Found this one in my done box, had to change the songs it was that old, but I have to share
Separation
Sam
Sam and Mercy had been married for 10 years now, to say keeping their relationship alive was difficult would be an understatement, it was hard slog. None of them had really sat and thought it out in the beginning, all that was important to them was their love, they thought that would get them though anything, how childish Sam sat thinking now he'd found himself sitting in the changing room wanting his wife
He was a ball player which meant he was away from home too much, to add to that mix Mercy was an out and out Diva, hitting the big time hard, and that put demands on her time too. She seemed to go from one tour straight into another one, while his season lasted all year long, how were they going to win this one seriously "What are our options?" he asked himself feeling yet another stage of separation happening between them.
They started out as a group of six friends but they barely saw their friends any more, separately or together everyone seemed to be on the same spiral going downward hill, all for the sake of fame or career, theirs now being the only surviving relationship to date, no one would believe they lived in the same state, street even to their closest friends "What now?" he rolled his eyes as he looked at his phone to see Daniel's name flash up "Drama" he told himself as he connected the call.
Sam and Daniel had made friends in college, they were pursuing the same career, football, and had sort of climbed every hurdle together in getting there, he'd married Cathy way too soon following their short 10 month courtship, but he wouldn't listen. They'd lasted a good 6 years before she walked out got pregnant within 3 months for her new man and married him when she was about 5 months pregnant. She'd eventually gone off to New Zealand to live with her new family and cut all forms of communication with Dan including the rest of the crew. Dan was beside himself, he really loved her and no amount of talking could get him off his obsession for her, he gave up football to run after her, and went into a deep depression when he found out he was pregnant, he'd cheated all the way through his marriage so it was almost comical that he'd gone on such a downer when Cathy remarried
"Dan what's up?"
"You're back on Wednesday yeah?" he asked him
"Well Tuesday night"
"And when is Mercy back?"
"Thursday I think why?"
"I have a double date set up my friend, I just need you to keep her friend entertained while I do my thing"
"No way" Sam shouted over the phone, he was already in dry man's land and any temptation right now could be fatal
"It's a public place Sam you're not going to be jumping anyone's bones" Dan told him
"Mercy can't find out about this" he told him
"Yeah" David said, knowing full well Sam was going to let her know at his earliest convenience "She won't, come on be adventurous" Dan laughed
"Dude you're the one that cheated on his wife, you're such a dog, no wonder Cathy kicked you to the kerb" Sam laughed
"That shit can happen to anyone my man believe me"
"What time Wednesday?"
"Will say 7 alright"
"Yeah see you then"
"Yeah" Dan said as Sam closed the call down, asking himself what the hell he was doing
"Evans" Coach Josh shouted getting his attention "If you don't mind" he said pointing to the field as Sam jumped up to go join his team
Mercy
Mercy had been on the road for nearly two months and in that time Sam had been home for maybe 3 days, she rolled her eyes as she read yet another text telling her he was going to be home when she got there but, and there was always a but nowadays, he'd be gone the following day to some damn game or promotional thing or charity thing it was all getting too damn much for her "What's the point" she sat thinking. There was love, there'd always be love, but this distance thing was hard, real hard and what was the point in marrying someone so you could kiss them anytime you wanted to, if they were never there.
She'd called his phone four times in the past five minutes and it was busy, who the hell would he be talking to for a whole five minutes she threw her phone down thinking, nobody plays football this late in the evening, as she heard it ring and grabbed hold of it only to find Pippa's name on the front "What now?" she picked it up saying rolling her eyes as she spoke
Pippa was a pianist she'd met on the road some 6 years ago, they tended to always be on the same gigs and just sort of got talking to find they had a lot in common, career wise. Mercy never really talked about her home life with anyone she tended to keep the two things very separate she was always mindful of who Sam was. Pippa let slip once that she was a lesbian not that that mattered to Mercy it just meant she could relax around her a bit more, and not be thinking about ulterior motives.
"Hi Pip what's up?" she said all bubbly, shocked when she heard crying on the other end "Slow down, what's up?" she asked as Pippa told her her dilemma
"I just got back home" she sniffed through her crying "Put my cello down and stripped off to get in bed with Kay you know I haven't see her for nearly three weeks?" she asked Mercy
"Mmm" she replied wondering where this was going
"I walk into our bedroom and she's face deep in some woman"
"The bitch" Mercy spat
"That's not the worst, there was a man going at her, I just don't know what to do, where to go, all I know is I'm not going back"
"That's it I'm going home tomorrow you're coming with me" she told her "Fuck her" and slammed the phone down, she wished she could honestly say her first thought was of her broken friend but it wasn't it was of Sam going two months without and the temptation he must be facing right now, she knew she was.
Denis was one of her dancers, she wasn't surprised he'd grown fond of her, the dance routine was kind of sexy for a few of her songs and she had her crutch splattered across his face for at least 6 minutes of the 2 hour show every night and once or twice she did get a twinge but the sound of Sam's breaking heart soon snapped her out of it, she just refused to do that to her man.
