May 5, 2023 (Friday)
Mercedes woke up to a half-empty bed, but heard her husband's voice coming through the baby monitor, along with intervals of acoustic guitar chords and the soft babble of their kids. She sat up smiling and carried the monitor to the bathroom to freshen up while Sam spoke to their kids, telling them the story of how he taught Mercedes to fish during their first summer together.
She listened up until she jumped in the shower and got ready for her lunch date with Lauren. After readying her hair and make-up, she dressed in a brown, off-the-shoulder blouse and white skinny jeans and slipped on some flats before heading out of the bedroom. She popped in the nursery to find Sam sitting in his pajamas between the twins with his new guitar, strumming another set of chords for them. From inside their seat bouncers, Mercedes could see Ariesa and Dante smiling up at their daddy at the sound of the music.
"And then Momma wanted to keep the fish but I told her it was waaaay too small and we had to throw it back." said Sam with a smile and a glance up at his wife.
Mercedes smiled back, "So daddy tried to free my fish but when he threw it back, the fishy didn't go anywhere."
"You know, I was gonna leave that part out of the story," Sam muttered with reddening cheeks.
"I had a feeling you were gonna," she replied with a soft giggle while entering the nursery. "I'm getting ready to go though."
She bent down while standing in front of Sam and watched him crane his neck to meet her lips. They mumbled 'I love you' to one another, and then knelt to leave goodbye kisses on their kids' foreheads. "Momma loves you. Be good for Daddy!"
Dante cooed at her while Ariesa smiled from the kiss; Mercedes pouted, "I wanna take them with me."
"We'll be here when you get back, Benz. Once Puck comes up from San Diego, I'll be showing DJ and Ariesa how to spank him in Street Fighter on the Quad," Sam reminded her.
She shook her head, "You and that Xbox. Just don't forget the laundry today, okay?"
Sam glanced at Dante while he mused, "Crazy, huh? Puck gets back from Osaka the same day that you're meeting up with Zizes."
"Mmhm, but who knows if we're all reading into this a little too much. I mean it's been over ten years since they dated and they broke up that same year."
"Rachel and Jesse rekindled their flame after she and Finn divorced. And Finn and Quinn did the same," he pointed out with a shrug.
"True, but…I'm just trying not to get my hopes up too much. I know Tina's hopelessly romantic heart was optimistic when she and Mike headed back home, but Lauren and Puck are both stubborn."
"Well…they just don't make it easy on one another but I thought they were pretty good for each other, for the time they were together."
Mercedes smiled a little, "Yeah. She was kinda the only one who could reign him Puck's…everything. And he loved that she was just as tough as he was. Anyway, I'll let you know how things go when I get back." With a wave of her fingers, she headed out of the nursery, out of the condo and to her BMW.
She and Lauren were meeting at Katsuya on Hollywood and Vine. After finding a place to park, she headed inside the sushi restaurant.
The hostess at the door smiled widely, having recognized Mercedes, and greeted her, "Hi Ms. Jones! Welcome to Katsuya."
"Thanks—I have a reservation; it should be under Lauren Zizes."
The woman looked down at the screen on her podium and smiled, "Yes, Ms. Zizes is already here. I'll show you to your table."
Mercedes followed the hostess to a table near the rear of the restaurant, away from the majority of the other guests. The singer's eyes lit up, coupled with a bright smile as soon as she spotted Lauren. Her dark auburn hair was cut in an A-bob—most of which was covered by a stylish purple bucket hat with a white bow. Ever comfortable in her plus sized physique, she stared down at a menu from behind a dark purple, rectangular-framed pair of glasses which matched her lavender, brown and white maxi dress.
"And we've come full circle," said Lauren as Mercedes was abandoned by the hostess. She looked up from the menu with a closed-lipped smile and folded her arms across her chest, "You know…I always you knew you were gonna make it big."
Mercedes let out a sassy chuckle, "Oh I believe that! And look at you! How long have you been LA?"
"Since the fall after we graduated. I got a scholarship from UCLA for wrestling, so I took it and majored in business management."
They took a seat and Lauren went on, "Glee club might not have been my thing, but that didn't mean I didn't love music. And getting a taste of being a manager was kinda cool, so I took it as my profession. Plus you know I run things like a boss."
The singer grinned, "That you do. Well I'm really happy for you and that we're gonna get to work together for real this time."
Lauren smirked, "Oh and though it's a month early, happy anniversary to you and Sam. One year's coming up for you guys, right?"
"Yeah—this past year's been crazy busy!"
"Oh I'm sure. A Grammy, a wedding, two babies, and a top 10 single? You're on your way, Mariah."
Another giggle from the singer. "Yeah I guess I'm not doing so bad, huh? What about you? Don't tell me you've been a workaholic for all these years."
"You mean, have I gone off and married someone?"
Mercedes shrugged, "Sure. Married, dating, kids—where you at with that?"
