Author's Note: Anybody want to be a beta/editor or be someone just to bounce ideas off of?

Chapter Three:

Zoe hoped to run into Wade before she went to work so they could talk—though she had no idea what she was going to do or say- but no such luck. Instead when she walked to the café to grab some coffee she bumped into the town lawyer, "Oh hey, George… buddy." She stated as she looked up at the handsome brunette. Her heart ached a little bit.

"Hey," He greeted, she could tell that he felt as awkward as she did, probably still remembering that kiss.

"So…were you getting coffee too?" She asked.

"Yeah, it is going to be a long day with the office and the…"

"The wedding," Zoe finished for him as she nodded and gave a half-hearted smile.

"Yeah," He answered with a smile, but there was a concern in his tone, "Listen, are you okay? You sound a little upset."

She waved him off, "Yeah, I am," She patted his shoulder, "I'm great, buddy," He looked strangely at her.

"Okay, oh hey… I got Lemon to invite you to the wedding for real, if you want to come."

"You know," She scrunched her nose slightly and her face tensed, "I don't think that's a good idea." She gripped her purse tighter, "It just would be weird because…that little kiss." She pressed her fingers together, "and Lemon doesn't really like me."

"I understand," He admitted, "But I was inviting you as my friend."

"And I appreciate it," She gave a sort of smile. "I really should get that coffee and go to work." She pointed toward the door.

"Yeah, yeah," He agreed as he went to open the door for her, "Let's get our coffee." They went inside and made their orders, Zoe still felt awkward, but managed to give him a sincere smile as she high tailed it out of there. Okay, so she still had strong feelings for George, but none of that mattered. He would be married soon, no…her bigger concern was fixing things with Wade and convincing him to give them a try, but she knew with his temper and his pride being hurt it was not going to be easy. She would start with a sincere apology and move on from there.

Wade was wiping down the bar at the Rammer Jammer, now usually he felt alright working there. Today, however it was pissing off. He was reminded how close he was to winning that contest yesterday. He wanted to open a bar badly, and Mr. Man of the Year Tucker and Lemony Lemonade sure as hell did not need the money for anything, they would probably put it toward something silly like another swan at the wedding or something.

Arrggh…

It sucked because thinking of the Bluebell Battle lead to thinking about Zoe and how he wanted to…maybe impress her by showing her he had more attainable goals. Not that it matter, if he impressed her or not, now; because she was all lovey dovey for someone else who was not him.

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw his dad walk in, "Hey son." He had a gentle smile and not that Wade would have noticed; his eyes were clearer than they had been in years.

"What do you need old man?" He honestly was not in the mood to deal with him. He slammed a twenty on the counter, "Take it and go." Earl frowned at his son.

"You okay son?"

"I'm fine," he growled. Earl took the twenty as always, if Wade only knew…it was only a matter of time.

"You don't sound fine."

"Well, if the town drunk notices that. I must be really bad off." His remarked had hurt like a bear ripping your arm off, but Earl supposed he deserved it, all those years he held Wade back from his dreams…. The boy had been the one to stay, the one to support him and now…well just when Earl was getting things together…his son had started giving up, maybe that would change, soon…but he could not tell him, yet, he had to be sure he did not falter this time.

"Son, I didn't mean to make you more upset." Wade sighed, the man was a drunk true, but he still was his father, and he knew somewhere deep down when the alcohol was not talking that the man cared for him. It was what made it worse, seeing his father sober, because when he was drunk he just dealt with it, but when he was sober Wade was waiting. The waiting part kind of sucked.

"It's fine, you need something?"

"No," he smiled, "I'll be off." He walked away as he watched that beautiful doctor walk in. He was curious to see what was going to happen, but did not want to upset his son anymore than he already was.

Great, Wade thought to himself, Zoe Hart had walked into the bar. She was making a beeline his way, "Hey," She greeted with guilt laced in her voice.

"What's up doc?" He growled out the phrase, "Did pretty boy kick you to the curve when he got his glass of lemonade."

That hurt, but Zoe was still going to do what she came there for, "Look Wade…I'm…"

"You know, don't apologize," He threw the rag on the counter, "Don't worry about it. You can't help it that your type wants perfectly boring well off guys, and that you are too much of a snob to lower your standards. Oh why would the great Doctor do that?" He exaggerated the words with body movement.

She glared at him, "I'm trying to apologize and I don't know what for because I didn't even do anything wrong. I just liked someone okay…and I just found out well…I did not realize until I went to bed that I like you too."

"Tough, cause I don't take sloppy seconds, okay I'm nobody's somebody second choice." He said it firmly but at the moment, he was already starting to regret it. Zoe's face saddened even more and maybe being second was better than not being with Zoe at all, but it was hard when his whole life he was always finding himself second to guys like that, including his own brother.

"I understand…I just…I didn't mean to hurt you, okay. I didn't know, people told me, but let's face it sometimes you do act like a jerk and it is kind of hard for me to believe a jerk would like me."

"I don't like you, last night was just…" He thought for a second, "A moment of stupidity…a mistake."