Wednesday
"Hi" Dave said as Sam walked towards them "Sam this is Jen and Kay" he said as Sam looked at the girls and smiled, he sat being polite as Dan made his weak moves and Kay ignored them before he thought something funny was going on, he watched for a while smiling when his suspicions were confirmed
"Are you ladies together?" he asked the girls as Dan almost choked on his drink
"Yeah but we're not adverse to men joining us" Kay offered giving Sam to invite look
"Wow, well that would be your man Dan" Sam said pointing at him "I'm married, happily" he told them raising his eyebrow at Dan "I think that's my cue" he said getting up "Ladies nice to meet you but no thanks" he said grabbing his coat and leaving Dan to it
His phone rang, he rolled his eyes determined he wasn't going back there to support Dan as he took his phone out to see Mercy's name on it "Babe" he breathed down the phone "Please don't tell me you're not coming home tomorrow?"
"I'm coming home Sam" she laughed "What you up to?"
"I've just been on this double date thing for Dan, he's trying to get back on that horse you know, but they turned out to be lesbians, I've left him considering" he laughed
"A date?" Mercy asked concerned
"A mercy date for Dan yeah"
"Should I be worried?"
"No"
"Okay, I called to hear your voice of course but, say it"
"There's always a but with you" he laughed rolling his eyes again
"There is" she laughed "My friend Pip's just been disrespected by her partner sleeping with someone else in their bed and I sort of said she could come stay with me for a few days, I promise tomorrow's ours but she'll be there"
"When have I ever cared who's in the house when we're doing our thing? And I'm so full right now your friends will..."
"Okay Sam" she laughed "Not fair, and once when Gramps was down you cared"
"No I'm sure that was you" he laughed "That's fine, your friend I mean, I'm about to drive now so I'll speak later"
"Later babe I love you"
"I love you too" he told her as they sent kisses to each other and closed the call
Thursday
"Pip I'm sorry sweet but time with my man comes before anything and everything, so when we get in you won't see me until maybe tomorrow after he's gone we got one night after two months and I know you know about that" Mercy told her as they waited for their luggage
"I get that girl I'll go out if you need me to"
"Our room's padded your fine" she smiled "Just make yourself at home"
"Will do" she said knocking shoulders with Mercy smiling "You love him right?"
"With everything I am"
"Well you got two weeks off you should get some time this time round"
"I hope so, he don't know that yet" she told her as she grabbed her bags and they set off for the car to take them to Mercy's
Sam was standing on the drive when the car came onto the drive, he couldn't wait all the doubt gone as he saw the silhouette of his wife bobbing up and down in the car "Babe" he ran to the car saying opening the door as she dived out onto his chest and kissed him all over his face "Bring the bags in" he told their driver as he turned and walked into the house and up the stairs with Mercy, locking the bedroom door behind them
"Mercy" he gasped about two hours later "I want a baby"
"What?" she jumped up asking "Where's this all come from"
"From me, we've found every possible excuse not to so far, but now I want a baby"
"I don't think I'm ready for that yet" she sat up saying
"We're hitting our thirties when are we going to be ready?"
"Not yet Sam" she said, in a tone that tried to tell him that was the end of the conversation, but he wasn't backing down
"I say now Mercy, I want to start our family now"
"That's so not fair Sam, you'll still be doing football, I'll be the one stuck here with a damn baby, it's not going to change your life"
"It'll change both our lives Mercy and god knows we need a change, this whatever we think this is, isn't working"
"So you want to put a fucking plaster on it, and a baby's it?"
"No, I mean we need to slow our lives down"
"And that's a good reason to have a baby?"
"Did I say anything about this being a fucking discussion?"
"No bu..."
"Am I the head of this damn house?"
"Yeah bu..."
"Am I your damn husband?"
"Damn it Sam this is not the time to pull rank"
"You mean it's about time I pulled fucking rank Mercy, that's what's happening, we're having a baby end of"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously" he said banging himself back down on the bed
'Where the hell has this all come from, here's me thinking sex while he's thinking baby, how he fuck am I going to manage with a damn baby and my life style, is he even thinking about me, what this will do to my life and of all the things to pull rank on, you've dug in, I'll show you dug in, it's not happening Sam Evans, it is not happening... But it will won't it, because you love him and you want his babies, we need a family, it's just not happening today' she sat thinking
'Who the fuck are you? how are you going off at her like that, what are you scared of? Stop it Sam Evans apologise now that was just so disrespectful how are you going to dictate what happens with her damn body, who are you? you miss you wife so just tell her that don't do this, talk don't shout' he told himself as he run his hand down her back "Mercy" he said after a while, much quieter "I can't do this any more, seeing you once every two months that's not life babe, I'm turning into this possessive, sex starved animal, I didn't even recognise myself just, I can't do this any more babe I just can't"
"Don't give up on us love"
"I don't know what to do, I love you I know that but something needs to change and soon"
"I've got two weeks off now babe we'll sort something, but I wont let you go, you know that right?"
"You know that right?" he asked her
"Right" they both said as Mercy lay back down on his chest and he hugged her
"I'm going to speak to Coach I need some time, I feel like I'm going mad, I doubt I'll get a week but I'll get something"
"Okay" Mercy smiled into his chest, it took a while for the mood to come back but when it did it came with a vengeance, they couldn't stop "Sam" Mercy finally said "Two hours to your flight"
"Well shut up and let me concentrate" he stopped to tell her laughing as he went back down, satisfied when her heard her familiar noises "Now I can think about getting dressed" he looked up at her saying
"I'll get you something to eat"
"I could go there again"
"How long did you say?" she shouted after him as he went to the bathroom
"Three days and I'll be back"
Mercy dragged her dressing gown on and went down to make him some breakfast while he got dressed, the safest place for her to be with what he'd got on his mind "Pip" she said when she walked into the kitchen to find her sitting at the breakfast bar with orange juice and a plate of fresh fruit in front of her, she'd almost forgotten about her
"Sorry do you need me out the way?"
