A/N: Thanks to those who left reviews on the previous chapter - always much appreciated :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 19

"Okay, what is goin' on with you two?" asked Lavon, looking back and forth between Zoe and Wade.

"No idea what you're talking about, man." Wade shook his head, chewing on a bite of apple yet. "We're just fine."

"A-okay," Zoe agreed, shrugging her shoulders easily.

Still, Lavon stared at them both with narrowed eyes, as if he didn't really believe it. Wade wasn't sure what the mayor thought he was seeing and apparently it wasn't something he could put into words anyhow, because if he could, he would, no doubt. Fact of the matter was, there really wasn't anything major going on with him and Zoe. There had been no fight or falling out or anything between them at all. Of course, Wade had some stuff on his mind when it came to his relationship with the hot little doctor, but that wasn't something he was about to bring up over breakfast with Lavon. At least, not until Zoe herself declared she was heading out to work and left the guys alone.

"Now will you tell me what's goin' on?" Lavon tried again.

Wade meant to repeat that there was nothing to tell, but in the end, he just couldn't do it. After all, he probably would do better with a second opinion on what was going around and around in his head of late, and who else could he really talk to? George Tucker seemed to have problems enough of his own, since he and Lemon looked to be at each other's throats just about every time he saw them. Old Earl wasn't much use for relationship advice, even when he was having a decently sober day. The mayor was likely to be Wade's best bet, not least because he knew Zoe so well and cared about her almost as much as Wade did, although thankfully in a very different way.

"Like I told you before, there's nothing wrong with me and Zoe," he said eventually, checking to be sure she really was gone before he said any more, mindful of her suddenly walking back in and catching him talking behind her back. "But I keep on wonderin' if there's gonna be something wrong if I screw up this whole Sweetie Pie Dance thing."

Lavon frowned. "You didn't ask Zoe to the dance yet?"

"I wasn't plannin' on askin' her at all," said Wade definitely. "Come on, Lavon, that kinda thing is not really my idea of fun, and Zoe, she's not really the Bluebell town shindig type, you know that as well as I do."

"Well, I guess maybe not," the mayor considered, "but you two being so close and all, so very much the definition of sweetie pies," he said, grinning too much then. "I don't know, I just figured it was gonna happen."

"Maybe it is and maybe it ain't," Wade admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Geez, Lavon, I don't know what I'm doin' here. I mean, Zoe, she is amazing, in all kinds of ways. I'm real happy about bein' with her, you know that, and I wouldn't mess this whole thing up for anythin'."

"I get that." Lavon nodded. "So, what's the problem?"

"The problem is that... that for all I know about women, and let's face it, I know a lot." Wade smirked, unable to help himself. "What do I really know about being... you know, a boyfriend?"

Lavon opened his mouth as if to say something encouraging, but closed it again without a word being spoken. Wade couldn't blame his friend for being stupefied by the situation, since he was in much the same position himself. The truth was, he never had seen himself as 'boyfriend material', never thought he would ever want to be so committed to anybody, until Zoe Hart walked into his life. Now, she was all he wanted, all he needed, and it scared him half to death to think he might just go ahead and mess it all up at a moment's notice, without even meaning to.

"Look, Wade, m'boy," said Lavon then, a hand on his shoulder. "I know how you feel about Zoe, and I'm pretty sure she knows it too, so maybe don't worry so much about the hows and whys of being a boyfriend. Maybe just be your best self, 'cause I'm pretty sure that'll be enough for Zoe."

"Thanks, man." It did make Wade feel better to hear those words from his friend, though it still left him with one more problem. "So, you think I should ask her to the dance or not?"

"Prob'ly wouldn't hurt," Lavon considered. "I mean, she hasn't said anything to me about whether she wants to go or not, but she could just be waitin' on you. Zoe ain't the most traditional woman in the world, but the men does usually do the askin' in these things."

Wade knew he had a point, and he supposed it wouldn't be the worst thing if he just casually mentioned the dance, to see what Zoe's reaction would be. She was either going to want to go or she wasn't, and either which way, Wade wasn't so sure he minded much. It wasn't really his idea of a good time, but he didn't mind Zoe or the townsfolk knowing he was serious about her. They all ought to know that already anyhow.

