Standard Disclaimer: None of this story originally belongs to me. I did add a lot to it though. I couldn't even finish the original story like I couldn't finish watching all of the episodes and seasons of Glee. But I did include some of both. Thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and/or favoriting this story. I am way out of practice, so please forgive all my many mistakes...

Chapter Four

"Tina, you know you were completely wrong for that." Mike had opened their champagne and waited until he calmed down before starting the conversation with the love of his life.

"What are you talking about me, Tina Marie Cohen being wrong? Surely, I misheard you dear."

:"No, you didn't mishear me. Sam and Mercedes both didn't deserve what you just did. You have been talking my ear off of how good those two would be in bed together and now you have gone a complete 180."

"It was the look they give each other when we were checking in that let me know that I was wrong for trying to throw the two of them together."

"Have you lost your mind...what look?"

"When he called her darlin and she called him babe looking like she had fallen in love with Sam then and there. Sam is not ready to fall in love again. Well change that to fall in love in love at all. He was never in love with Katherine. He was just a puppet being pulled by her strings. I told you to tell him that that bitch had come on to you multiple times, but each time you denied her, she blamed it on the alcohol. Alcohol my ass, she was getting one last time to try that shit with you, and now that we have been vaccinated, I felt no reservations in taking that ho to the carpet."

"Tina, you were right I should have said something, but I couldn't be sure that she wouldn't twist it all and have Sam mad and me, and I would lose the best friend that I ever had."

"I told you to help me break them up before Katherine broke his heart. She was just like that character from Cruel Intentions. You said to give her one more chance, and then we could fix him up with Mercedes, and now the timing is shot to hell."

"Now, I never agreed to fix him up with Mercedes, that was all you. I was sure Mercedes was not into white guys unless they were fictional."

"That was before her example of black excellence; her aint nothing but shit sperm donor disowned her. He wouldn't have approved, so Mercedes didn't even give guys of the opposite race any attention. Sam's friend Artie is an example of how she ignored his blatant attempt to talk to her on several occasions."

"Well, we need to stay out of their business. If we marry and have kids are you going to be a stereotypical Tiger Mom even though you were adopted by a Jewish couple? I believe kids can learn from their mistakes and adults can, too."

"You better be glad that you have sexy abs or I don't know why I am even considering marrying you."

"The same reason I am considering proposing to you. We love each other, flaws and all. You are my one. No one else can take the place you have in my heart."

"Stop trying to get in my panties. We have a situation. We have got to keep those to apart. Sam is going break my best friend's heart. She is falling for him like a ton of bricks, and I will be the one that has to help her pick up the pieces. You know I am Team Mercedes."

"Baby, Sam and Mercedes are both adults; they can figure it on on their own. They don't need us or anybody else meddling in their personal lives. You said that Sam, Mercedes, and I were a lot alike. Have you changed your mind about this?"

"I said that my freshman year. I could tell that neither of you wanted to be pre medicine. Your father pressured you into going to medical school when you would have preferred going to the Joffrey School of Dance. You lit it up whenever we went to a performance. I could tell Mercedes was born to sing. She loves music, breathes music, is music but because of her dad she was majoring in science to become a dentist like him or a doctor like her mother's father. And then there was Sam, who was just lost. He was lost with Katherine and lost with whatever passion he had. I didn't figure out until I was dating you that his true passion was astronomy. The amount of money he has spent on telescopes alone could fund Mercedes' entire tuition until she graduates."

"Well, medicine might not be my passion, but during the pandemic, Sam and I both felt blessed and glad we pursued it as our major. We lost lives, but we also helped save a lot of people's lives. And the rush you get from doing that is unspeakable. And Sam is really good at emergency care, and I think I am going to make a great orthopedic surgeon. I ended up liking anatomy, movement, and helping people be able to move again has inspired me. I probably would have been better as a physical therapist, but I will find a way to combine my passion of dance with my career in to my amazing girlfriend and all the dance classes that she forced me to take her on as dates."

"I am amazing aren't I?"

"What would make make you more amazing if you text or call Mercedes and Sam and apologize and tell them that you trust them to make the right decisions for themselves."

"How about we compromise, and I just text them and let them know I am sorry for how I said it, because I am not sorry for what I said."

"Mercedes did you hear me?"

"Yeah, I heard you, the acting lovey-dovey or the kissing?"