"No you're fine, Sam's eating on the run anyway" she smiled "Did you get any sleep?" she asked as she started on Sam's breakfast
"Yeah, you have a good bed"
"Yeah Sam researched for nearly everything in the house"
"Wants to make you a home" Pip laughed saying
"I guess we both wanted a home, a base you know"
"Yeah I know" she said sadly
"Sorry Pip I wasn't thinking, Sorry" she said as silence fell on the kitchen for a while
"Babe I expected you to be in th..." looking in and seeing a woman sitting at the breakfast bar "Sorry hi" Sam carried on walking in saying
"Pip this is S..am" she said looking at Pip's face she was definitely fan girling on her damn husband and no way should that happen "You drooling over my husband?" she asked her clearly pissed off
"What... No no" Pip said it was obvious she was
"I will snap a bitch for this one" Mercy said as Sam hugged her from behind and kissed her neck
"I love your jealous babe" he told her as they heard crying in the background looked at Pippa and she was indeed crying
"What's up" Mercy asked as she went towards her handing Sam his plate at the same time
Sam found the table and sat down watching his wife comfort this woman as they talked 'She looks so vulnerable' he thought 'I want to hold her in my arms stroke her hair, neck even kiss her nipples, God where the hell did that come from' he shook himself out of his thought and felt lucky that Mercy's attention was on her friend just then and not his face 'But she is pretty' he thought looking down at his breakfast for cover as his mind ran over her long black hair, paled skin with sad eyes and lips that looked like they'd been kissed all night 'Stop it Sam, you're happily married, you love your wife'
"We were talking about having more children, just last week" she said as Mercy's eyes met Sam's "She was all up for it, but I was the one who was going to carry the child, how the hell she just going to jump into bed with a damn man" Pip asked Mercy as Sam looked on
"It's arr... time for me to go" Sam jumped up saying as Mercy flew up to get to him
"Bye Sam" Pip said through her cry, he didn't know why he noticed the bright smile on Pippa's face because Mercy was coming towards him at the speed of light, but it was obvious her friend was fanning on him just now, he grabbed Mercy as she landed on his chest and walked out with her kissing on him stopping at the kitchen door
"Bye Pip is it?" he said as Mercy looked at Pip and smiled "I love you babe" he looked at Mercy saying as he took another kiss and carried on walking
"I love you back" Mercy said as Pippa sat in the kitchen, mimicking their happy goodbye
Pip announced she was going back home, to sort her affairs out, Kay had phoned to say Saturday was good so she was going to maybe give up the house. Mercy wished her well told her Sam was coming back and no way would she make the journey with her this time, apologised and the next day Pippa left
Sam & Mercy
"Hi Babe" Mercy said as Sam walked through the door Sunday evening, he dropped his bags, grabbed his girl and mounted the stairs, they stayed there for the rest of the day and came down for breakfast the next morning
"Babe" Mercy whined as she cooked him something "I've been thinking about the baby thing and yeah I think it's time, everything will have to work round it" she just about got out before Sam went and grabbed her kissing her neck as he turned her round and kissed her whole face before taking her again right there in the kitchen with no protection.
"I'm so excited about this" he said as he slumped in the chair
"So" she said throwing his cooked breakfast in the bin and grabbing him some chopped fruit from the fridge "This is our new diet" she smiled "I've booked for us to go to the theatre this evening you alright with that?"
"Yeah it's been a while" he smiled, he'd within seconds turned into a yes man, they didn't do much else but bed, kitchen and bathroom the whole day finally getting dressed in the evening to attend the theatre
"Oh" Mercy said as she looked at the programme "I didn't realise Pip was in this, she usually plays the piano or something, sorry babe" she said as they sat waiting for curtains to open
They opened and Pip was the only person on stage Sam stared at her the way a baby stares at its mother from its cot as if she were their whole world, for how long he don't know until he felt Mercy grab his arm and then he spent he whole night wondering if she'd caught him 'Why am I still thinking about this woman in that way? I love my wife, we're planning a family for fuck sake, what's wrong with you?'
"You alright Sam?" she asked at the interval
"Yeah it's just a bit.."
