When Joel and Zoe walked into their room Joel just stared at her.

"What?" Zoe asked

"What the hell was that?" Joel asked

"What was what?" she asked confused

"Uh I don't know, how about you and Wade."

"What about us now?" Zoe rolled her eyes

"The two of you just acted like the perfect little family at breakfast. You have spent 2 nights at his house and to be honest, I was a little worried about what was going on and now you just kissed him."

"On the cheek and Oh my gosh." She yelled "Wade wasn't even there last night and the night before Wyatt screamed until 1 am. There is nothing going on between Wade and me."

"How serious were the two of you?"

"What?"

"How serious were you and Wade? You told me I was being paranoid but Zoe, I've seen looks and heard some things that I've ignored in the past but now, I think I want the truth."

"We seriously dated for almost 4 months." She shrugged trying to brush it off

"Did you not so seriously date before that?" he asked confused by her choice of words

Zoe thought "We might have casually been together for a few months before that."

"Like how long?"

"5ish."

"5ish? So all together you were with him for about 10 months."

Zoe nodded "Yeah, something like that."

"That's a long time. Why'd you break up?" he asked

Zoe sighed "Joel."

"No, I want to know."

"He cheated on me."

"What?" Joel's jaw dropped "Sweetie, I'm so.."

Zoe cut him off "Don't, you don't know all of it."

"He cheated on you and I doubt you had anything to do with it. Why are you friendly with him? Now I know why you didn't want me around him. How could I be so stupid to be friends with him? Why wouldn't you tell me?" He started pacing back and forth and rubbing his head.

"That's not why I didn't want you around him. He's my friend, he knows me better than anyone else, gosh he knows me better than I know myself."

Joel stopped and stared at her "That doesn't excuse him cheating on you Zoe."

"I know and I'm trying to move past that. Everyone makes mistakes and he's not all to blame for the break up. You don't know everything." She snapped

"Wait, what is the reason you didn't want me around him then?"

Zoe took a deep breath and decided she needed to finally start telling the truth. "Wade loves me or at least he did before I left. I still think he does, I'm not sure but he chased me halfway across Alabama to tell me before I went back to New York."

"Wow." Joel said and finally sat down

"That's what I said." She thought to herself "Yeah." She said out loud

"Did you love him?" Joel asked. She closed her eyes and bit her lip but didn't answer. "Zoe?" Joel asked

"I don't know, maybe."

Joel thought for a moment. "You've had feelings for him the entire time we were together haven't you? You know, I was a little curious why we moved so fast the first couple of months but pushed it away because I thought you were the one for me and this is just how it worked. It was just because you were trying to cover up your feelings for him wasn't it?"

Zoe nodded "I'm so sorry. When we were in New York, we probably could have lived a perfectly good life but the day I came back here, it all changed. I tried to ignore it for a few weeks but it just wasn't working."

"That's when you went crazy and started pushing me to write and then I got kidnapped."

"Yeah."

"That's when I really started to notice something between you and Wade."

"There is nothing going on between us. I don't even know if I could ever go back to him. I am so sorry I led you on though. I had this perfect picture in my head that you fit so well in. I've been told to change it before and I did but Wade cheating brought it back. I don't think it will fully make me happy though."

"You won't come back to New York will you?"

Zoe shook her head. "No, my life is here. This is where I belong."

"I'm sorry we didn't work, you're a great girl Zoe. You'll find the perfect guy for your perfect picture. I didn't know Wade before but the guy I got to know is a like a great one, especially now with Wyatt. If he's your perfect guy, don't ignore that."

"You are an amazing guy Joel. I wouldn't have expected anyone to take this so well. You are going to make some girl very happy someday."

Joel smiled at her. "Thank you. Good luck to you."

Zoe gave him a hug "Same to you."

In a matter of two hours Joel was packed and Zoe was driving home from the airport. She called Annabeth on the way home to make sure she was at her house. Zoe drove there and knocked on the door.

Annabeth answered a minute later. "Hey Zoe. What happened with you two?"

"I knew this break up was coming for a while but ignored all the signs. It's better off, I would have never been fully happy with him anyway. And I really don't think he would have been happy here long term. He was having so much trouble writing. We just weren't meant to be."

"I'm sorry. He was really sweet."

"Yes he was. Now I get to live at the Whippoorwill alone. When is Lynly leaving again?" She chuckled

"Ugh do not even get me started on that girl. I really hope it's soon though." They both laughed and then AB smiled "You should move in here with me! I have plenty of room and rarely here."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes! Do it! Plus look at all the money you'll save."

