ahem… this will be two parts ;)

She Who Rides Cowboys Saves A Horse

Sam brushed the dirt off his forehead as he exited his parent's home and made his way back to the old barn. He, Jack, and Stevie had been renovating it for the first ever Evans Ranch Extravaganza for the past three days, and their efforts were finally starting to show. The barn, once a central feature of the ranch, had been overshadowed by newer, smaller barns and stables added by Sam's father, and had become a storage space for miscellaneous supplies.

As Sam looked around he could see loads of people walking about preparing for the event. Between Stacey, Jane and Mercedes they'd secured twenty vendors for their event and had been working closely with Smyth's Marketing. He groaned thinking about the amount of photographers on property and the amount of times he had to hide away from a specific one.

He couldn't recall her name, Jill or Lillie maybe, but he could hear the constant clicking of her camera as she followed him around. He would scowl at her, hoping to deter her from taking more photos, but she continued snapping away. As he made his way towards the stables, he could sense her presence and picked up his pace. The clicking of the shutter caused him to abruptly stop and turn around to shoot a glare at the woman behind the camera.

"Is there no one else you can stalk?" He asked and the petite woman shifted on her feet nervously. "Are you incapable of speaking?"

She shook her head. "No… it's just… I was instructed by Ms. Jones to follow you." She replied.

Sam felt his eye twitch. "Is that so? You do know we have other ranchers who deserve to be showcased, right?"

She nodded and glanced back towards where Mercedes was deep in conversation with Stacey and one of the vendors. "Mercedes said you'll be the face of the ranch, so I need to get lots of candid shots. You tend to scowl a lot, so catching you off guard is crucial."

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips despite his efforts to hold it back. Since that night at the barn, Mercedes had been teasing him relentlessly. But he refused to let her have this one, so he strode past the photographer and made a beeline for Mercedes.

"... yes, and we'll also need the item or service you're offering for the raffle," Mercedes replied. She and Stacey were in discussion with a craft vendor, addressing all of their inquiries about their booth setup.

It had been a long few days planning and executing everything to make their event a success. She was so thankful to Jane for reaching out to Sebastian because there had been a huge response to their soft launch. He'd put together a good chunk of their website and had his team of photographers on site around the clock.

It was easy to do since they had plenty of cottages available and Mercedes even moved out of her cottage into the main house so that there was an extra one. She'd been talking closely with Dwight and Mary about using the cottages for guests and adding living quarters for the ranchers that stayed on site.

She helped crunch the numbers and let them know which contractors would be best after she did research. The money was there, it just had to be allocated appropriately. She even went the extra step and let them know step by step the cost and how to maintain so they didn't enter the red.

She really wanted to make sure they were safe and succeeding before her time ended here. She recently found that thought hard to comprehend. She wasn't entirely sure when her father was going to let her come back but she had a feeling her time was fleeting and it came at a time where she felt she wasn't ready to go.

Hearing the crunch of gravel behind her, she turned to see Sam and Desiree, one of Sebastian's photographers heading towards her. She couldn't help the mischievous smirk that crossed her lips before she returned her attention back to the vendor.

"My last question is after the event will Evans Ranch be willing to host smaller events? I know a wine vendor that would love to have wine tastings and horseback riding as a theme."

Stacey nodded. "Yes, if you want to give them my contact information we can set up an appointment with them! Also with the big barn being reopened it'll be a great central spot for them. I or one of my brothers can give riding lessons and take them along our trails." She answered.

Sam stepped up standing in front of Mercedes, frowning. "This is actually one of her brothers!" Mercedes said, turning him to face the woman. "This is Sam, he's one of the best ranchers here!"

Stacey made a face that didn't go unnoticed by her brother. "What was that? I am one of the best." He said, extending his hand to the woman, offering a half smile. "Nice to meet you, sorry to interrupt but I need to speak with Ms. Jones in private."

The woman smiled, looking him up and down. "Lucky girl."

Sam nodded, turning back to Mercedes. "Care to explain why you have this woman stalking me?"

