way he does her. And he couldn't find it within himself to be mad because she deserved to be happy, with whomever she chose.

A good portion of his songs are about Zoe. She kept him going when he thought he'd be nothing more than a failed at life navy pilot who couldn't even fall back on his music career, when no one liked his sound. It was her words that pushed him on, needing the right person to hear him, to get the sound he was going for. It also took the right guys in the band to make it all fully work.

Everything after graduation was about Zoe. He did it for himself because that's what he wanted, but Zoe had a massive influence in his life after leaving home. Was it so wrong of him for wanting to make Zoe proud of him? To have a few impressive accomplishments when he returned home?

Zoe's his first love, even if he never got to share that with her when they were teens. He'd gladly stayed her best friend all through their childhood and teen years. Because like she told him their friendship didn't have an end date to it, and they had fallen out of contact with each other, solely his fault, he can man up to that one. And yet, the love he has for her, it sits tenfold in his heart, ready to burst out in a song. A song that hasn't wanted to be written since he was told about his mom's passing.

The passion for music, words and pretty lyrics vanished with one phone call. And now that he's finding happiness again, he can't keep words in. Not a single word makes sense when he can't get them to make a single verse. A random mix of words that want to be written, but refuse to cooperate. He'll need to have a talk with George. They is if he can only make the multitude of words that want to be sung into an actual song, or twenty, to see about getting a solo album put out there in the universe.

It would all be for Zoe, his one true muse. Even when she didn't know it. Well, maybe she does, since he told her one song was about her, it doesn't take much to learn that nearly every song he has ever written about is about or for his best friend. Zoe has never once given up on him. And now it's his turn to repay her and show her that they can work out.

He hopes they can work out. He hasn't wanted anything more than to have Zoe by his side. It may have been silly to fall in love with his best friend when she was dating another guy, but he recognizes that he has loved Zoe since they traded their first bards when they were 9. They're hatred that wasn't really hatred turning into love, such a cliché movie moment, but he is okay with that. If they can only get past the first date and the complications that come when there's a small child involved. Because he can't be, and he won't be the reason for any hurt in Sofia's direction.

The caution when it comes to being with Zoe; the complications of being with Zoe; he'll take Sofia; every single thing when it comes to Zoe, he'll gladly take. And he knows when things get more serious because there will be a serious relationship when it comes to being with Zoe. He can feel that in his bones. When that time comes, he'll talk to George about it. He'll make sure all three or four of them sit down and have a serious talk with Sofia.

When he first got to Bluebell, he didn't know about his feelings or if Zoe was in a relationship. He liked to avoid all of that. He couldn't stomach it if there was no hope when it came to Zoe. He clung tightly to the hope that things would work themselves out when it came to Zoe. He'd be lying if he said it was part of the reason he stayed gone longer than he should have. He didn't know the state of things between Zoe and George, and he wouldn't break a family up.

He's relieved things are working in his favor. Tough times ahead are evitable. When they come, he's going to face them, to make it out stronger on the other side. He's done running. He's done staying away from his problems. Once he's done getting things just right with Zoe, showing her they can make it work, he'll focus on making things right with his dad and brother.

"I've been thinking of repainting this room. The light gray walls have turned more of a yellowish gray," Lavon easily spoke, standing in the doorway, making Wade jump off the counter.

"Lavon!" Wade panted, catching his breath. He's always watching his surroundings, hates being caught off guard, years in the Navy can do that to you. "A little warning next time, would be extra nice," he bit out.

"You're the one day dreaming in my laundry room," Lavon pointed out, a smirk on his face. "Something that heavy on your mind?" He asked.

"It might be easier to wash the walls than to repaint them," Wade commented, checking to see if his clothes were dry now that the dryer was done, or if they needed a bit more time.

"It also might be a huge stress reliever if you say what's weighing on your mind so much," Lavon shrugged. "It's no secret," he commented.

"What isn't a secret?" Wade asked, restarting the dryer. He cursed under his breath, wanting to be left alone for the next few hours before his date with Zoe, which will be taking place out of Bluebell. The last thing he needs is for the whole town to comment on how they thought the date had gone.

"You and Zoe," the mayor shrugged. "It was easy to put together with you all smiles at the Jammer this morning. We knew something happened, and with Zoe nowhere to be seen, the pieces just fit," he explained.

"This whole town needs to find better hobbies," Wade muttered. "And it's not weighing heavy on my mind," he snapped lightly. Taking a deep breath to get his emotions over the whole town gossiping about his love life, is enough to make him rethink everything when it comes to Zoe and being home in Bluebell.

The one thing about all the places he called home after he left Bluebell was that they never got in his business. Not even the paparazzi got into his business the way Bluebellians did. The very last thing he needs is for all this gossip to get back to Zoe and scare her off more than she already is because all that gossip and talk is going to find its way to Sofia. The little girl he promised wouldn't get hurt in any of this. And if she does get hurt, he will be left feeling guilty. It's one of the few promises in his adult life that he doesn't want to break.

"That may be so," Lavon chuckled because he can agree with them needing to figure out better hobbies than those of their friends' personal lives. "But I disagree with you, it's a lot of pressure to live up to this fantasy in your head, and it's even harder when there is a child involved," Lavon stated, earning himself a small glare from Wade.

"Okay, so maybe there is this small pressure of making things work that won't be there if it wasn't for Sofia, but I am not going to let that stop me. I have loved Zoe since I was a kid, and I do want this to work out, but I have not built this fantasy in my head," Wade bit out, leaning against the counter.

"And it doesn't help that Sofia could hear," Lavon nodded. "For the most part they only think it has something to do with Zoe, not that you guys are trying to start a relationship, but as Mayor, and friend I will put a stop to the gossip when it comes to you and Zoe," he informed Wade.

"Thanks for that, but I hardly think it will work. You know this town as well as I do," Wade sighed. When convincing Zoe that things between them could work out, and that Sofia wouldn't get hurt or even know they were dating until they were certain, things would work for the best. He didn't account for the town being in their business and spreading gossip. If it was being whispered about in town, then he's positive that Dash has already made a blog post about it, or several blog posts about it.

"True, but I will do my best," Lavon nodded. "Wade, don't push too much, let whatever is to happen, do so naturally," he advised.

"I wouldn't dream of pushing and ruining the one chance I have," Wade stated, moving back to the dryer. He knows this is his only chance to show Zoe that they can work out. That they can be more than just friends, and still be best friends.

With his clothes dried, he rushed back to the gate house to get ready for the first date of many with Zoe. He's spent the better part of his day when he should have been working, planning the perfect date. He only hopes that Zoe still likes some of the things they had done as kids through their teen years. Not that he had planned for them to go frog hunting or fishing. That would be a date to do when Sofia was with them. Because the second Sofia knows they are dating, he has plenty of things for them to do with her. And meanwhile he has things they can do together while pretending in front of Sofia that they are only friends. And as much as that thought hurts, he knows Zoe is only doing that to protect her daughter, and he would like to think that he would do the same if the positions were changed.

His relationship with Zoe isn't just based on the two of them. You have to factor in Sofia and her feelings, and once he is on more sure footing when it comes to Zoe, he will have to have a talk with George. He doesn't want there to be anything or anyone standing in his way. He won't be the reason for any sorts of fallout.