"Boring I know, but we've paid now" she laughed "She's the understudy"
"Do you need anything?" he asked looking at everyone moving around
"No thank you" she smiled
"I forgot to say I've arranged for us to go to Dan's on Wednesday actually we're all meeting just for a general catch up, and some food apparently he's seeing those two girls remember I told you about that double date thing" he laughed "He took them on apparently"
"Full diary"
"Full but together" he smiled
"We are" she leaned in to kiss him saying as Sam closed his eyes opening them to see Pippa standing at side stage watching them, making him feel uncomfortable at first, but then he thought 'maybe something was going on for her too, why else was she watching them, this attraction was mutual'
The play finished and they went back stage to meet some of the cast "Mercy, Sam" Pip shouted over the heads of the group of people they were standing in "Over here" she shouted as Sam looked everywhere but in her direction, she started making her way over to them "Mercy" she said hugging her "Sam" she said hugging him 'It felt warm and wonderful, but wrong, I'm happy in my relationship' he told himself "Good to see you guys again"
"Yeah you too" Mercy replied as Sam just looked on, his mind really wasn't there it was in guilt town
"I've got the children today, she dropped them off while I was on stage so it means I have no one to sit with them in the car could one of you drive my car so I can sit in the back with them?" she asked
"What you live locally now?" Mercy asked
"Yeah about 6 blocks away from here, I rented"
"Yeah Sam can drive your car, I'll follow in our car" she said turning to Sam "I'll be a few minutes I need to speak to those guys over there" she said pointing to a group of dancers
"Thanks" Pippa said rushing off and coming back minutes later with the children about 4 and 6, Mercy watched as they all got in the car like a family and Sam drove off
"Thank you" she said as Sam picked the sleeping 4 year old up, brought her in and put her to bed "Thank you" she said again when he came out of the bedroom "Drink?"
"Small one Mercy will be here in a second" he told her as she brought him a whiskey over, putting it on the table and grabbing hold of his head pulling it towards her and kissing him hard, he fell back on the piano, the noise making him pull away
"Sorry" he said looking at her
"I want you Sam" she told him
"Sorry I love my wife" he told her as she stepped towards him again "Sorry I can't do this" he held his hand up stopping her from getting closer to him saying "You're supposed to be friends with my wife" he told her "Mercy remember her?"
"I know, but I want you" she said again as the horn for their car beeped and Sam stared at her, wiped his mouth, took a sip of his drink and walked out
"Had a quick drink" he told Mercy as he jumped in the car and buckled himself in, luckily she was too engrossed in driving to notice the guilt on his face
Dan's Pad
"Hi guys" Sam said as he walked in to see the two girls sitting on the couch
"Hi again" one of them said
"This is my wife Mercy" he said pushing her forward to meet them as she shook hands smiling
"Hi" she finally said as Dan stood with a big smile on his face "Dan" she smiled as she looked at the two women
"This is Kay and Jen" he smiled as the door knocked again "Oh that will be Trisha and her new Man" he said making Mercy smile for seeing her girl again
"Hi guys, long time" Trish came in hugging Mercy "Missed you girl"
"Girl you look good" Mercy said standing away from her
Trisha was one of the original crew the oldest of the group by maybe twenty years, Nigel her ex-husband had left her for an even younger model and all she was worried about was that she'd thought she had at least another 5 years of him left. She was in the film industry, she'd done about two a list films and the rest hadn't really made it off the shelf but she was persistent.
"We look good" she smiled hugging her again "Sam" she said hugging him too "This is Denis" she said as he came in behind her, making Mercy gasp, not just because he was maybe half her age but she knew him too
"Denis and I know each other" she told her half hugging Denis as she spoke "He's a dancer on my set" she told Trish pulling away from him when she realised he'd hugged on a bit longer than she'd intended, Sam instantly getting agitated
"I don't need to ask Diva but you guys got your singing voices ready?" Dan asked as he took their coats off them
"Who are these beauties" Denis turned looking at the couch where Kay and Jen sat
"Oh this is Kay and Jen" Dan told everyone as they shook hands and smiled turning back to Mercy and Sam with questions on their faces to see them smiling "We're nearly all here just waiting for Jen's children and then we can eat" Dan announced, everyone keeping smiles on their faces as Sam and Mercy sat on the double couch and Denis and Trish took the other one as everyone sat listening to Sam, Mercy, Trisha and Dan catch up, the door knocked making everyone stop talking
"Sorry that will be the children" Jen got up saying, Sam and Mercy shocked when Pip's two children came running in
"Hi" Pippa came in saying stopping when she saw Mercy and Sam sitting there "Oh I didn't know you guys knew Jen"
"We don't we've just met" Mercy told her as Sam pulled her closer to him, making her look round at him
"Drinks everyone?" Dan asked as he stood at the make shift bar and everyone shouted their orders at him "Give us a hand Sam" he shouted across the room when it got too much for him to remember, Sam sprung up to go help him and at some point Pip made her way over to the bar
I want you, you know that right?" she whispered across the bar
"Stop it" Sam said looking around to see Mercy engrossed in conversation with Denis 'I know I need to tell Mercy about all this but I'm actually enjoying the chase, is that bad? I mean Mercy's a sure thing we got it on real good but, the attention I love the attention, I have to put a stop to this, we're planning on having a baby for Christ sake, stop it Sam'
"Sam" Mercy shouted across the room "We have a song" she said making him look at her, her tone wasn't right and Denis was smiling 'What the fuck is going on there?' he thought as he looked back at Pippa with disgust and moved off
"Coming babe" he grabbed their drinks saying "What is it?" he asked as he gave her her drink and sat back down, sneaking a look at Denis as he sat
"Craving you' by Thomas Rhett & Maren Morris" she smiled at him