Silence took over as her beautiful eyes swept low in consideration of what I'd said.

Part of me prayed Mercedes said both. I made a personal commitment to avoid relationships, hookups, and romantic trouble. I just wasn't in the best place mentally for any of that.. But something about her which empted me to make an exception.

She was beyond lovely on Instagram. Yet those photos did her no justice now that I had her here, in front of me.

She was absolutely mesmerizing.

Her flawless cocoa skin drank in the sun. Those curves, of both her ass and those juicy tits spoke to my primal urges.

Her thick curly hair glistened, and those alluring pretty brown eyes pulled me in with every moment that passed.

And can I tell you she smelled wonderful? I wanted to go on my Twitter account and let the world know that Mercedes Jones smelled amazing.

It wasn't the perfume smell of Katherine or other girls that I had known, I'm not talking about her fragrance, which was that of coconut, honey, and chocolate. There was something embedded in her cells, her primal scent, that called out to me. It soothed me to sleep when we were next to each other on the airplane.

Because right here, right now, I really wanted to kiss her. I wanted the heat to rise through her full and pouty lips, and ignite the chemistry I could feel brewing between the two of us.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to deal with having a beautiful woman right at your fingertips, yet not be able to touch her?

"Both," she finally answered. "Maybe she needs to see us kiss at least once, just to show Tina that nobody has to follow her rules. God knows I love my best friend, but damn she's just too bossy."

Score…

"I agree," I said. "We have to plan that at the perfect moment."

Warm laughter filled the air, and the tension that filled the air when Tina set us on needles began to dissipate. I noticed her face light up when I apologized, praised her beauty, and she realized we were allies.

"Well, now that we're here," I raised my glass to the lovely creature in front of me. "A toast."

"To…?" She raised her glass as she stood. Her shoes were off. I noticed she was not only short and curvy, but she had the world's most beautiful toes. Her bright candy apple red polish reminded me of strawberries.

Both of our cell phones went off. Tina had sent a group text apologizing for how she said what she said. Mercedes and I both decided to be petty and leave the message on Read. We toasted to having a relaxing spring break on our terms, and watching Mercedes as she nibbled the strawberries and licked her fingers to get the juice off of her hands made me realize why I could be making the biggest mistake of my life.

I wanted Mercedes, and it would be a challenge for me to quell my baser desires for the next four days surrounded by other couples who were acting lovey dovey. I walked out onto the balcony to clear my head and keep my pledge to myself.

"Sam?" She called my name and followed me outside. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I will be. Are you ready for an awesome spring break?"

Once my libido was under control, our first evening went well. Mercedes and I were a little more comfortable with each other, and we spent the afternoon practicing using our pet names. Honey, love, darlin, babe, sweetheart… generic names affection, but nothing so intimate as to require a story behind our cutesy names for each other.

We decided, should anyone ask, that we'd been together for a year, and met through our mutual best friends, Tina and Mike a few years before. That the pandemic had shown me how brief and precious that life was, and it made me ready to find true love.

The two of us became closer during the pandemic due to Tina trying to fix them up, and as soon as the vaccine was available for Mercedes to take last year, they decided to go on dates, saw how much they had in common, and eventually fell head over heels in love.

We'd also determined the appropriate boundaries for public contact. Holding hands was a natural gesture, but putting an arm around her waist or the small of her back, just above her juicy bubble butt would also be acceptable.

Mercedes agreed kisses on the cheek were our current limit. We didn't rule out kissing on the lips, but that would have to be discussed more.

We met with Mike and Tina for dinner. Our reservations brought us a lovely gazebo, where we more than amply social distanced from the other guests and seated three feet away from our friends..

"This place is so beautiful," Mercedes whispered to me, looking around. There was still some tension between her and Tina. Mercedes appeared to be ignoring her best friend and Mike for the time being.

"Not as beautiful as you," I whispered in her ear. She broke into a smile and fell immediately into their lovey dovey role.

"Oh, honey, you're so sweet."

I wrapped my arm around the back of her chair, and watched her dig her fork into the seafood taco salad that she ordered, while I enjoyed my carne asada.

"Here, try some of my steak, love," I urged. "You've barely eaten all day, and that salad was ordered with shrimp and no chicken or beef. I used my salad fork that I didn't have use to shate a piece of my steak with her."