Mercedes shrugged. "You're a hard person to catch smiling and since you're gonna be the face of Evans Ranch we need pictures of you doing ranch things…"

He stepped closer, peering down at her. "Two days of constant shooting isn't enough?"

She looked up at him, flashing her eyes at him. "She only has seven pictures of you smiling, I need at least ten."

"This conversation is going nowhere," he declared, before scooping Mercedes up and slinging her over his strong shoulder. "I need to talk to you alone."

Mercedes let out a high-pitched squeal as she hit his back. "Put me down, you brute! I'm wearing a dress!"

"Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of my manliness," he retorted with a grin, striding away from the chaotic scene.

Looking back, Mercedes saw that Desiree hadn't followed them, but instead stood with Stacey and the vendor, all watching in amusement. With a defeated sigh, she resigned herself to her fate and slumped against his back. "Do you have any idea how unprofessional this is?" she grumbled.

"Tough." He said, walking them around the back of the pond before placing her down. "Is your stalker gone?"

She adjusted her dress, letting out a frustrated huff. "Her name is Desiree, and she wasn't stalking you. You and the other ranch hands were all assigned photographers. Jack, DJ, and Stevie have one too, but none of them are acting like this."

Sam watched as she smoothed down her dress, suddenly realizing that her once-exposed thighs were now covered. She caught his gaze and smirked before rolling her eyes. "Is it really that bad? I'm sure any of the local women would be happy to have a roll in the hay with you." She teased playfully.

Sam pinched the bridge of his nose. "How much longer?"

"We are nearly done, one more day then Sebastian's team is done getting candid shots of everyone. They're going to capture some aerial video of the property and some videos of everyone working then after editing it'll be on the site and they will launch it so that everyone wanting to attend can buy their raffle tickets." She explained nibbling on her bottom lip.

He noticed her nerves and sighed. "Are you nervous?"

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with doubt and worry, before nodding. "I… this is a lot and honestly I just don't want to mess up because this is your family's home. I know that I'm leaving soon and that everyone - your parents, Stacey, all of you - are counting on me. And I just..." She trailed off, her words falling short as she tried to contain her anxious thoughts.

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, feeling the tension in her muscles. "Breathe," he said softly, bringing his other hand up to join the first and gently squeezing her shoulders. He could see how tense she was and repeated the action again, watching as her eyes fluttered closed and a soft groan escaped her lips in relief.

"I want everything to be flawless," she admitted, gently resting her hands on his arms. "I don't want to disappoint anyone."

Sam paused for a moment, glancing around to make sure the stalker wasn't lurking nearby. "Can Stacey handle things for now?" he asked.

She shifted. " I guess, it's just answering last minute questions and making sure we're… what are you doing?" She asked, her eyes growing wide as Sam kicked off his boots while unbuckling his pants.

A sly grin spread across his face as he teasingly pulled down the zipper. "Come on now, don't you remember, you don't ride cowboys?" He playfully quipped. "We're gonna go for a dip." He added, nodding over to the pond."

Mercedes' eyes widened even further, her mouth opening to protest but then shutting as she couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. "What, right now? Are you crazy?"

Sam was already shrugging off his shirt, that teasing grin still gracing his handsome face. "What? You scared of getting your hair wet?"

Mercedes gaped at him, taken aback. "You're not serious..." But the tell-tale glimmer in his eyes said otherwise.

"Oh, I'm dead serious," he replied, chuckling as he stripped down to his boxers, his shirt joining the pile of clothes on the grass. His grin widened as he took in her wide-eyed expression. He launched forward suddenly, catching her around the waist and hoisting her effortlessly against his chest.

With a surprised yelp, Mercedes clung to him, her eyes darting between his face and the water. "Sam Evans!" She squealed, but he didn't give her any chance to protest further. With an exhilarating whoop, he took a running leap into the pond, plunging both of them into the cool water. Her shriek of surprise was muffled by the sudden submersion, tiny bubbles escaping her lips in a rush as they descended into the depths of the murky water.

They surfaced with a splash, Sam's hearty laughter echoing through the quiet afternoon, piercing the tranquil silence that had settled over the pond. Mercedes sputtered, pushing at his chest indignantly, her face a mix of shock and amusement.