"Great" he said "Dan we have one, pass the mic and crank up the karaoke machine" he got up saying as Mercy and he sung their song before dinner, with the intention of leaving early to get some baby making practice in 'I hope that dick is hearing this, we're tight' he smiled at Denis thinking as he sang 'And I hope she's taking note too' he looked at Pippa thinking as he sung to Mercy
"Brilliant as always" Trisha clapped saying as did everyone else
"Dinner is served" Kay said when they'd finished as everyone sat down to their meal Pip taking care to sit opposite Sam and lick things off her cutlery at every opportunity she found to grab his attention, with Mercy's hand all over him stimulation was peaked, he was currently living his fantasy
"Stop it" he mouthed to Pippa some way through the meal as he felt her foot on his calf, and saw a grin on her face
Mercy was being extra about everything she did, Denis was playing hard ball and maybe if she hadn't been with Sam all night and most of the day she'd have given some of his sexual suggestions the time of day, with thought or even a fantasy, but Sam was there he was taking care of business and she was showing Denis whatever he thought he was offering didn't compare, making sure her hands were on her man at every opportunity
At some point though the night Denis got on Mercy's last nerve with his constant attempts to seduce her in front of her husband and that crossed a line for her 'That's another one to sack' she thought as she sat next to Sam smiling at her pending achievement
Most people had sung their songs by 10 in the evening and Mercy agreed to help Trish with the washing up "I need a lift back" Pippa announced and Sam looked at Dan
"I've had too much to drink" Dan told him
"We didn't drive" Denis told him
"I guess that leaves you" Pippa looked at Sam saying, he stood there thinking why did they happen to go to billy's before getting to Dan's so everyone saw their damn car outside
"Mercy" Sam shouted through to the kitchen "I've been volunteered to take Pippa home, I'll be back in a few minute" nerves had kicked in seriously, he didn't trust himself, he wanted to scream at Mercy don't put me in this position, I'm weak, but in saying that he'd be admitting to so many things right now he couldn't say anything, he was sure it was all in his head anyway
"Fine" she shouted through as Pip said her goodbyes and left for her house
"I told you earlier I wanted you, and you gave me nothing back, but you've been regretting that all evening you can say it now" she said as they drove along
"I need to put a stop to this" he told her as he stopped the car outside her house "We cant do thi... he got out before she grabbed his face again and this time he was lost in it, he'd built it up so much he was all for it
"Come inside" she broke way from him saying, lust in their faces
Sam looked up at her front door and got out the car, he was just about past caring about what he was losing, he smiled as she opened the door and they got inside, he grabbed her face and kissing her deep "We have to be quick I need to get back" he said slamming her against the door as his hands wondered around her body, he felt for breast, none, butt, none he stopped to look at her because things were unfamiliar to him, his head, heart, emotion, love wasn't with her it was with Mercy, he was craving Mercy "Sorry I can't do this, I love my wife, I need my wife"
"You almost have your hand up my crutch and your talking about loving your damn wife, fuck her and fuck you" she said pushing him away from her
"Fuck us? fuck you" he moved further away from her saying as he moved her from the door and opened it "This was a serious mistake" he looked at her saying and he stepped through it and slammed the door as he left
"Shit" he said banging the steering wheel as he jumped in the car and banged the door shut "What the fuck are you doing Evans" he said looking at himself in the car mirror expecting to see something different about himself, shame, disgust, dishonesty or something and yeah they were all there "I love my wife" he told himself starting the car up and taking the scenic route back to Dan's 'Dive' By Ed Sheeran playing on his stereo as he fought with his conscience "There is no other girl like her, I love my wife" he said getting out the car and going back into the house
"Hi" Mercy said walking towards him as he came back in, 'Shit I didn't check myself' he thought horrified that Mercy was going to smell or see something on him that would light him up
"Grab me a drink babe you can drive back home, it's only round the block" he told her as she diverted and picked him up a drink from the makeshift bar
"Thanks" he said when she got to him knocking it back in one
"You alright babe" Mercy asked concerned for what he'd just done
"Yeah I'm fine we need to get back" they said goodnight to everyone and left
There was a quietness in the car that Mercy couldn't understand "Sam has something happened?" she asked
"Like what?" he turned to her asking
"I don't know you just seem quiet" she looked at him saying
"We need to make our baby, I just feel like we've wasted some time especially with me taking your friend back home"
"We can make that back up I'm sure" she laughed, making him smile
They got home did their usual rituals and climbed into bed, Mercy made the moves she was up for making it up to her man, but all Sam could see as she moved was his betrayal and Pippa in front of him, he tried several times to get into it and he knew it was only a matter of time before Mercy caught on but he couldn't make love to his wife with someone else on his mind that, for him, was the ultimate betrayal
"Mercy, I'm sorry, I'm just not up for this tonight" he finally told her as she rolled off him
"What's up Sam?" she lay next to him asking as she heard a ping on his phone "Who's that?"
"Might be my Manager I don't know" he got up saying, grabbing his phone to see a message from Pippa on it 'How the fuck did she get my damn number' he thought as he flicked it open 'If I can't have you she can't either, I'll tell' she'd wrote him 'Now the bitch is blackmailing me' he thought, his world falling apart as he knew he had no choice, he had to tell Mercy, his heart broke and suddenly all he felt for this woman was hate actual hate. He threw the phone down on the bed
"Sam" Mercy said picking it up "What have I told you about phones on the bed, danger Mr" she said giving it him back
"That's how much you trust me you didn't even look at it" he said looking at the message on the phone "Look at it" he told her getting up off the bed ad pulling his jeans on before sitting back down
"Who is this Sam?" she asked getting out of bed, he couldn't look t her, wouldn't "Sam" she said throwing the phone at him "Who the fuck is that?"
