Thank you for your continued interest and support. And special thanks to those of you for your kind words. I sincerely appreciate it.
I do not own Glee or the characters, neither do I own Wishing For Us.
When Mercedes and Sam had gotten back to his home, after dropping Cassidy off, he poured her a glass of wine and took a beer, while they talked about their jobs and families.
Of course, it only made sense that she get to know his background, and he hers, if they were to convince Melanie that they had a real marriage.
But he assured her, that Melanie herself didn't know anymore about him, than a stranger off the street would know.
According to Sam, his parents came to see Cassidy often, but Melanie has never visited with them, neither has she ever expressed any interest in doing so.
He said that she simply used them as another backup babysitter, in the event he was out of town and her parents were unavailable.
'What an awful woman. I'm so glad Cassidy is like her father,' Mercedes thought, as tears stung the backs of her eyes.
The hours they had spent together today, first at the aquarium, and then at dinner, had been one of the best days she'd had in a long time.
Being with Cassidy...and of course, Sam...had been so easy and natural. It was as if, they had done that together umpteen times before.
She could hardly believe it, when Sam mentioned it was almost midnight.
They'd been sitting and chatting for hours. Comfortably too.
Sam took her glass to the sink, along with his empty bottle and rinsed them, before putting away the rest of the wine.
Then, he turned off the light and they both walked down the hallway together.
And again, he had what appeared to be a bashful moment, as he stood un-certainly at her door, before leaning forward to drop a kiss onto her cheek.
"Thanks for today...for everything," he softly said, and turned away.
And Mercedes just stood there, fighting the urge to follow him as he headed in the direction of his own room.
God, Sexy Sam's powerful presence was a heady thing to be around. And Sweet Sam was melting her inhibitions...and her underwear...at an alarmingly fast pace.
If she wasn't careful, she'd be sneaking into his bed before their first week of marriage was over.
Mercedes had become good friends with Michelle, through their mutual friend and colleague, Quinn. So when Michelle had called her at the office and invited her to lunch, she had gratefully accepted.
With Quinn away on her honeymoon, she was in desperate need of some girl time. Plus, she was dying to talk to someone about her situation with Sam.
"You look like a woman who's got it bad, sugar," remarked an amused voice.
Mercedes' eyes flew to the open doorway, where Michelle now reclined against the frame.
"Don't bother to tell me you're over there pondering a work problem, because I won't believe it."
"You had it right the first time," Mercedes admitted wryly.
'Why deny it?' she asked herself, knowing she'd planned on asking her friend for advice anyway.
She got to her feet and pulled her purse from the side drawer of her desk.
"Want to walk around the corner to the sandwich shop?" she asked, as she moved towards Michelle.
"Sounds good to me. I could totally murder a turkey sandwich right now," Michelle joked, as they rode the elevator down to the lobby.
Then, she chatted about the latest security system installation she was working on for the company, while they ordered their food and found a quiet table in the corner.
Despite her earlier statement about being hungry, Michelle pushed her sandwich aside after a few bites and asked,
"What's going on with Sam? I called you a couple of times over the weekend to check in, but kept getting your voicemail."
Mercedes dropped her face in her hands and mumbled,
"The quick answer, is that I'm hopelessly infatuated with him."
"Mmm-hmm." Michelle smacked her lips. "He's totally fuckable. I'd be more concerned if you didn't feel the way you do."
"I was attracted to him from the start, but now I feel as if I'm just a step away from attacking him," Mercedes admitted.
Shrugging her shoulders, Michelle asked,
"So what's the problem? You're both adults. Make a nookie date and get to it. Hell, you can even have dinner first if you want to keep things civilized."
"I'm living with him!" Mercedes blurted out. "I agreed to help him with some issues he's having with his daughter's mother."
The bite of food Michelle had taken, appeared to lodge in her throat as she made a choking sound. So Mercedes leaned over to thump her on the back, until she waved her away.
"Sam has a kid? And baby mama drama? Holeee shit! Why am I just now hearing about this? Did you know?" she asked incredulously.