"You're unbelievable!" she exclaimed, unable to hold back her own laughter.

"Well," he shrugged,smirking. "I do aim to please." His eyes were shining with mirth as he looked down at her, their bodies still tangled together in the water.

Mercedes gave his chest another playful swat before pushing away from him, only to find herself being pulled back into his arms almost instantly. She rolled her eyes but didn't resist, instead allowing herself to be drawn back against his firm body. She could feel the rhythm of his heartbeat against her back, steady and reassuring.

"You know," she began, her voice softer now as she turned to face him, placing her hands on his broad shoulders. "If I didn't know any better, I would think you did this as an excuse to get me wet, guessing this is the only way you can get any girl wet though."

Sam let out a deep, throaty chuckle that reverberated against her chest, sending shivers down her spine. His voice was low and rough, like gravel on a quiet road. "Mercedes, if you want to fuck me, just say so. We're both mature adults here, no need for games or coy behavior." He winked at her, adding a playful note to his statement.

Mercedes blushed furiously, caught off guard by his boldness. The water suddenly felt warmer, and she noticed her heart pounding in her chest. She playfully splashed water on him, diverting the topic. "We're here to relax, remember?"

Sam's laughter turned into a seductive purr as he pulled her closer, tracing his lips along her neck. "Worried you might like it too much?" he whispered, his hands caressing her body.

Mercedes could feel her mouth watering as she licked her lips, suddenly feeling hot and bothered. "Not a chance," she managed to breathe out.

"But let me ask you something..." He bit down on her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. "Have you ever been taken by a man in public?"

Mercedes' pupils dilated, her heartbeat quickening with every word he drawled out. Her skin tingled as he cupped her ass, gently kneading it, the cold water making everything more electrifying. "Sam Evans," she drew out his name, "Do you mean right here, in this very pond?"

His smile widened at her response, a devilish gleam in his eyes. "Maybe. Do you want to ride a cowboy, darlin?"

Mercedes shook her head in disbelief,"You're incorrigible, Sam Evans," she said, her voice filled with false indignation as she tried to hide the spark of interest that danced in her eyes.

"That's a fancy word you got there, sweetheart," he murmured, his words intermingling with the sound of the gentle waves lapping at the pond's banks. "But I see you haven't answered my question yet."

She raised an eyebrow at him, her gaze dropping to his lips before meeting his eyes again. "I see you're eager?"

Sam's tongue darted out to moisten his lips before he captured hers in a slow, dangerously deep kiss. His soft, whispered reply was lost between their shared breaths, "I'm always eager for you."

As their lips danced and tangled, Sam's hands roved over her body beneath the water, tracing a path from her thighs to her waist, igniting an exquisite sensation that made her sigh into his mouth. The cool water intensified their reaction, making every touch a sweet torture, every kiss a promise of more.

He broke away from their kiss, his lips moving to her neck, tasting the droplets of water that traced a line down her skin. His hands cupped her waist, bringing her closer against him, their bodies pressed together under the cool pond water.

"Sam..." Her voice was a whisper, lost in the sound of breezes rustling through nearby trees.

"Yes?" He responded, his voice a low murmur against her skin, sending delicious shivers down her spine. His hands traced a path under the fabric of her dress,caressing the smooth skin beneath. Her breath hitched in her throat as his fingers inched higher. She felt his smile against her neck, his amusement apparent at her reactions.

"You're such a tease," she muttered, her hands sliding up to his hair, tugging lightly.

A low chuckle escaped him. "But you enjoy it." He looked at her with hooded eyes that held an irresistible allure.

"Maybe," she said noncommittally, though her flushed cheeks gave away the truth.

His hand moved from her navel to cup the swell of her bosom, his touch light. Mercedes shivered with delight as her nipples hardened under his touch, goosebumps breaking out on her skin from the cold water and the heat of desire. Sam's hand moved along her ribs before sliding down to cup her ass, pulling their hips together against his. She could feel himself stirring under the water, eager for more. His tongue traced a line along her jawbone before he claimed her lips once more, his kisses growing more demanding.

