Enjoy lovebugs ;)
It had been three long, torturous weeks for both Mercedes and Sam. Mercedes was in dance rehearsals, singing sessions, and media training, typically from dawn to dusk. She really had only enough energy to sleep and eat, and the last part she would barely do as is. If that wasn't enough, she was also going to do public interviews nearly every week to promote the tour. All of this came to be an amazing plan, as though all her tour dates had been sold out, so much so that she made the executive decision to add three more shows to the tour.
Sam, on the other hand, was in practice every day or at a game. The consistent and tough practices, coupled with the games and the travel, were taking their toll, but he got through it. Sleeping whenever and on whatever he could. That's why today he wanted to do a cartwheel when Roz announced she wasn't going to train with them today. Instead, she insisted that they give their bodies much-needed rest since they had a game this Saturday. Aside from hockey, though, he was having to be with Mercedes, the texts they would send each other, the small gifts they started to send to each other. It was something that he had lacked in all other relationships. He felt safe with Mercedes, and she made him smile when he wasn't in the mood to smile. And he was not about to fuck it up at all.
Mercedes had her suitcase on her bed as she started folding clothes and placing them in the suitcase. She was set to travel tomorrow to Las Vegas tomorrow. She was excited to leave because it was something that she knew she wanted to do. As she packed her clothes, she heard a knock on the door. She figured it was Sam because he typically always came over after he got done with his day. She walked over to the door and unlocked and sure enough, it was Sam. She reached up and gave him a loving kiss as she let him, and he sat the food bags on the counter.
"I take it you enjoyed your day off?" Mercedes spoke as she headed back over to her suitcase.
"I got to sleep, play video games, actually watch TV without falling asleep, and now I am over here about to have a nice dinner with you. So I have more than enjoyed my day off." Sam explained as he pulled out the Chinese takeout he had purchased. "Are you excited about the tour starting tomorrow? Do you get to have one of those big buses with the beds inside of it?"
Mercedes chuckled, "Yes, there is one van for me and the band to sleep on. Sue, on the other hand, is getting her own bus, which she calls "Manager Perks." But I am excited, and I get to see a little bit of the world, and I think I will be even to make your game against the New York Rangers. When I hit New York, I have a performance and then a day-long break, and then back on the road through the last few shows."
Sam smiled as he passed her the food, "I love to hear it, and I am going to try and make sure I see you before then because I refuse to be without you for three long months. Maybe even when we play the Washington Capitals, I can swing by to your D.C. show and be your biggest fan. Maybe wear a shirt that says it."
"As cute as the last part is, you are the one who stipulated the "privacy rule" on our relationship, so I don't think wearing a shirt that says you're my biggest fan is the best idea." Mercedes pointed out as she dug into her noodles.
Sam nodded his head, "Maybe so, but that "privacy rule" was more so for the paparazzi than anything else. Regular people are going to make their own speculations as they see fit, but they aren't going to be stalking us with cameras in their hands."
"Don't tell me I can make us Instagram official, Evans, because I would love the opportunity to wear your jersey to a game and sit in one of those suites while wearing that Rolex you gave me last week. Have people wonder if the bad boy hockey player is in a relationship with the good girl R&B singer."
"I think it would be very sexy of you, and trust me when the time is right, I will make sure you are in our suites wearing my jersey, and that watch, and whatever else I want you to wear that day." Sam insisted. Mercedes nodded her head as she munched on her noodles some more.
Mercedes spoke, "Will you call me and text me everyday?"
Sam looked over at her, "Don't I always."
"Yeah, you do. I had to make sure." Mercedes joked. Sam placed his food down and pulled Mercedes from her chair, placing her food beside his before enveloping her in his arms.
"You will be getting a phone call, a text, an email, a Facetime, whatever you want, for the next three months, and this is all for a good cause. Because one day, we are going to be having this conversation, and you are going to be going on a nationwide tour that will last longer for three months. So consider this just a trial run." Sam insisted as he placed a loving kiss on her forehead.
The next morning Sam helped Mercedes get on the bus, and after saying goodbye and making sure she was safe before the bus pulled off, he gave her a small velvet box. Inside was a bracelet that had her first initial and a music note. He insisted that she wear it every time she performed, and of course, she agreed. After seeing her away, he headed back to his place to get ready for practice. He would have wanted to have another rest day, but Roz was adamant that they come in today.
He was sitting in his locker, placing on tennis shoes as they were all informed that they had weights today when Spencer Porter walked over to him. Sam and Spencer were never on the best of terms because Spencer called himself Sam's replacement. Of course, that would never happen because Sam played more than Spencer ever could in his entire career.
"Got your head in the game, Evans?" Spencer questioned. Sam looked at him and rolled his eyes as Mike came and sat beside Sam.
"I'm just saying Roz wasn't too happy about that fight with Rutherford last month. I would hate for you to lose your position over Rutherford out of all people because then I would come in swoop and save the day." Spencer boasted.