Her pupils expanded. Vulnerability and uncertainty flashed in her expression. She questioned the unexpected level of intimacy that I admit - now that I'd done it - was the kind of act you never realize is as intimate as it is until you're really present in the moment.

Her lips parted, enough to give me entrance, and I fed her the succulent chunk. The way her lips wrapped around the meat and fork made time come to a halt.

"Oh Lord!" She became animated. She turned to me. "This is really delicious."

Her smile just automatically put me back in a role that I wasn't sure I was playing any more. "I know the food here is amazing."

"It's good to see you lovebirds are enjoying your first night here," Tina cut in. She finished everything on her plate, and asked for the waitress to bring her a box for Mike's. "We've been very active all afternoon, and now I'm exhausted. We're going to retire to the room and catch up on some sleep."

She elbowed Mike, who looked as if he wanted to say something, but thought better of it, and followed Tina out of the gazebo as soon as the box was plated with his leftovers which included his dessert.

"You want to walk around the resort as well before we head in?" I asked Mercedes after we shared a dessert of tres leches cake.

"Okay."

We ended up near the spa area, Mercedes was excited to see how clean and thorough the staff were in making sure all their guests were safe. She had been wary about the spa facilities, but having witnessed the complete clean process herself, she wondered if she could book some time in the spa.

"Our package comes with a couples spa package," I told her. " Each couple is scheduled a specific day and time, so the attendants can have everything sanitized, and ready for a completely safe experience. I think we get ours tomorrow."

"Oh hell, Sam I forgot when you initially made reservations, you did so with someone else in mind." There was a slightly detectable hint of sadness in her voice. "Are you sure you don't mind me… I mean, you were with someone you loved at the time…"

Just one pretend date as a couple with Mercedes made me open my eyes to the fact that what I thought I had with Katherine was just a school boy's idea of what love was. Katherine was a non-factor, yet her former presence still triggered a heavy weight on my vacation, and I no longer wanted that to be the case.

I led Mercedes to our room and onto our out the seat for her, I said, "My ex and the things we had planned prior to our break up, it's not an issue any more. Don't waste time and energy on the past. We are here for a fresh start. Besides the spa visit is already paid for, why waste money?"

"If you are sure, then I agree.."

I assured Mercedes that while we were in Mexico the one thing that would help me enjoy myself was if she enjoyed herself. All her expenses were paid. She didn't have to be grateful or apologetic by using every amenity the resort offered. She reluctantly nodded her head which made me think that I really needed to know this person who was the literal opposite of my ex.

"Do you consider yourself conservative?" I asked her, with a smile to let her know that I wasn't judging her.

"I don't know," she said. "In the past, I would have said yes. My parents raised me to be the model child, who obeyed their rules, followed the Ten Commandments which meant that I was to honor my parents. I did everything they said, and their beliefs were mine. Because of abortion, I couldn't be a liberal or a Democrat according to my parents, but because Trump was crazy, I couldn't be a Republican either.. I guess now that I am making my own decisions. I would say that I am for whatever position that it is in the middle. I am more of a moderate, someone who is between being liberal in everything like Tina and ultra conservative like my parents."

"So, you and Tina are not alike but best friends, how does that work?"

"She grew up in a household that let her try everything. She was a Goth girl, wore contact lenses and dyed her hair blond, she was encouraged to have sex before marriage as long as she was being safe, and she was interested in Mike and pursued him in her own way. She is responsible for my Instagram page. I would have never posted the pictures I have posted on there."

"Oh, why not, afraid to let everyone know how incredibly beautiful and sexy and smart you are?" I teased.

She blushed, "How do you know what's on my Instagram page?"

"Well, when Tina shared the picture of you in the red bikini with me…"

"Tina did what?"

"Relax, love." I leaned in, kissing her cheek. "It was done in good faith. I needed to be reminded about how perfect you would be to bring on this trip. And that picture led me to your Instagram, and I was wowed at how beautiful you are. The times we met previously, you were completely covered up."

She released the sexiest little sigh of relief as she eased back in her seat, mortification fading away. I wasn't lost to the fact that my kiss and compliments were making her feel flushed..

"You're here to do me a favor. Anything you do here, is taken care of so you don't have to worry. Your best friend told me you were losing money by coming here instead of working, but could use the relaxation. I know we're just here for almost a week, but why not just relax and enjoy yourself, don't worry about a thing, okay?"

She nodded. "I guess I'm just used to working hard for everything I have. And even when I'm at home, I'm always on top of everything."