Shaking her head, Mercedes said,
"Nope, sure didn't. When I left with him after Quinn's wedding, we went to his house to have a chance to talk and he told me everything. He offered to give me an annulment...actually, he wanted to arrange it. Then..."
"Wait!" Michelle held her hand up. "I thought you guys did the dirty in Vegas. Was he going to lie to avoid going through a divorce?"
Trying to keep any trace of disappointment from her voice, Mercedes said,
"No, apparently we never had, er...intercourse. Which makes sense, considering I can remember us fooling around. But it's been driving me crazy that I couldn't recall the main event. He said, even though he was intoxicated, he wouldn't have let that happen without me being completely sober."
"But it was okay to marry you while you were tipsy?" Michelle asked dryly.
Suddenly, Mercedes felt strangely defensive of her husband, the man she barely knew.
"It might not have been the best idea, but we were both in a dismal place that night. I was missing Matt, and what might've been, if he hadn't gotten sick. Sam and his baby mama are pretty close to battling for custody of their daughter. She's saying she'll drop her part if he'll either marry her or pay her more support. But he's determined to get joint custody. And he's afraid that his daughter is going to get dragged through a custody case and he doesn't want that to happen to her.
He thought if he were married, Melanie might back off her demands and the court would look favorably on him, if he presented a more settled image. And I just wanted to know what it would feel like, to say, I do."
Rubbing at the slight ache in her temples, Mercedes admitted,
"As insane as it may sound, I was upset when I found out that we hadn't had sex that night, and our marriage could be ended so easily. I mean, it's not like I'm in love with him, but he makes me feel desired again. I've been like a robot since Matt died."
Pausing, she looked around to make sure no one was listening before continuing,
"I haven't...you know, wanted anyone sexually in years. But from the moment I met Sam, it was if my body is some kind of computer that's abruptly come back online."
Michelle propped her face in her hand and studied her friend.
Finally, she asked,
"So you're going to pretend to be his wife to make him look like a better father? What if he doesn't deserve it? He could be a horrible parent."
"He's an amazing dad," Mercedes piped up enthusiastically. "His daughter spent the day with us yesterday. We went to Ripley's Aquarium and then to dinner. She is simply precious, and he hangs on her every word. Their bond was readily apparent, whereas, the one she has with her mother, showed more signs of resignation than affection."
"Whoa!" Michelle croaked. "You've already met the mother as well? Yikes! How did that go? What's she like?"
Mercedes laughed at the rush of questions from her friend.
Michelle was nothing, if not curious.
"Well, she's...different," she said, trying to be diplomatic. "She wasn't happy about me being at Sam's house that morning and didn't mind letting it be known. She basically called me a tramp and stomped off in a huff with Cassidy...Sam's daughter. But a few minutes later, she was back, needing Sam to babysit, because she had plans."
Wrinkling her nose, Michelle deadpanned,
"She sounds awesome. If she was calling you those kind of names so quickly, then she must still have some feelings for our Sam."
Mercedes took a drink of her tea before placing it down.
"Oh, yeah, she does, but I'm not sure her feelings have anything to do with loving him. According to him, she has been putting on the pressure in the last year for him to marry her. Then, when she never got anywhere with it, she thought attempting to take his daughter away, would finally get him where she wanted him."
Michelle finished the bite of food that she'd just taken, before asking,
"If he was willing to marry a stranger, then why not the mother of his child?"
"That's the same thing I asked him," Mercedes admitted. "It didn't make sense to me. But he explained how toxic the environment was for Cassidy, when he and Melanie were together for any extended amount of time. And just from being in the same room with them for a few minutes, I can see that he's right. Apparently, she was a one-night stand and they never had any type of relationship outside of that, before she got pregnant. He believes she's only interested in marrying him for the financial security. And other than Cassidy, I don't think they can stand each other."
"Wow, that's sad," Michelle sympathized. "It's hard enough on kids when their parents divorce. But when there's not a good relationship to begin with, that must be horrible, for everyone involved. Has he told her about his new wife yet?" She looked Mercedes up and down before adding, "I assume he hasn't, since I don't see any scratches or loss of hair."