Sam pulled away from the kiss, leaving a trail of want and desire on her lips as he watched her with a predatory glint in his eye. He groaned softly at the sight of her flushed skin and the way her eyes darkened with lust. She was ready for him, eager even. His hands moved around to cup her ass cheeks, her thighs parting naturally as he held her up, the cool pond water swirling around them. Her wet dress clung to them both, adding to the sensuality of the moment. She wrapped her legs around him and could feel every part of him, his arousal pressing against her core, sending waves of pleasure through her.

Mercedes felt the growing hardness between his legs as they rocked against each other slowly, causing her to pool with excitement. She moaned, unable to hide her arousal when he brushed his dick along her core. Her hands gripped his shoulders tightly as he took control of their kiss, his tongue invading her mouth in a deep, passionate dance that left her breathless. She could feel the water lapping at their legs, the cool sensation adding to the heat that pulsed between them.

His hands moved urgently as he felt her shiver of desire. Slipping beneath her, he yanked her wet dress up to her hips, exposing her creamy thighs and panties to the cool air. Mercedes gasped, her body responding to his touch. Sam moaned in response, feeling her pussy's heat against his leg as she ground into him. They were both desperate now, needy for more.

Mercedes whimpered in response, her thighs parting naturally as he held her up, the cool pond water swirling around them. She placed her hands on his broad shoulders, trying to gain some semblance of control. But when his fingers slid under the edge of her panties, tracing the hidden folds of her desire, all thoughts of control escaped her.

"Sam…" Her voice was a breathy chorus of his name as she surrendered to his touch.

His name was a delicious curse on her lips, one that drove him into new depths of desire. He needed to feel her, taste her, and make her his. His fingers slid further into her panties,exploring the intimate contours of her body. She gasped sharply, arching her back in pleasure as his touch sent a cascade of tingles down her spine. Her body writhed against him, meeting his insistent rhythm in a dance as old as time.

Sam drank in her reactions, each sigh and moan feeding his own desire. Her lips found his once more, abandoning their inhibitions to the moment of fiery need. As he continued to explore her body with intimate precision, he could feel the mounting pressure within her, mirrored by his own deepening need.

"Mercy..." He growled her name against the curve of her neck, barely able to control his own heightened senses. His fingers traced a pulsing rhythm along her swollen clit, teasing her just at the edges of her desire.

"Sam...please," she whimpered, her hands clenching on his shoulders as she pressed herself closer against him.

In response, he peeled off her soaked panties with one swift motion, discarding them in the pond water. She gasped at the sudden coolness against her bare skin, but any thought was lost when he claimed her mouth again with a ravenous kiss.

He moved his hand between them, the heat of her pulsating against his palm. His fingers found their way to the center of her pleasure, eliciting a gasp from Mercedes as he expertly fingered her. Her hands clawed at his shoulders as waves of pleasure washed over her, making her squirm with increasing desire.

"You're so beautiful like this," he breathed against her ear, the vibrations from his voice causing more ripples of delicious shivers through her body. She responded by grinding harder against him, biting her lip to suppress a whimper.

"Please." she begged.

Sam's eyes smoldered with unspoken need, his fingers continuing to move in a hypnotic rhythm, matching the pace of their quickening breaths. He watched her face closely, entranced by the raw passion and vulnerability she displayed. His thumb circled her clit, causing her to arch her back, a whimper of pleasure escaping from her lips.

"Sam…" she gasped again, her voice barely a whisper. He kissed her then, swallowing her pleas and cries within the depths of his burning desire. His fingers continued their dance, growing bolder and more insistent as he played her body like a well-tuned instrument.

"Shh..." He breathed against her lips, his voice low and husky. His hands moved purposefully, his thumb steadily circling whilst his fingers plunged deeper, pushing her closer to the edge. "Let go for me, Mercy..."

She was teetering on the edge of ecstasy, every nerve in her body thrumming in anticipation. He kept his eyes locked with hers as he continued to stroke and tease her, bringing her to the brink only to pull back again. This dance of delicious torment had her writhing against him, panting his name as the pressure within her coiled tighter and tighter.