"I'm sure your last boyfriend spoiled you."

The statement made her pause for a split-second. "I have had only one boyfriend, and it was with someone my mom and his mom thought that we would make the perfect couple and give them cocoa colored babies when we graduated college and married. They talked about this while we were in high school. I haven't had a boyfriend since him. We broke up the summer before college both thinking it was wise not to do the long distance thing."

Now it was my turn to pause. "Wow. We are similar. Katherine was my only girlfriend and we got together while in high school. I have gone out on dates since our breakup. Have you gone out on dates since being in college?"

"No, I was too busy with being on the Dean's List and spending every waking moment on chemistry and physics. I love biology, but chemistry and physics were my Achilles' heel. I had to be tutored by Mike and others and take summer classes to stay on track in graduating from Northwestern in four years. I really believe it was the pandemic, but it could have been that I matured, and I realized that I was wasting my life learning about stuff that was not important to me. It did not bring me joy. Singing and working with kids give me joy, and that is when I decided to change my major, became ostracized by my family, and I have had to get a job and double my classes, so I could graduate this year and not do an additional year before pursuing my Masters. I have had neither the time nor the energy to date."

"Wow, Mercedes, Tina told me why you working so hard...I just can't imagine it. You drive a luxury SUV, so it's hard to imagine you having to work to put yourself through college now."

Embarrassment spread slowly throughout her flushed skin. "I used to drive a luxury SUV. When my daddy disowned me, he only left me with the clothes on my back. I had to give him back the vehicle which was in his name, the rest my college fund, my credit cards, and checkbook, and he told me that I was no longer his heir even though I am his one and only child. I have been catching rides from Tina or using public transportation until I can save enough to buy myself a car. Thanks to the pandemic, I haven't needed to drive anywhere because everything I need is now pretty much available online."

"There's no need to be ashamed of that. It's your dad who should be ashamed." I covered one of her hands with mine. "I would never do my child like that. What about your mom how does she feel about all this?"

"She is the dutiful wife who submits to her husband even when she doesn't agree. She calls me and checks on me, but he handles all the finances. She has no power especially when I went against her wishes and fully emancipated myself, so I could be eligible for financial aid. She wanted me to just finish out the year pre medicine as a compromise, and with a degree in science, she said many schools would be willing to hire me to teach. I don't want to teach science. I want to teach music. She couldn't understand that, so we have had basically only cordial conversations."

"I didn't mean to upset you, or take you down that road of remembering how they hurt you."

"Don't worry about it. You wanted to know why I was single, and I am the one who gave you probably more information than you needed to know."

Listening to her and seeing how strong she was to lose her parents love and adoration and not be bitter or complain but work hard to meet her goals did something in me that was irrevocable. I wanted to be like her. Hell, she was the kind of woman I wanted, if I was in the position to be ready to court someone who was wife material.

Tina had told me that Mercedes needed to get away and breathe, get a little release from the duties of being a employee and student. She knew this would have been the only way to look after her best friend by forcing her to rest and have fun for a while by coming with them to the resort.

Tina had been was a little aggressive about getting me to bring Mercedes on the trip, and then telling us to not have sex, but I had to admire the method to her madness and her care for her best friend.

"Well, love, you've definitely got a lot on your plate. I commend your strength, your resolve, and your devotion to your dream. Living your life on your terms."

"Thank you," she whispered.

"No problem. However, here's what I would like," I said, bringing her to attention. "I would absolutely love to see you relax a little bit and have fun. We can snorkel, we can go diving with dolphins- there's so much we can do, and we've only got four more days to enjoy ourselves."

I pulled her soft, tiny hand into mine, and brought it to my lips. "I promise I'll be the perfect gentleman, and respect your space. And if you feel you need to talk or express yourself, I'll make myself available for that, too."

There was an exuberance in her eyes at that moment, and for the first time since she revealed her confession, she seemed to be hopeful.

"I can manage that," she said. Gratitude filled her expression as the tight purse of her lips spread into a welcoming smile of joy. "Thank you, Sam for everything."

"You're welcome." She was precious, my paradise angel. My heart rang out like a symphony as I looked into her pretty brown eyes. I leaned forward, cradled the back of her head with my hand, and pressed my lips to her forehead. "Now, come on princess let's decide who will shower first and get ready for bed. We've got a long day tomorrow."