"I'm sorry Mercy, I'm really sorry"
"But you practically begged me to have our baby, you told me you loved me , that you'd never hurt me" she sat beside him saying "Tell me it's a lie and I'll believe you, tell me it's a lie Sam please" she begged
"I'm sorry"
"Is that why this couldn't happen tonight, because you find me repulsive, because you'd slept with her to... Fucking Pippa, it's Pippa isn't it?" she stood over him asking
"I'm sorry"
"You asked my fucking permission to go fuck your bitch oh my god I don't believe this, just get out, get the fuck out now" she stood looking at him "Now" she said again making him turn round to finally look at her pure hate in her eyes "She's my friend Sam, and you know fucking your partners friends is cruel and down right fucking lazy" she cried "Now get the fuck out" she got near his face saying, all he could do was get up grab a top and leave
Sam & Dan
Sam could think of nothing else to say, he'd destroyed his relationship by doing the one thing they''d promised to talk about before anything happened and here he was sitting on Dan's couch
"I fucked up big time" he said raking his hand through his hair clearly upset
"What happened?"
"Pippa tried to fuck the life out of me apparently she wants me or something, I was taken in by the whole seduction thing and it ended with her trying to get me to fuck her, I didn't, but then she's sending me texts about telling Mercy whatever, so I told Mercy and she threw me out, we're fucking separated" he told Dan as a tear fell down his face
"Damn Sam, that bitch is toxic, Kay had to let her catch her sleeping with Jen and me to get away from her, she's some sort of mad bitch seriously, she doesn't want you, she heard about that first date we had when we went to the bar, and I guess she was just proving a point to Kay, jealousy or something, I don't know, but she's full on lesbian"
"So I got seduced by and gave my marriage up for a lesbian?"
"She's just out to hurt you in any way she can, my man"
"So why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Kay told me about this man Pip had, but I didn't know it was you, we thought it was just some Joe"
"Can I stay here tonight?"
"Yeah no problem but dude cheating on your wife is not you, you need to fix this, Mercy's dying just like you right now, and the only people you guys have is each other, you'll need to go home tomorrow"
"I didn't know lust could turn to hate so quick, I really hate her"
"If it's any consolation" Kay came out of the bedroom saying "She's not a good lay, Lazy in bed" she told him as Dan laughed making Sam laugh
"It's not even funny Dude, I've just been dumped by the best lay in the world for a Lazy, Lesbian Crazy woman" he told him taking a deep breath "I've walked away from relationships for much less than this, and Mercy knows it"
"You guys love each other though that's the difference"
"I hope that's still true" he said getting his phone out to cancel some practices, he couldn't think about anything else right now
Two weeks later
He'd learned some serious lessons because of this, he'd gone back the following day to find Mercy cutting up his clothes and telling him that was it, she didn't want him back because the trust had gone, there was nothing else there if trust had gone , and she may have been right but for him his love for her had always been unconditional, these had been the longest and loneliest two weeks of my life, he'd was staying in a low key motel, which was awkward with the tabloids and work.
"Hi" Sam heard as he walked down the electricals isle, shopping for one was no fun
"Hi" he said as he looked up and saw Dan doing his shopping
"Where's Kay and Jen?" he asked looking around
"Kay went back to Pip would you believe it, they're having another baby, courtesy of my floaters"
"You're joking?" Sam laughed more out of fucked off than anything else
"No that was the plan apparently, I think you got caught in the cross fire for knocking Kay back, I think you were the target donor in the first place"
"Non of it matters, I don't even remember the girls name, I was an idiot"
"Why what's up?"
"Mercy's asked for a divorce" Sam told him "Yesterday I got the letter" his eyes full of water
"What you going to do?"
"I want to throw myself in front of a damn bus, cry, say no, tell her I still love her, anything but I guess I just want to hug her and never let her go"
"What you telling me you've got nothing left to try?"
"I got everything to try Dude but when I make her cry about it, it hurts, I beg she cries, I shout she cries we have sex she cries, we make love she cries, she shouts she cries you know, but she's mine dude she's going nowhere"
"You guys are still sleeping together?"
"Yeah she knows I didn't sleep with that damn woman"
"How does she know that?"
"I told her"
"What and she believed you?"
"Dude, me not being able to lie to her was what got me this bag of trouble in the first place" he laughed "That's just one of our things"
"Your things?"
"Yeah, and I thought we were getting somewhere, and then this fucking letter"
"I smell familiarity here, but keep up the good work" he frowned "You'll have to come for a drink sometime, double date" he suggested
"Thanks but no thanks" Sam laughed walking off
Two weeks Later
"Mercy what can I do for you?" Sam asked he was at a game in California, she'd just come back from the studio
"It's been two weeks since I served that letter and nothing, you keep coming over making promises and then nothing"
"I've never promised you a divorce, I've said I'd look at it and I have several times but I promised nothing else"
"I need this to happen Sam"
"That's not ever going to happen Mercy, I'm still in love with you"
"Sam" she moaned "I need to get on with my life meet new people, everyone's scared while I'm still attached to you, please take me serious and give me the damn divorce"
"You need to take me serious Mercy, It's not going to happen, and for the record you can sleep with who you want, but know I've never done that to you, and I never will" he said waiting for her to respond but when she didn't he carried on "Tell me you love me babe?" he asked lightening the conversation
"Love's never been the problem for us babe you know I love you, I just don't trust you any more and with our lifestyle that just can't work, I mean what are you doing now? who are you thinking about now?" she shouted "That's what's going around in my damn head right now
"And you know me babe so, what am I doing, what am I thinking?"