Rolling her eyes, Mercedes said,
"Nope, he didn't want to tell her in front of Cassidy, since she's likely to freak out. He's supposed to talk to her sometime this week, I believe."
Michelle leaned back in her chair and wiggled her eyebrows.
"Now that we've got all the heavy stuff out of the way, let's circle back to your desire to jump his bones."
"Um...what about it?" Mercedes asked haltingly. "We don't really know each other. And he probably doesn't think of me in that way. I'm helping him out of a situation and that's it. Plus, he hasn't made any moves towards me since we've gotten home."
"Blah, blah, blah." Michelle opened and closed her fingers to simulate someone's mouth moving. "Everything doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes sex can just be about feeling good." Laughing, she added, "Of course, in this instance, Sam married you before he slept with you, so you've already put the proverbial cart before the horse."
Feeling embarrassed, Mercedes admitted,
"I've only ever been with one man, and we dated for quite a while before we slept together. I loved Matt so much. But...I feel something completely different when I'm with Sam."
Guiltily, she added,
"I was never this sexually aware around Matt. But when Sam is near me, it's almost as if I don't recognize my own body or the intense feelings that he brings out in me. I want him with a force that I've never even experienced. How can he have this kind of effect on me?"
Michelle put a hand over hers as she said earnestly,
"There is nothing to be ashamed of. The average person loves more than one person in their lifetime and your reactions to two different men will always be different, because they aren't the same person. I know it's hard, but you're single, Merce. There's nothing wrong with you desiring another man."
Quirking a brow, she added,
"I was going to say every relationship doesn't have to end in marriage, but that's a moot point now."
Mercedes giggled, grateful for the comic relief before Michelle continued.
"Remember when we were talking to Quinn about how lustful she felt towards Noah and how she just needed to go for it?"
"I think it's safe to say she took our advice and then some," Mercedes agreed.
Snapping her fingers, Michelle said,
"Exactly! And now you need to do the same. If you want Sam, then you go after him. And trust me, honey, I saw the way he looked at you at Quinn's wedding. There is no way he's opposed to heating up the sheets with you. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say he wants you as much...or more...than you want him."
"Really?" Mercedes blinked, hardly able to believe Michelle could've had the right read on the situation.
Was Sam feeling the same pull of physical attraction?
"Oh, yeah." Michelle nodded. "Now, I want you to go forth and seduce that man. And trust me, there won't be any challenge there. He might feel like he can't approach you, because you're doing him a favor by helping with his custody situation. But if you crook your finger and let him know that you're ready and willing, he'll come running."
"I don't know," Mercedes murmured un-certainly. "What if I do and he turns me down? I'd feel like a fool, and I'd have to face him every day after that."
Shaking her head empathically, Michelle said,
"I'm telling you, he won't. Besides the fact that you're a beautiful woman, you're also flipping hot...really hot!"
"You're just saying that because you're my friend."
Michelle shrugged her shoulders as if she were talking about the weather.
"Honey, look at yourself in the mirror. You have the kind of hourglass figure that every man fantasizes about. Big boobs, neat waist, and a squeezable, delectable booty. Old Sam has probably damned near worn his hand out, in the last twenty-four hours with you under the same roof!"
Mercedes wanted to crawl under the table when she saw a group of men nearby, began to snicker while darting glances their way.
She had no doubt they'd heard some of the more embarrassing parts of their conversation.
"Oh God, they're listening to us," she whispered to Michelle, as she nodded her head towards the other table.
Uncaring of the attention, Michelle turned her head and faced the eavesdroppers without batting an eye.
"Hey, dudes," she called out. And instantly, they were fixated on her as if waiting anxiously for her next words.
Of course, the fact that she was gorgeous probably didn't hurt any.
"Since you guys are obviously catching some of our discussion, how about giving us your honest opinion."
"Oh shit!" Mercedes moaned in horror, terrified of what was going to come out of her friend's mouth.
Because, there was no way it would be good.
One of the men, who'd apparently appointed himself the spokesperson for the group, leaned forward and smiled.
"We're always happy to assist pretty ladies. What can we help you with?"
Michelle turned to Mercedes and uttered under her breath,
"Just remember, this is for your own good."