"Ah ha," Lauren chuckled once, "No kids for me. I'm more content being Auntie L, than a mom. As for a man? Eh…LA's not exactly crawling with guys who can handle me. They think they can but…let's just say heir badassery is as fake as their tans."
Badassery, Mercedes thought. Man, after all these years they're still a lot alike. While their waiter came to their table, she tried to think quickly of a way to skirt around the question she really wanted to ask. Quickly, a question came to her, but she waited until after they ordered food to ask it.
"So…have you kept in touch with anyone since high school?"
Laruen's brows rose suspiciously. "Anyone in particular? Like, oh I dunno, Puckerman?"
Busted. Mercedes lowered her gaze guiltily to her glass of water.
"I haven't spoken to Puck since graduation, 'Cedes. I don't even know where he's at or what chick's bed he's rolling out today and frankly? I don't really care," she answered sharply. "He could be back in Lima, cleaning pools and nailing slutty wives, or chasing up Shelby Corcoran's skirt in hopes of playing house with her and his kid; I don't give a damn. I'm doing my thing, solo."
Mercedes' brows rose. For someone who didn't care, Lauren's winded response sure had a lot of fire behind it. She opened her mouth to fill her in on what Puck was really up to these days, but her gaping lips closed as an idea hit her. "What are you doing tonight?"
"Uh…" Lauren's face contorted, "Probably go hit up a bar or something. Why?"
"Come hang out with Sam and I tonight. It's our first time in a while going out without the twins and it's Cinco de Mayo!"
Still suspicious, Lauren asked, "Where are you two going?"
"Skybar. They're doing bottomless margaritas tonight."
"Ooo, 'Cedes. Wife, mom, artist…Do we need to add party girl to your do-it-all list?" Lauren grinned.
Mercedes shrugged coyly with a grin, "Look, I'm not saying I'm trying to get drunk tonight. I just wanted to go out and have fun and so does Sam. So the twins' Aunt Alicia's gonna watch them tonight. Pleeease come? We can catch up more and just have a good time!"
The waitress returned with their sashimi and spicy tuna platters. After mulling it over for a moment in her mind, Lauren told her, "Alright count me in."
Her grin changed from coy to triumphant, "Good. Oh and, bring your suit."
"Mercedes Jones-Evans!" Lauren loudly hissed, the moment she spotted the diva. Lauren had shown up at the poolside lounge in a blue, knee-length cocktail dress and heels, but her bespectacled eyes were glaring down the diva from a short distance away.
Sitting to Mercedes' left, with his olive-toned back turned was Puck. He had just downed a shot but turned to see who was calling at his friend in such a harsh tone. His eyes nearly popped out of his mouth when he saw his ex-girlfriend standing near the pool. He couldn't believe she was standing there, still looking fierce as hell. During their junior year, she'd moved him in ways no other female had. Now she was standing before him, looking sexy and angry—two rude combinations in the mind of Noah Puckerman.
"Hey, Lauren!" Sam called from inside the pool.
He waved at her but she ignored him with her eyes burning into her friend.
"Mercedes!" She growled again.
Mercedes pulled the straw from her margarita glass, unfazed by the brunette's visible upset, "Lauren!" She stood up from the high-rise table and walked over to her friend and current manager, "If we keep shouting at each other they might kick us out."
"Why in the hell didn't you tell me Puck was gonna be here with you guys!"
"Look, calm down Lauren. He just got back from Japan and I thought it'd be fun for us all to hang tonight."
"Japan? Why?"
Mercedes smirked like a proud parent, "He's a sergeant in the Marines. But you'd know that if you went over there to talk to him instead of me." With that, Mercedes handed her what was left of her large strawberry margarita, abandoned her swimsuit wrap and excused herself to join her husband in the pool.
Lauren clenched her teeth and for a moment, she considered leaving, but she looked back up at Puck again—who was giving her that devilish smirk she loved—and found her heeled feet carrying her toward the table.
Mercedes waded over to her husband and closed her arms around his middle while they not-so-subtly watched Puck and Lauren talk to each other. After a minute, they saw Lauren throw a punch at Puck's arm; Mercedes' eyes widened and Sam's jaw dropped slightly. He turned to tell Mercedes, "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," but before the words left his mouth, Puck started laughing while he rubbed his arm.
The Evans couple turned away from their friends, grinning at each other. "Maybe this will work out after all."
"Yeah," Mercedes fought back the urge to let her grin widen, "and if it does, Puck can invite Lauren to Finn and Quinn's wedding in August as his date."
"Well…we can keep an eye on them tonight…at least while we're sober enough to do so."
"Ohh no—not we. I'm not getting drunk tonight. I'm still breastfeeding the twins. But bottoms up to you, babe."
Sam grinned, "If you insist. Just don't let me drown in the pool tonight" He bent his head to peck her lips, "Feliz cinco de mayo!"
Please leave reviews! By the way, the name "Xbox Quad is something I came up with out of nowhere. I have no proof or knowledge that this will be a future model/name for an Xbox system!