"That's not the point"
"It is the point though, the exact point" he laughed nervously "You know I'm thinking you, feeling you, tasting you, you know me" he told her waiting for something, anything but nothing came so he carried on again "Okay I had a few sexy thought about her, I thought about someone else for maybe a hot minute but Mercy loving you stopped me every time, surly that counts for something?"
"The trust Sam"
"Stop saying that, you can trust me with your damn life, I trust you with my heart, give me back my heart Mercy"
"Sam you're up in ten" he heard alerting him to the fact that the game was starting
"Mercy I've got to go but I'll call back, you've finished for the day yeah? we'll talk some more later" he told her "Remember I love you and we promised to ta..."
"Talk till we get it back, I know Sam" she blew out saying defeated again
"Stay on the line I need to sing for you" he told her as Mercy sat looking into her phone as Sam sung his version of 'Just a Man' by SoMo leaving her in tears
"I love you baby" he said looking into her watery eyes before he went to play his game
"I love you too babe" she told him before cutting the call off
She wanted to make her point, God knows she needed to make this point, Sam needed to know that life with her was never going to be that easy, he couldn't just walk all over her like that and then demand she lay back and think he was an angel. She loved him, he was her life, she had no one else except Gramps, and she understood that he hadn't actually slept with that damn woman, but he'd had the thought, to the point he couldn't make love to her, and that hurt. She'd thought about it but never to that extent that was intention not lust, he must understand how deep that sort of rejection hurts, he couldn't do otherwise he wouldn't be sitting on the other side of the phone singing ridiculous songs and making her feel like the wife from hell. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes and hummed herself to sleep
"What?" she jumped up saying not knowing how long she'd been sleeping and hearing her phone ringing as she made sense of her surroundings "Hello" she picked it up saying realising she was home
"Mercy sorry, you were sleeping" Sam's voice said on the other end
"I dosed off"
"I was going to ask you to sing for me, I just need to hear you saying something nice right now" his voice didn't sound it's usual jolly self, something was wrong
"What's up Sam?" she asked concerned with his tone
"Please Mercy just sing to me, sing your song for us"
"Sam I.." she wanted to shout at him remind him they were separated but his next word hit her heart, she melted for him something was very wrong
"Please" he begged, she didn't say anything else she just put the phone on the piano and started singing the song for him 'Every Single Little Piece' by Emeli Sande she could hear him crying on the other end of the phone and that started her off but she carried on singing like he'd asked her to, wondering what the hell was going on "I need to come home babe, can I come home?" he asked when she finished
"Come home babe" she told him and the phone went dead, she called him back but Josh, his Coach, answered the phone "Where's Sam?" she asked him
"He got a call, he was on the phone he dropped it and left"
"What do you mean left Josh?"
"He didn't say anything he looked like he was crying and he just got up and left"
"He's maybe on his way home, is everything alright there?"
"Everything seems alright"
"Okay, it sounded like he's not getting back to you guys just now, so give him few days, I'll get back to you when I know something, you can contact him through me" she told him closing the call down
Sam & Mercy
"Sam" she said as he walked through the door grabbing hold of her, as she was walking towards him
"I love you so much" he said taking her lips as he pushed her back towards the couch, his body begging for attention, Mercy wanted to ask so many questions but his urgency made her comply with his immediate needs, he was almost savage like in his love making hard and rough with no regard for how she felt. When he finished he laid there just breathing, his eyes closed and his face red, suddenly he started crying and rolled off her
"Sam" she grabbed him saying "What's up?" she asked as his head fell in her lap "What was that about Sam?" she asked again and sat stroking his hair as he cried "We'll sort it out whatever it is" she told him as she rocked him
"I'm giving up football" he finally said "I don't want it any more, I'm giving it up"
And suddenly she knew what was up "What's happened to Gramps?"
"He's gone and nothing is worth anything any more, except you, I don't want anything or anyone else I just can't lose you too, I'll give up football, I'll be home every day with you, I just can't lose you too" Mercy didn't know what to say, she was still mad about the Pippa thing, she'd served papers on him, but her Gramps had just passed and for the life of her she couldn't think of anyone else she'd want holding her right now, and she pulled him close and cried herself.
Gramps had actually come out to Ohio when they first got there, young, green and broke, living in shared accommodation and in love, giving them a reality check on life and helping them on that first step with a large deposit for their first home. He'd kept a close eye on them falling in love with Mercy from the first day they'd met he was keen for Sam to keep a hold of her and always tapped his back for doing so every time he'd seen them together. He brought them extravagant Christmas presents like a horse one year, a world cruise and a swimming pool for their new home when they moved just after getting married, never missing a birthday, anniversary, first game of the season for Sam or first performances in all four continents for Mercy, now he was gone, now all they had was each other.
