"Hey, I know you only got a minute, but I wanted to tell you somethin. Its kinda better that you're in a hurry anyway, because I don't want you to respond – at all, actually. I just wanted to put it on the table. Thing is, I know I told you I love you – have forever. But that whole …Battle of the Bands thing, its cause I was scared to death of you walkin out on me and leavin me all strung out on you. But that's changed. I'm sick of always lookin on the outside and watchin my back, but pretending I'm not.
I'm all in, Zoe. Truth is, there's nothin I wouldn't do for you. Remember me talking about that picture in your head? I've never had one. Not a single clue what I wanted from life, but I do now. And it means too much to me to devalue it by always waiting for something to get in the way. I don't really care what the future looks like as long as you're in it and I am all in. No reservations. No masks. I just love you. And man do I love you…"
I opened my mouth to respond, but I didn't have a clue what to say.
"Don't. I'm serious. You don't even have to respond later. I just wanted you to know that. Okay Babe, I gotta run, but I'll see you later, right?"
I nodded mutely.
The door swung shut with a loud clack and Wade looked up from where he was strumming on his guitar, a simple, happy-to-see-you smile on his face. How I even got here in life, I had no idea.
"Wade, were you serious today? Like, was that even real?"
"Yeah, of course it was," he said, setting the guitar aside and coming to hug me hello. "I think you should know that I'm not screwing around. I'm serious about this."
"Okay, but what does that mean? What are you changing? I'm confused."
He turned and waved at me to follow him as he headed for the little kitchen unit in the back. "I'm not changing anything, Doc. You're still you – annoying as ever, and I'm still me – whatever the hell that is. And we're still us like we have been from the beginning."
"So…"
"The thing is that now, or I guess whenever, we got options. We can have whatever kind of future we want. Nothin's off limits. I don't have one foot out the door anymore; stopped checking my escape routes."
"You have escape routes?" I choked.
"No. You're missing the point here, Doc." He said, turning to face me. "I was always afraid you'd leave, and maybe you still might, but even if I lose, I'm all in. Like every little bit. Everything. No defenses, no back doors open. It's just you and me."
"You would really do that? The illusive Wade Kinsella would risk it all, just for me?"
He laughed, "Hey, you're a much bigger prize than I think you know. I mean, you even tap dance, remember?" He smirked in that annoying Wade way and turned around and went into the kitchen. I followed, jumping up to sit on the counter.
"Don't use that against me, those were desperate times!" I laughed as he passed me a beer from the fridge.
"Yeah, well… Luckily, you got some other talents too." He said, grabbing one for himself. It could have been a compliment except for the mischief in his eyes.
"Such as…?"
"Like stealin electricity and blowin fuse boxes…"
"Hey! That hasn't happened in a long time!"
"Yeah, cause we're usually both in the same house now. You're also pretty great at screwing up holidays in this town. I don't remember the last time parade floats crashed in Bluebell, or when the leading lady demanded a divorce at the Founders Day Feast. Or the last time Santa left for vacation on Christmas Eve."
"That's not fair! I was only partially involved in all of those things!"
"Oh really?" He laughed, coming to stand closer. "Please tell."
"Well… for starters, nobody told me he was Santa! I thought I was doing a good thing, getting him out of work and all!"
"On the one day a year he actually works?"
"I didn't know!"
"And the parade? You jumping me halfway through doesn't mean you're blaming me, does it?"
"I was protecting a patient from a very serious injury! Although admittedly it was probably a bit much… And hey, you can't blame me for Founders Day! That was your fault!"
Leaning in, he said, "Oh yeah? How do you figure that one?"
"You knew I was bottling things up and you just had to keep prodding me! That one was completely your fault. Don't blame me!"
"Maybe a little" He admitted, grinning with satisfaction as he came in to kiss me once quickly. Okay, twice. The second one lingered for a blissful moment.
"You know Zoe," He started softly, "you really are somethin else. Me and this town, we love you. Especially me; in fact, mostly me."
I let out a small laugh and just enjoyed his nearness. The window was open over the sink, allowing the air to feel and smell like the raw-green spring air I'd come to enjoy so much during the gentle season in Alabama. It had felt like home for a while now, but especially with Wade so close to me.