Clearing her throat, she moved her chair closer to the other table and lowered her voice.
"Do you see my friend over there?" When they nodded, she asked, "How many of you would go out with her if given the chance?"
As Mercedes was in the process of wilting into her chair, she saw something mind-boggling...the hand of every guy at the table flew up, as if shot from a cannon.
One even replied enthusiastically,
"Any time, any day, anywhere, sweetheart."
Michelle clapped her hands.
"I have just one more question. What word would you use to describe her? And keep it fairly clean, boys."
A chorus of voices rang out and Mercedes heard,
"Hot," "sexy," "stunning," and "beautiful."
Her jaw dropped and her face flamed.
Was this how men saw her?
Matt had always told her how beautiful she is, but seeing as he was her fiance, she thought he was just being biased.
Wow! Her mind was officially blown, so much so, she barely registered that Michelle had resumed her seat and was looking at her expectedly.
Holding up a hand, Michelle said,
"I know you may have the urge to punch me, but I wanted you to see yourself the way others see you. Those men look successful and they're certainly handsome. I doubt they have a problem picking up women. But they were damn near falling out of their seats, at a chance to sing your praises. Trust me, they might've tried to come up with something passably nice to say, if they hadn't found you attractive, but that didn't happen. They were effusive in their praise, and they were more than interested in asking you out."
When Mercedes remained skeptical, she opened her hand and dropped a stack of cards on the table.
Puzzled, Mercedes asked,
"What are those?"
At that, Michelle gave her a satisfied smirk and said,
"The business card of every dude at the table. Some even wrote down all their numbers so you could reach them anywhere."
Mercedes' jaw dropped in shock...for the second time, in less than a minute.
She glanced at the nearby table, only to have one good-looking man with beautiful eyes wink at her.
And she knew she was blushing like an idiot, but strangely, it felt good to be admired.
Had she been so tuned out, she hadn't noticed male attention all this time?
She'd never looked at another man when she was with Matt, and after he died, she certainly had no interest in the opposite sex.
She hadn't realized, that somehow, she had translated that lack of interest on her part, into some sort of insecurity.
Meaning...she wasn't interested in dating, therefore, she wasn't datable.
God, when had it gotten to that point?
This crazy experiment of Michelle's, had shown her exactly how twisted her self-perception had become.
She wasn't ready to admit that she was a raving beauty, because she certainly didn't feel that way. But like every woman out there, didn't she have something that worked for her?
A feature that men found attractive?
Wasn't it possible that Sam would desire her?
And as Michelle had pointed out, did she have anything to lose by letting him know that she certainly was drawn to him?
"You're getting it now, aren't you?" Michelle practically purred in satisfaction. "You have that look that says 'I am woman, hear me roar.'"
"I don't know about that," Mercedes giggled, "But I may possibly concede, that I have more to offer than I originally thought."
Schooling her expression into a frown, she added,
"Although I'm not condoning your methods, I am strangely happy with the results."
At that, Michelle held up a hand, patiently waiting for her to give her a high five.
With her mouth twitching, Mercedes finally gave in, when her friend rolled her lips out in an elaborate pout.
"Yeah!" Michelle crowed.
Tossing a look over her shoulders where the men still lingered, she said in an undertone,
"Now, let's get out of here before they follow us back to the office. I'm almost certain I've heard the word 'threesome' a few times, and I'd hate to knee one of them in the balls, since they were so helpful."
At that, Mercedes got to her feet and hurried after Michelle's departing form. And she couldn't help smiling a little bigger, when the men all threw their hands up and waved eagerly, as she passed their table.
'Score one for Michelle.'
She had left the office for lunch, feeling hopelessly attracted to Sam, but resigned to the fact that nothing would ever happen there.
Now, even with the possibility that he might still turn her down, she was determined to give it her best shot. And she owed her newfound confidence, to an amazingly outspoken friend and a handful of strangers, who'd been kind enough to give her the aplomb, that she'd hadn't even realized she'd been missing.
'It's time to seduce my hubby tonight. Game on, Mr. Evans. Game on.'
Stay safe!