Sam stated, "Porter, there would have to be a cold day in hell for me to ever let you come in and save my ass. You just work on being a decent player, and stop flaunting around all your money because one day you aren't going to be able to do both."
Mike chuckled, "Well, hell, he is barely doing one. You know TMZ said all of that jewelry was fake. Get your ass in the weight room Porter." Spencer rolled his eyes and left as Sam and Mike followed behind them. Weightroom workouts were always Sam's favorite because they became a second safe haven for him. Growing up, his father had him in there for three days a week on top of his already strenuous schedule. Lifting weights and showing people he was stronger than what he looked for became an action of comfort. He was in the middle of his last set on the last rep when Spencer came up in front of me, and he started smirking.
"After the game against Nashville, I saw you in the parking lot talking to the girl who sang the National Anthem. What's her name? Porsche, Benz, I am drawing blanks here. Help me out." Spencer spoke. Sam finished his set, racked the weight, leaned against the bar, and looked at Spencer.
"Her name is Mercedes. What's your point, Porter?" Sam answered.
"I was just hoping that maybe you could hook me up with her. You know, I am dreaming of what it would feel like to tap that ass." Sam chuckled to himself, and before he could say anything, Roz blew her whistle, commanding them to get their gear so they could have a scrimmage.
"Watch your ass, Porter," Sam warned him.
Mercedes had made it to Las Vegas and got settled into her hotel before she was pulled for sound check and rehearsal. The band sounded great, and she and the two background dancers were doing fine, but most importantly, her voice sounded great. She was in the middle of stretching when Sue walked over to her and sat down with her, along with her best friend and background dancer, Santana. Santana and Mercedes had gone to school together back in high school, and Mercedes promised her that when she made it, she would pull Santana along for the ride, and of course, here she was.
"So what have you glowing and smiling from ear to ear?" Sue questioned once Mercedes sat up from stretching.
Mercedes looked at the both of them before noticing it was just the three in the area, "What are you talking about, Sue?"
"Mercedes Jones, you have never been at lying or playing coy. So who has you smiling from ear to ear and damn near skipping every time you enter a room?" Santana added.
Sue answered, "I bet it was that hockey player Sam Evans, I saw the way he looked at you, and I saw the messages. You two have been going out, haven't you?"
"Well," Mercedes began, "We have been talking and dating for a month, and we are having fun. More importantly, he isn't that hockey asshole persona he really is sweet until you disrespect him or someone he cares about."
"Is the sex good or great?" Santana asked, causing Mercedes's mouth to drop and Sue to chuckle.
"Santana!"
"What? It is a genuine question, I know that glow didn't come from him strictly caring about you and making you swoon."
"To answer your question, we have done everything but have sex," Mercedes answered.
"Why haven't you guys had sex?" Sue questioned.
"I don't know. I mean, this is the first time a guy has ever been this physical with me, and he has yet to have sex with me. It's refreshing because, in all my past hookups and relationships, the pleasure has been centered around them. They get what they want, and my vibrators do the rest, but with Sam, it's so different. He lets me finish, and he never asks or alludes to something else in return. It's amazing." Mercedes said dreamily.
"Well, as your elderly friend/mother figure for business purposes, I am going to tell you to be safe and smart, never assume always communicate. As your manager, I am going to say be very strategic in how you guys see each other before some big story leaks before you are ready." Sue replied.
Mercedes smiled, "Thanks, Sue."
Sue stood up and grabbed her phone from her pocket, "You're welcome, and I will see you ladies later on tonight. Be back here at seven forty-five."
Santana turned towards her friend, "I'm happy that you are happy, and you, my dear, are going to kill it tonight."
And kill it, Mercedes Jones did. She opened up the song with her slow song to ease the crowd in, and then she ended it with her upbeat songs. Her voice was perfect, and the outfits she chose allowed her to even do some of the choreography. Especially the choreography in which she had to interact with Santana in a sexual manner. She was sure Santana loved that part more than she was willing to admit. The audience was going crazy, and this only made Mercedes burst with joy and excitement. This was only the beginning, and she was having so much fun, and she was so grateful. She was back on the tour bus, lying down watching Netflix, when she received a Facetime call from Sam.
She smiled as she sat up, "Hello, Mr. Evans."
He chuckled at the way her voice went sultry, "Hello Jones, I saw the videos from your show tonight you looked and sounded incredible tonight."
"Thank you, it felt amazing, and Sue says this is just the beginning," Mercedes answered.
"And she is right. I especially liked when you pulled someone from the audience and gave them that sexy dance number," Sam admitted.
"Really, you didn't get all jealous?"
He shrugged, "Why be jealous when I get more than a dance number when we are alone? If you are lucky, maybe you'll pull me onto the stage one day."
Mercedes chuckled, "If I am lucky shouldn't it be the other way around."
"Nope, not for what I have planned when I see you again," Sam admitted.
"I'm intrigued and I will definitely keep that in mind." Mercedes yawned.
"Get some rest super star I'll be here in the morning."
"Ok, goodnight Sam."
"Goodnight Merce."