173My first Hart of Dixie FanFic
Reviews keep the story moving along.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Zoë ran into the Rammer Jammer waving a piece of paper. "Wade! I got it! I got the fellowship"!
"Well, that's great". Wade gripped the bar with a fake smile.
"Isn't it? Oh Wade, I'm going to be a cardio thoracic fellow at New York hospital. I have never wanted something so much in my entire life". Zoe talked excitedly.
Wade quickly realized he needed to play the role of supportive boyfriend. "How about I take you to Fancies to celebrate"?
Zoë squealed and jumped up to kiss Wade from the other side of the bar.
"I'll take that as a yes". Wade smiled.
"Yes" Zoë said before her eyes went wide remembering "I have to tell Lavon". Zoë gave Wade a quick peck on the lips and ran out of the door.
Wade was drying a glass and it slipped out of his hand. "Damn it"! He said before squatting down to start picking up the broken glass.
"It looks like something has got you distracted". Lavon said looking over the bar watching Wade clean up the glass.
"You talked to Zoë"?
"Yeah and I came over here to see how you were dealing with it".
"As well as can be expected considering the woman I love is about to high tail it to New York". Wade said standing up with broken glass in his hand.
"Well, what are you going to do about it"? Lavon asked.
"What can I do? If I ask her to stay, she could leave or she could stay, hate me and then leave anyway". Wade said defeated.
"Or she could be waiting on you to ask her to stay but if you are worried about her hating you for it, you could always go with her". Lavon suggested.
"I can't go to New York. I would just embarrass her in front of her fancy doctor friends and I can't leave Earl".
"So… Lavon prompted.
"So, I'm going to make the most of what time she has left here and then let her go". Wade stood there for a moment in exasperated thought and then took the towel off his shoulder and hit the bar with it. "Damn it, Zoe! I was fine until she came here. I chased tale and worked at the bar. Then she came through town like a tornado and uprooted my whole life and then turned it on its head. This morning when she was telling me about her fellowship, she was stabbing me in the heart and the twist of the blade was the smile on her face". Wade looked at Lavon like he was going to break down.
"I got to go". Wade took off out from behind the bar and out of the door of the Rammer Jammer.
Wade stopped his car in front of the gate house. He stomped up the stairs and flung open the screen door, paced for a moment and then decided he needed a beer. He walked over to the refrigerator, opened it, and pulled out a beer. Wade twisted off the cap and took a long pull from the bottle. He then looked at the clock and decided to take a shower. The broke southern man turned on the shower and then climbed in. He placed the palms of his hands on the shower wall and leaned forward, letting the hot water run down his back. The water wouldn't wash away the pain but it would help with the sting.
Wade finished getting dressed and walked out of the door to go pick up Zoë. Zoë heard him pull up. She came out of the door with a huge smile on her face. She looked beautiful. Wade's heart broke that moment. Zoë opened the car door and jumped in the front seat. She looked at Wade and took his face in her hands. She kissed him deeply. He couldn't help but respond to her. The crack in his heart grew a little bit longer in that moment.
They arrived at Fancies. Wade stopped the car, opened the door and got out shutting the door behind him. Zoë waited as he walked around the car and opened the door for her. He held out his arm for her and closed the door after she climbed out.
They walked into the restaurant and half of the town jumped up and cheered. Lavon walked up to Wade and Zoë.
"Congratulations Zoë". Lavon greeted.
"Thank you". Zoë looked at all the faces and then looked at Wade. "You did all of this for me"? He was a deer in headlights.
"Of course, he did". Lavon jumped in to save him.
Wade gave Zoë an uncomfortable smile.
Everyone was finishing their meals. The people who finished first were walking around visiting tables. Wade walked up to Lavon, who was at the bar getting a refill.
"Why did you do this"? He asked.
Lavon took his drink from the bartender and thanked him. Then Lavon turned to Wade
"Because I know you. You would have tried to put on a brave face while you're falling apart inside. Zoë would have talked about her fellowship and New York. You would have taken all you could and then snapped on her. She would be in tears and on the first plane to New York. Did you really want Zoë last memory of you to be that"?
"No, of course not" Wade felt guilty.
"Then you're welcome". Lavon took a sip of his drink.
Wade leaned back on the bar beside Lavon watching Zoë. "I know I said I would make the most of the time we had left but I can't go on and pretend to be the supportive boyfriend while she is making her plans to leave. I need to make sure I'm fine when she leaves". Wade said before he walked away. Lavon didn't like the sound of that.
Wade stopped the car in front of Zoë's house. He took a deep breath and got out of the car. He then walked around the car and opened Zoë's door. Wade helped her out of the car and then shut the door behind her.
They walked up the steps to the front door. Wade stopped her at the door, which wasn't normal. Zoë searched his eyes to understand why he stopped them at the door instead of going inside.
"Look Zoë, I can't… Wade started.
Zoë put her fingers over Wade's mouth. "Don't. Not tonight". She said realizing what He was about to do.
She loved Wade but this was a lose, lose situation. She would recent him if she stayed and he would recent her if he left. "One more night"? She asked.
He knew they shouldn't but at that moment in time he couldn't remember their last time together. He couldn't remember if it was fast and hurried or slow and sweet. He wanted to remember. If he could just remember, he could do the right thing and walk away. Wade knew this night would haunt him long after Zoë was gone but there was a need in his aching heart to hold onto that memory.
He crushed his lips onto hers and Zoe's back connected with the door. She clumsily reached around for the knob and finally managed to open the door while Wade assaulted her mouth.
They stumbled around in the dark until they finally found the bed. Wade reached for the hem of Zoe's shirt and started to draw it upwards. She raised her arms automatically. Their kiss was broken long enough for the fabric to slip over her face before it was resumed.
A rush of sadness hit him like a ton of bricks as he laid Zoë down on to the bed for the last time. He pressed his forehead to hers and squeezed his eyes shut to keep his tear ducts treachery suppressed.
"I love you, forever" Wade managed to choke out.
"I love you, always". Zoe said before a tear rolled down her cheek.
They took their time burning every second into their memory. Wade knew now, it was slow and sweet. They kissed one last time before he held Zoë close and watched her fall asleep.
No southern man would admit to shedding a tear but Wade shed a single tear for what he was about to do. He gently rolled Zoë off of his arm and sat on the edge of the bed. He wiped his eyes and stood up. Then he walked through the house putting on his clothes as he found them. Wade was at the door by the time he was fully dressed. He opened the door and took one last look before he walked away from the love of his life.
