Hey all! Happy Monday! I am sorry that there wasn't an update last week, but it happened to be a horrible week for me, where I couldn't be bothered, emotions ran high. The one upside is that this week, I will be able to get one more chapter up on Wednesday, and I am hoping that I will be able get another one up on Friday as well, as an apology of sorts.
I will see you all later in the week.
Enjoy!
"We'll be home tomorrow around noon," George informed her. Sofia had invited her to join them for lunch, but she wasn't sure what time they would be at the Jammer for lunch to happen.
"I'll be there," Zoe hummed, looking through her closet. She still doesn't have an idea on what to wear for her date with Wade. She wouldn't miss seeing her daughter any longer than necessary. She has missed Sofia greatly, but she was happy to know that her daughter had a fun time with George.
"I hope you weren't this spaced out when talking to Sofia," George teased lightly.
"She gets my full attention all the time," Zoe stated, while she chatted with Sofia, all of her attention had been on every single word the little girl spoke. While Sofia talked, Zoe pushed all of her worries out of mind for what the night held for her and focused on her daughter. "You on the other hand, it's up for debate," she joked, sighing, seeing nothing in her closet that could possibly be good enough for a first date with Wade. She doesn't even know why she's worried about it. For all intents and purposes, it's just the two of them hanging out like old times. And maybe a few kisses spread throughout the night. She would like that. A smile came to her face, and the worries about the night going horrible evaporated just a little.
"Should I ask, what has your attention? Or do I even want to know?" George asked, on the other end of the phone.
"I'm only telling you this because we share a daughter, otherwise it wouldn't be any of your business, but you can't let Sofia know because I don't want this to blow up in her face and feel like she had done something for it to not work out," Zoe quickly rambled out, barely stopping to take a breath. "I'm going on a date with Wade," she told him. It wasn't his business, it was because of Sofia that she told him what was going on in her private life. Sofia being the only reason for it.
"I won't tell her, that's something you guys will have to do when you think it's the right time. But Zoe, if you're worrying about Sofia not liking Wade, that's far from the truth. Sofia looks at Wade as she's in awe of him. She really likes him, and even if you two don't work out, which let's be honest, not going to happen, he won't leave, he won't stop being there for you or for Sofia."
"How can you be so sure things with Wade are going to work out?" She asked, giving up looking for something to wear and sitting on her bed, for more invested in the conversation with George than her closet.
"The chemistry is just there, I don't even need to see the two of you together to know that it's there," he stated. "And it's good to have a daughter on the inside," he chuckled.
"George Tucker, you did not request information from Sofia!" Zoe exclaimed, closing her eyes, to even her breathing out.
"No, I didn't," he confirmed. "She willingly told me, how much she likes Wade and how happy having a friend like Wade makes you," he smiled. "And if he can still make you happy after all this time, then that chemistry still has to be there and things will work out, Zoe, believe in that, okay?" He asked. Zoe nodded, even though George couldn't see her. "For once in your life, don't worry about Sofia, she is going to be fine no matter how things with Wade turn out to be," he promised her. Not that it was something he could really promise her.
"You really shouldn't be making promises that you can't control," Zoe warned. "As much fun as this has been to gossip about my love life or lack thereof, I need to be getting ready for this date. Let my daughter know I love her and I will see her tomorrow for lunch," Zoe told him, glancing back at her closet, determined to find something to wear in the next 20 minutes, so she's not half ready for this date when Wade shows up at her door.
"Will do," George smiled. "Make sure you have fun and don't worry about anything. Enjoy your date with Wade, everything else will work out," he told her.
"As the father of my daughter, are you really supposed to be pushing me into another man's arms?" Zoe mumbled, standing back up.
"As friends yes, and even as the father of our daughter, then yes, because you deserve this, Zoe. Focus on Wade tonight. We'll see you tomorrow for lunch," George stated, ending the call.