"Good talk, Mr Mayor," he said then, grinning at Lavon. "I'll see you later," he added, giving a salute-like wave before taking himself out the back door and over to his own place.

He had a few things to do before he headed to the Rammer Jammer for his lunch-time shift, hoping that Zoe might come in when he was there so he could talk to her. In fact, he might just drop a text her way and invite her to come have lunch on him to guarantee it. No matter what happened about the Sweetie Pie Dance, he knew good and well he would be glad to see her.


"Oh, crap!" Zoe exclaimed as the jar of tongue depressors slid from the edge of the desk and hit the floor with a crash, spraying glass across the tile.

"You okay, Zoe?" said a voice from the doorway.

She looked up to see George Tucker poking his head in and she sighed. "I'm fine," she promised. "Just a silly accident. Um, I'm just trying to think if I've seen a dustpan and broom around here but..."

"I know where to find it," George assured her, disappearing from view.

A minute later, he was back with the cleaning implements she needed, but instead of handing them over, he began cleaning up the glass for her instead. Zoe didn't see a reason to argue and instead sat back down at her desk, watching him work for a moment.

"Thank you for this," she said gratefully. "You'd think after all these months, I'd know where we keep the janitorial supplies, but thankfully, I haven't had too many spills since I've been here."

"No problem." George smiled at her, though his heart didn't entirely seem to be in it.

Poor George, every time Zoe saw him lately, he looked kind of sad, even when it was clear he was doing his level best not to show it. The sparkle had gone out of his eyes and his ever-present smile. He just wasn't himself and most people seemed to be picking up on the reason why, if the town gossips knew their stuff. Zoe had fast learned that they always did.

George and Lemon were having problems. It was common knowledge, though the exact nature of said problems was unclear to most. Zoe would bet her pay check and more on the issue being Lemon and her mixed up feelings for both her fiancé and Lavon besides. Not that she could say anything about that to George. She had made a promise on that and she planned to keep it. Still, she didn't want to be any more of a bad friend than she had to be to the lawyer who had only ever been nice to her.

"What's up, George?" she asked him, in as neutral way as possible. "You seem a little... I don't know, not your usual chipper self maybe?"

His sad smile only got sadder as he got done cleaning up and leaned heavily on the broom still in his grasp. "I wish I knew, Zoe," he told her with a sigh. "I mean, I should be happy. Sometimes, I feel as if I really am, 'cause what exactly do I have to be sad about? I got a good business, a fine place to live, lots of sunshine, all my own teeth," he said, starting to try to joke about it just a little, though it didn't really come off. "I also have a beautiful, intelligent fiancée and a wedding comin' up fast that I... I really thought I wanted."

"But?" Zoe prompted, unsure whether it was a good idea or not but going with it anyway.

"But," George echoed, heaving one more sigh, "just lately, me and Lemon have been... well, there's been some tension between us. A couple o' weeks ago, I bugged her until she finally gave in and told me what was on her mind. It was... well, no offence, but it's personal and not really somethin' I can share with you."

"I'm not asking," Zoe assured him, hands raised in mock surrender.

"Well, it doesn't matter anyway, because that particular news doesn't seem to really be the problem," George explained. "See, I thought once Lemon told me what was bothering her, we'd get closer again. It's all her own family stuff, so it didn't really affect me and her at all, 'cept like I said, I thought we'd be closer for the sharing of it. Apparently, I was wrong."

"She's still distant?" said Zoe cautiously.

"She's... yeah, I guess she is a little distant," George considered, "but I don't know if I can really blame her for that. The fact is, after I found out she was keeping so much of herself from me, I also came to realise I have things I'm keeping from her too. You know, we used to be so good at communicatin' before, but after my time in New York... I don't know things just haven't ever really been the same. It makes me wonder if we were foolish, trying to get back what we had, after all that we went through. Maybe we should just..." he trailed off then, eyes that had been wandering around the room a lot suddenly back on Zoe. "Wow. I'm so sorry, Zoe. I really did not mean to start spilling my guts to you like this."