She sighed and she saw something in his and the way his words seemed mixed with something more that angry. He was still hurt. She tried to reach for his hand but he jerked it away, "It was not a mistake it was brave."

"Look doc, I don't need your pity."

"It's not pity." She insisted, "I was just thinking over things last night…like I said I…"

"Whatever it is, I don't want a part of it."

"Even if said I wanted to go on a date with you?" She asked.

"No," He said firmly, "Do you want a drink, I got customers coming." She looked around.

"Are you psychic, I don't see anyone coming in," She tried lightly teasing lightly in hope that it would ease his mood but his scowl seemed to become more...well scowly... "And what if," her voice was low. "What if I said I wanted to sleep with you?" She did not know why she said that, but Wade was putting up a fight, and she felt like she had to say something, shock him.

"Not for all the money Alabama, you aren't worth it." He replied and he wondered to himself as he said it why he needed to hurt her so bad. "And I'm surprise a high class girl like you wants to lower her standards for a roll in the hay. I knew I was good, but I'm surprise my reputation impressed you so much. I guess that's what happened when you are tossed out, right now you think I'm good enough for you, seeing as the great George Tucker won't touch you." He snarled.

"Well, that's good because I don't want to sleep with you. You jerk, I can't believe I actually…" Angry tears began to pour down and Wade was feeling less angry, and hurt but more guilty and that was worse then hurt.

Zoe walked away pass the worry glances, because she was starting to cry and she knew it.

Lavon was in the office dealing with Mrs. Hayson and Mr. Darrelson, "She can't put her roses there that's my property!" the old man grumbled. The mayor shook his head; this little squabble had been going on for years in different variations. It was something do with a bad breakup that happened twenty years ago. He stepped outside of the room for a break when he hears the latest gossip, able to hear it several feet away, but the person was covering there face and leaning close to his secretary. "She got her heart broken by Wade."

Lavon did not usual prior in idle gossip but, "What…what happened with Zoe Hart."

"Oh," Mrs. Harper looked up with glee, "Didn't you hear there was a commotion at the bar. Oh yes, the doctor declared her love for Wade in all of those people and he just torn at her, bless her poor little heart." She spoke in tone that the mayor knew was only a farce of concern.

"Oh Louisa," Lavon called to his secretary, "Cancel my appointments," He glanced over to see Mrs. Harper tilting her head up, so her good ear heard everything, "I'm going to lunch!"

"What! It is only 10:30,"

"I'm hungry now," He replied and was out the door just as heard Mrs. Hayson was yelling about prize winning something…something.. followed by a thunk sound, which if Lavon did not see, well…it was for the better.

He headed straight to the Rammer Jammer in hopes of figuring out what happened. Really, Wade and Zoe drove him nuts, but he still wanted things to workout between them. They were both good friends of his.

"Hey," he greeted as he sat down at the bar and he knew by the look, the gaze reminded Lavon of the time that Wade had stolen Mrs. Marbella's favorite prize winning beagle for a prank and how guilty he looked when he realized the dog was also a family pet. Wade had done something awful, because his face was even worse than that day. IT was painful to look at.

"What are you doing here?" Wade asked him.

"Heard a rumor about you and Zoe, I can tell something eating you. You look guiltier than the dog who ate the turkey."

"Well," Wade seemed tenser, "I'm not sure what you heard, but yeah she was here earlier." He tried to shrug it off.

"I'm assuming there was no love confession."

"Well…no! Well…"

"Damn it, Wade! And curse Zoe, too. You two are making my life difficult! What did you say to her, so I can help fix it?" Lavon's voice grew louder but still not enough for the whole bar to hear but enough for the bartender to wince.

"Well…I might have said a few...of well…remarks that might have been interrupted as…mean things."

"What kind of things?"
"Well…" Wade confessed his sins and for his trouble the former NFL player smacked him on the head, "Idiot, she said she liked you, too, and those weren't just mean words! They were cruel! Zoe didn't deserve any of that."

"Well, she only said that because George is getting married, I'm her second choice." Wade growled as he wiped down a table and tried to defend himself. Lavon was not buying it.

"You're her second choice at least, you could be 50, and the truth is if George never came back I would have stayed with Lemon, even knowing I was her second choice. Besides, Zoe never had a chance with George it didn't have time to grow. It could grow between you two; she could someday love you more. And don't forget she could have gone after your brother, tried that vet, but she wants to give you a shot, because she thinks somewhere she could love you, too."

Wade was surprised, he smiled, and then he frowned, "Ah, fuck I'm screwed up!" He realized, "I told her some messed up things. Man…even worse than before, like god awful." The mayor nodded in agreement.

"Okay, well at least we know she likes you. This has got to be something we can do to fix this. First, you got to go apologize to her in a big way, you got to do something. I'm not just talking flowers either, something big."

"Like what?"

"I don't know," Lavon lightly patted the bar, "I'll tell you when I think of something for now I need a drink."

Author's commentary: Well this took a little longer, mainly because I wanted to fix the flow of the story as entire. Does anyone know a site that gives the details of each episode? I know CW gives a summary, but I need more details. As usual any glaring errors let me know. I miss having an editor, you know it helps instill confidence when you at least one person will like it before it is posted.