With a sigh, she dropped her phone onto her bed, taking a few steps to her closest. She decided against wearing jeans or shorts. None of the skirts worked with any of the tops that she thought about wearing. A frustrated sigh fell off her lips as she moved to the dress section of her clothes. None of those seemed like the best option either.
"Get it together, Zoe," she muttered to herself. It wasn't going to matter what outfit she wore. Wade has never cared about what she's worn before. It's the first date and as crazy as that seemed, and how perfect it all needs to be, she knows undoubtedly that tonight could be horrible, and she'll still have the best first date with Wade. It's what they do, find the good in the bad. They've done it all the time when they were kids.
With that set of determination in mind, she grabbed a navy-blue dress with a V-neck, adding a chunky brown belt to the waist. Pairing it with a pair of black heels. With her outfit decided on, she headed to her bathroom to shower, and to start getting ready for her date with Wade.
Where Zoe may have been having trouble figuring out what she's going to wear, Wade wasn't having that trouble, getting his clothes laid out, and heading to shower. He's spent the better part of the day agonizing over every little thing that they can do on their date. And truth be told, he's still not a hundred percent on the whole plan of the night. Dinner he did know, and everything after that will be decided in the heat of the moment. Everything the night has in store will be perfect, even if it goes horribly wrong because it's him, and it's Zoe and that is all that matters for the night.
He thought he had the whole night planned out, but while he was waiting on his clothes to dry, he tossed it out the window. If they're anything like their younger selves, then he didn't need to have every single minute of the night planned to a T. As friends, they always just let the day take them wherever and that is the feel of the night he wants to set. Walking away from the night, he hopes it doesn't backfire on him. Being more spontaneous has been their thing, and he hopes it's still their thing.
Wade cursed under his breath, having just finished getting ready to make the small trek to the carriage house to pick Zoe up for their date, when his phone started to ring. The last thing he wanted was for someone to screw up the one night he has been waiting for since he was a teen and realized just how deep his feelings for his best friend ran. Here he is within minutes of getting his date started with Zoe, only for it to crash before it can begin. He thought about ignoring whoever was calling him, but he didn't want that to be hanging over his head or for them to interrupt him while he's in the middle of having a good time with Zoe.
Fishing his phone from the pocket of the jeans he was previously wearing, he frowned seeing that Dr. Wilkes had been the one trying to get a hold of him. As he waited for the call to connect and for the older man to answer, he started to panic, thinking that maybe something happened to Zoe. One look across the pond told him that couldn't be true because he could see she was home. That didn't leave many things to be wrong. The only one that did make sense would be something that was going on with his father. Wade was certain that Harley wasn't calling him to give him a speech about treating his daughter and granddaughter right. The reason for knowing that to be the case is because he's sure Zoe hadn't told him or anyone for that matter about their date. It's not like he had gone out of his way to say he was taking her out on a date, either.
"Wade," Harley said, sounding relieved to be hearing from him. Before Wade had the chance to ask what's wrong, Harley was spewing words that only made half sense to him. He's positive that Harley was talking in full sentences, but all he heard was Earl, the hospital, and Mobile.
"What?" Wade asked, falling on his bed, not even certain how he made it from his bathroom to his bed. He needed for things to make sense in his head. He heard Harley sigh and start explaining things again to him, but everything swam in his head and he couldn't hear clearly. The last time he had this much trouble trying to focus was when he got the news about his mom passing away thanks to cancer.
He relaxed, feeling the soft touch of Zoe as she took his phone from her. He could faintly hear her talking as she rubbed soothing circles on his back. He took a few deep breaths, needing to calm down. He can't lose his dad, not in the same form that he lost his mom. He wasn't able to be there to spend time with her, time he wishes he could get back. He hasn't even made amends with his father yet, he needs to be able to make those amends with his father. Not just for him, but for his dad as well. There's so much that has been left unsaid between them, and he won't be able to forgive himself if he isn't able to make things right.