"What? No, I have to give you something."

"Jake's family bought this house ages ago. All I pay is the monthly bills."

"Then I'm helping with those. There is no way I'm paying for nothing."

"This can be a discussion for another day. Go check out of that hotel and bring your stuff here."

Zoe smiled. "Fine, I'll be back in a little bit. You're an awesome friend AB."

"This will be fun."

Zoe went and checked out of the Whippoorwill but not without an interrogation from Dash.

"What happened to Joel?" He started

"It just didn't work out, he went back to New York and that's all you're getting."

"Alright then. Dr. Hart is single again. Does this mean Zeorge or Zade will be making a comeback?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Now thank you for the lovely stay, I will be leaving now."

"See you around Dr. Hart." He tipped his hat in her direction and went into his office.

Zoe was rolling her suitcase down the street when Tom Long came running up to her.

"Say it isn't so Dr. Hart."

"What are you talking about Tom?"

"Did Joel really leave?"

"How did that get around so quickly?"

"Dash sent out a blog alert."

"Oh Lord, but yes, Joel left. I'm sorry to disappoint you."

Tom pouted "I hope you didn't ruin his mojo."

"He'll be fine." Zoe shook her head

"Well I hope so." He said shaking his own head. "I'll never forgive you if Joel Stevens never writes another book."

"Ok Tom" she chuckled and continued her walk towards Annabeth's.

Zoe knocked on the door when she got there. She heard a screech and then the door opened.

"I'm so excited you're here. Our girl's nights are going to be epic. Come in, come in. You can put your stuff upstairs, second door on your left. Ahh I'm so excited."

Zoe couldn't help but laugh at her friend's excitement. "Don't you basically live at Lavon's?"

"Not anymore!" she chuckled

"He's going to hate me."

"He'll get over it."

"Yes he will, plus he can have guy nights with George and Wade again."

"And Wyatt?"

Zoe laughed "That's when we steal him."

"Yay!" Annabeth smiled

Once Zoe returned back downstairs and sat with Annabeth in the living room.

"Zoe, I don't want to pry or anything but, you don't seem to upset about Joel leaving."

"I feel horrible saying this but I'm not that upset. He was a great guy and yeah, if I stayed in New York we might have been happy together but he didn't belong here and I don't think I belong with him."

"Who do you belong with?"

Zoe smirked but shook her head. "I have no idea."

"Wade?"

Again she shook her head.

"I don't know. I have feelings for him but I don't know if I could ever risk it again." She took a breath "If he never told me he loved me, it would be so much easier."

Annabeth's jaw dropped "Uh, when did this happen?"

"You don't know?"

"No, spill."

Zoe smiled "It was back in May. The day I left for New York, when he and Lemon were going to their meeting with Glorianna. When they found out we made the emergency landing in Quinby, Wade found Jonah and I at a diner. He took me aside and told me this big romantic speech, ending it with he loved me." She told her and couldn't help but smile.

"Oh my gosh, what did you say to him?"

"Wow."

"That's it?" she asked in disbelief

"Yes, I was still so hurt by the cheating, didn't think I could ever forgive him. I told him I had deep feelings for him but needed time."

"Then you came back with Joel."

"Yeah."

"How long were you in New York before you started dating Joel?"

"About a month."

"And you were all set to move in with him after a couple more?"

"He fit my picture."

"What picture."

"The perfect picture in my head about what my life should be."

"And what's that?"

"Doesn't matter now, it's been erased. That picture would have never made me fully happy."

"What will?" Zoe was about to answer when her phone started buzzing. "Wade?" She asked

"There's my answer." Annabeth whispered

"Hey Wade, what's up?"

"Joel's gone?" He asked

"Oh my gosh, does everyone know?"

"Yes, that's all anyone is talking about. What happened?"

"We got in a fight, well it wasn't a fight, it started as one but that doesn't matter. We talked, truths came out, he left. It's for the best, we never would have worked long term."

Wade was speechless. "Uh, alright. If you ever want to talk, I'm here."

Zoe smiled "Thanks. Oh and I'm staying at ABs now, if you're ever looking for me."

"Ok, cool. Well I should go, Wyatt disappeared under the bed."

"Oh my gosh, troublemaker."

"That's my boy. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye"

Annabeth just looked at Zoe when she hung up.

"What?" Zoe asked

"Oh nothing." Annabeth smirked. "So what should we do for our first official girl's night?"

"Usual of course. Pizza, ice cream and movies."

"Of course, why did I even ask?"

"No idea." Zoe laughed