"I've got no one left only you, I'm going nowhere" she heard herself say "We need to get to Montreal tonight" Sam didn't fight it he let her take the lead in everything he felt weak, lost, vulnerable. He'd lost his parents when he was young and grew up with his Gramps, he'd been a strict but fair man, who took him fishing every Saturday, Church every Sunday and made sure he'd got three meals a day. When Mercy came on the scene at 18 he sat him down and told him she was woman gold, told him to take care of her heart and gave his blessing, he'd loved her like she was his own grandchild and Mercy being an orphan craved the open affection Gramps showed her, she called him her dream come true.
There weren't many at the funeral two days later they spent the rest of the week sorting his belongings out moving the live stock on, taking a few sentimental things and moving their horses over to their new stables. They both did a lot of crying over the week, there were a lot of memories there, but what surprised them was that most the time they physically needed each other
"Mercy I'm going to have to go back straight to Cali from here" he told her as they lay on the bed the day they were leaving, the only bit of furniture left in the house "I'm sorry I need to do some soul searching and well.. I need to just think about what I did, where my mind went you know?"
"Sam I need to tell you something" she said looking at her hands, giving him cause for concern
"What's up babe" he sat up asking
"I'm a fraud" she looked at him saying "It really didn't occur to me at the time, but I guess having time to sit and think about things over these past few days I know I was just as wrong as you, worse even because I still haven't said anything"
"Babe" he looked at her saying, she couldn't tell whether he was angry or upset
"I danced with Denis as part of my routine, he was actually my dance partner and in the latter days our routine got well... raunchy to say the least" she smiled nervously "I've had feelings not heart one's but well when your legs are wrapped round someone's neck and your crouch is in their face his breath on you makes you think impossible things" she giggled looking up at Sam to see his face not smiling at all
"What are you saying?" he asked his face telling her there was not, could not be, or should not be any jokes right now
"I've thought about some aspect of sex with someone else too, fantasised about the possibility even" she stared at him saying "That night at Dan's he was so rude about it, the next day I called Mike and had him sacked" she grabbed his hand saying "But I don't think I did that because of what he said, I maybe did it because he'd cracked my surface and I didn't trust myself to dance with him again" she looked in his eyes saying "And I'm sorry Sam"
"Sorry didn't cut it for me" he pulled his hand away saying as he jumped out of bed and drew his trousers on "You pulled me over the fucking coals Mercy, served fucking divorce papers everything knowing that you were no damn better" he stared at her saying "I've got to get out of here" he walked off to the bathroom saying
"But I told you I didn't..." she got out before the door slammed "Realise until today" she said under her breath humming 'If it ain't love' by K Michelle before it clicked "Gramps" she said and she switched her phone on and started singing it
Mercy
I'm right, you're wrong, all night we fight about it, no way around it, hands up, give up, we don't, let's stop the shouting, let's kiss about it, can't explain what it is, I don't want to admit it, that maybe I'm addicted to you
It's crazy, amazing, all wrapped in one, If it ain't love, I don't know what is, It's perfect, worth it, we'd turn and run
If it ain't love, I don't know what is, makes us insane, no ones to blame, that's how I know you're the one, It's crazy, amazing, we fucked it up, If it ain't love, I don't know what is
Sam came out the bathroom smiling, listening to Mercy play her ace card at him, Gramps favourite song he loved to hear them sing together, and how the fuck could he not give in after they'd both admitted they'd fucked up, he took his cue, seeing Mercy with the biggest smile warmed his heart
Sam
I'm here, you're there, you say I'm complicated, but you can take it, one glance, I can't stop my heart, when it races
I wouldn't change it, can't explain what it is, I don't want to admit it, that maybe I'm addicted to you
It's crazy, amazing, all wrapped in one, If it ain't love, I don't know what is, It's perfect, worth it, we'd turn and run
If it ain't love, I don't know what is, makes us insane, no ones to blame, that's how I know you're the one, It's crazy, amazing, we fucked it up, If it ain't love, I don't know what is
Sam grabbed her up dancing as they sung the last bit together
Both
It's gotta be a good reason, why I come right back to you, I don't want no one to take your place, cause baby this love
this love, It's crazy, amazing, all wrapped in one, If it ain't love, I don't know what is, It's perfect, worth it, we'd turn and run, If it ain't love, I don't know what is, makes us insane, no ones to blame, that's how I know you're the one
It's crazy, amazing, we fucked it up, If it ain't love, I don't know what is, oh, if it ain't love, oh
"Really, what do you expect me to say after that" he asked
"Maybe I love you" she smiled at him
"You know I do"
"Okay maybe I love you Mommy"
"For real?" he asked with the biggest smile on his face "We fucked it up?"
"For real" she stood in front of him saying "I think we both just got our focus" she told him touching her tummy
"I'm going to retire and put my accounting skills to good use"
"How about we compromise on that and look at moving to Cali, you're there more times than here, in the mean time I'm slowing down on the touring, I mean right down" she smiled "And no more raunchy songs"
"And no more lesbians, let me rephrase that, no more women turning my head"
"One more thing" she said as Sam looked at her suspect "No more separations" she announced
"I totally agree with that, no more separations" he said kissing her
The End