The hot tears that rolled down his cheek, Zoe wiped away, giving him the time he needed to collect himself. So much for the perfect first date because now he has to cancel on her and make sure his dad is going to be okay. Talk about a big wrench in his plans to woo the one woman he has been in love with since what felt like forever.
"I'm sorry," he started to say, his voice barely a whisper. He hates that he has to cancel on her.
"You have no reason to be sorry," she told him, resting her head against his shoulder. "This is what we're going to do. We are going to make the trip to the hospital, so you can see that your dad is alright and that your brother is in very capable hands, and we will find a way to salvage some of tonight, even if that means eating hospital cafeteria food," she assured him. She wasn't going to let this stop them from enjoying a few moments together.
"What do you mean, my brother?" He asked with a frown. "What happened to my dad?" He asked.
"Your dad is fine, Wade. He's at the hospital because Jesse had been involved in a boating accident. They don't know the details, just that Jesse is in surgery, and it's a touch and go case. If he makes it out of the surgery, he's going to have a long road ahead of him," she filled him when it came to Jesse. "Harley and Earl were in Mobile when Earl got the call about Jesse. Your dad is fine," she explained.
That changed everything, or maybe it didn't change anything. Because at the end of the day, he wants to have his brother back. They were close growing up, and he hates having this distance between them. He's kept his distance because he doesn't know how to fix things. It's not as simple or as easy as saying I'm sorry for messing up time and time again.
At this moment, he's happy to have Zoe in his life. While he was so wrapped up in his thoughts about Jesse, and life. It was Zoe that safely and timely got them to the hospital. Upon seeing his dad, he hugged him tight. Knowing that he still has a chance to fix things, well, that warmed him slightly. He was going to make it count. Earl didn't make him feel anything less than loved. Questions, and arguments will come later, and he'll gladly take them, knowing his father is safe. Now just isn't that time.
While they waited on news of Jesse, they headed to the cafeteria to get something to eat, Zoe refusing to leave his side. He tried, telling her that he would be fine without her, that she doesn't have to stay. Her response being, "I want to be here. I want to be here for you, and for your dad." He knows that she wants to be there to make sure that Jesse is going to be okay as well.
"This isn't what I had planned for our first date," Wade laughed lightly, looking at Zoe across the table from him. With both of them hungry and still a long wait before them, they headed to the cafeteria, to make something of what should have been their first date.
"What?" Zoe asked with a smile on her face. "You didn't plan on having our first date in Mobile's hospital café while our father's spy on us?" She asks teasingly.
"Well, maybe," Wade jokes, shaking his head. As far as first dates go, it's not the worst first date he's ever been on.
"I'm sure you had planned the perfect date, and we have plenty of time for you to show me, but it wouldn't be us, if we didn't end up with plans changed," she told him. "And it may not be ideal, but I wouldn't change it for anything," she smiled, reaching for his hand across the table.
"It would be nice if our fathers weren't watching our every move over our shoulders," Wade said loud enough for Earl and Harley to hear. "But this is our vibe, who am I to change that," Wade laughed, holding her hand on the table.
Hours later when they made it back to Bluebell, Jesse out of surgery, but in ICU, with nothing else to be done they headed home. Harley convincing Earl he needs to go home to sleep and come back once he's rested. Wade ended up on the steps to the carriage house.
"I don't think I mentioned how beautiful you look," he told her with a smile.
"You didn't clean up so bad yourself," she remarked, smirking at him.
"Thank you for tonight," he whispered, pushing some of her hair that fell from her ponytail behind her ears. "I am hoping that tonight, despite the obstacle of it all, that you'll let me take you and Sofia out tomorrow night," he said, holding a bit of hope in his eyes.
"No thanks required for tonight, but you are welcome," she told him, gripping his shoulders. "I would like that, and I am sure Sofia would enjoy it as well," she told him.
Wade smiled, ghosting his lips over hers. Zoe, wanting more, chased after his lips, wanting a more passionate filled kiss to end their slightly impromptu date to an end on a high note.