"It's fine," she promised, waving away his concerns with a flick of her hand. "Really, George, I don't mind at all. Sometimes, we all need someone to unload on, and hey, I am a doctor," she reminded him, her hand on her chest. "I am here to heal. If talking about this stuff helps you to feel better, then it's part of my job to listen."

"And here was me thinkin' we were friends," he countered, smiling in such a way she knew he was at least partially teasing her.

"We are," she assured him, "but you have the added bonus of doctor-patient confidentiality on this particular conversation, since we're in my office and everything."

"'Cept I'm Brick's patient."

"You're a patient of the practice and I work here too." Zoe shrugged. "Besides, I have a feeling you wouldn't want to say everything you just said to me to Lemon's father."

"No, I would not." George shook his head definitely. "I don't even know why I said it at all. I mean, I love Lemon, I really do."

"That's good, since you're planning to marry her." Zoe nodded. "But... you know, George, if you're having any doubts at all about your relationship, I really think you should talk to Lemon about them. These things can fester and become more than they should, which isn't good for anybody's mental wellbeing."

"Spoken like a true doctor and a true friend," he said, smiling somewhat more genuinely now. "Thank you, Zoe."

"You're welcome, George, and thank you for helping with my glass smashing incident."

"No problem. I should get this squared away," he said of the broom and dustpan then. He was at the door before it occurred to Zoe to ask why he had come in in the first place. "Oh, you haven't seen a bundle of Save the Date cards in calligraphied silver envelopes lying around, have you?" he asked in earnest.

"I can honestly say I have not," Zoe confirmed, unsure whether she ought to feel bad for saying as much when George heaved another huge sigh and went on his way.


"There's my girl," said Wade cheerfully, the moment he saw Zoe come in. "How're you doin', baby?" he asked, leaning over the bar to kiss her hello.

"I'm fine," she said, looking anything but, her smile distinctly forced.

"You wanna tell your face that?" he teased gently.

Zoe sighed. "I know, I know, but it's been a tough morning. Not patient-wise, nothing serious happened there," she explained, getting comfortable on the nearest stool. "George came by the office," she said softly then, looking left and right to ensure no-one was listening, encouraging her boyfriend closer before she went on. "He and Lemon are really having problems."

"Well, that's sad for them, but maybe it's for the best?" Wade suggested. "I mean, if they're not happy, best they hash it out before they get wed. Might even be better for everybody if they decided to call it off, you know, in the circumstances," he said with a pointed look.

Zoe had to know he was thinking of Lavon. She was too smart not to realise that was exactly what he meant. Sure, he wanted George and Lemon to be happy, but from what he knew of the whole situation, it didn't really seem like it was going to happen for as long as Lemon and Lavon's affair was in the back of both their minds and a big ass secret from Tucker.

"It's such a mess." Zoe sighed. "I just wish everybody could be happy, like us," she said, finding a smile then. "You are happy, right?"

"As all get out, doc," he promised her. "In fact, I am so happy with how things are workin' out right here," he continued, gesturing between them as he pressed on before his nerve went, "I was thinkin' about asking you to that dumb ol' Sweetie Pie dance everybody is makin' such a fuss about."

"Seriously?" Zoe's eyes were wide as Wade had ever seen them, which was amusing as it was anything else. "Uh, okay. So, you were thinking about asking me, but you're not actually going to?" she checked.

"Wasn't sure if it was your kinda party," he said honestly, shrugging his shoulders, "but if you did want to go, I'm just sayin', I'd be proud enough to take you there. What do you say, doc? Feel like bein' seen on my arm, as my real live Sweetie Pie?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

It was easier to make it sound at least a little like a joke. Wade wasn't sure how to be serious in this kind of situation, terrified as he was of having Zoe not react so well. It was a heck of a relief when she smiled real wide and gripped her hand tightly around his own.

"Wade, I think I would love to be your Sweetie Pie," she told him happily. "Even if that is the most disturbing thing I have probably ever said in my life!" she added with a burst of laughter.

"I can live with that," Wade assured her, leaning in so they could share a sweet kiss.

Now, that had gone a whole lot better than he expected.

To Be Continued...

A/N2: There will be no new chapter posted on this story next week as I'm taking a holiday/vacation. Next update will be Friday 9th June. In the meantime, please leave a review and let me know what you think of this chapter :)