Sam watched as she broke under his touch, collapsing into a wave of shuddering pleasure that sent sparks flashing behind her eyelids. Her breath hitched, her body convulsing in ecstasy as he skillfully coaxed out her release.

"Holy...oh, Sam!" She cried out.

A devious smile spread across his face as he watched her, relishing in the sight of her satisfaction. He knew he had played her body like a fiddle, each stroke and touch a note leading to this beautiful climax.

"Sam...I want you," she breathed, looking into his eyes with a gaze full of desire.

He looked at her with an intensity that took her breath away before giving her a languid grin. "And I want you, Mercy." His voice was low and full of desire, his breath fanning softly against her neck. The words hung in the air between them, a moment stretched taut with anticipation. "But we're in public."

Mercedes blinked still on her high, before noticing the smug grin now plastered on his face. "Wait... what?"

He nipped at her lips, pulling her dress down. "I mean, it's not like you were entirely quiet." He teased, "Don't worry, I'll make you scream louder later."

With a deft hand, he slung her over his shoulder, laughing as she let out an ear-piercing squeal of surprise. Mercedes squirmed, trying to realign herself, but his firm grip around her waist held her in place.

"You jerk!" She yelped, hitting his back with a closed fist. Her words were empty, however, and sounded more like a petulant child's whine than actual anger.

In response, he only chuckled deeply, patting her ass lightly as he made his way towards the grassy bank. "You'll thank me later," he teased, smirking at her over-the-shoulder before setting her down gently on the soft grass.

Mercedes huffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched him pull his shirt back over his head. He winked at her before extending his hand to help her up. She ignored it and scrambled to her feet, attempting to maintain some of her dignity.

"I see you're mad…" he said, grinning broadly at her.

"I'm not mad," she protested, but she couldn't entirely hide the smile that was beginning to form at the corners of her mouth.

"Good," he replied, stepping closer and wrapping his arms around her. "Because I have plans for us tonight, and they don't involve being mad."

She arched a teasing eyebrow at him, "Oh really? And what might those be?"

His smile deepened. "I guess you'll just have to wait and see." He replied, leaning down and kissing her. "But panties are optional." He added, pulling his pants on.

Mercedes gave him a playful smile before exhaling deeply. "Thanks for getting me off, I'm sure you'll have a good time with your hand later." she joked as she walked away from him. Glancing back, she saw him standing there with a smirk on his face before he headed in the opposite direction to dry off at his place.

She had to do the walk of shame back to the main house, her dress wet and face still flushed when she passed by Stacey and Jane on her way to get dried off and changed. Their amused faces didn't go unnoticed but she refused to stop and let them grill her on what happened, instead she rushed inside avoiding Mary's questioning gaze and went straight to her room. She let out a deep sigh before peeling the wet dress off of body and tossing it in her hamper.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, her disheveled hair falling around her shoulders, the blush of exhilaration still staining her cheeks. Mercedes ran her fingers through her hair, subconsciously attempting to bring some order back. Her mind replayed the little adventure she just had. A shiver of delight ran down her spine at the thought, but she quickly brushed it off.

Digging into her closet, she skimmed through a row of casual clothes and then glanced at the clock. It was still early afternoon. "Plenty of time," she muttered to herself and settled on a pair of comfortable jeans and a loose-fitting blouse.

As she buttoned up, her phone buzzed multiple times on the bedside table. She rolled her eyes and made a guess—Stacey or Jane. She glanced at the screen, noting multiple messages from both, their curiosity piqued by her sudden disappearance earlier. Ignoring them for now, Mercedes made her way down to the kitchen for a much-needed cup of coffee. The house was mostly silent, save for the distant hum of a lawnmower and the occasional chirp from a bird outside.

Mercedes walked into the kitchen, her bare feet pressing against the cool wood. She opened the fridge, taking out a carton of milk. As she moved around, preparing her coffee, she couldn't help but allow herself a small smile. She'd really allowed herself to grow comfortable with the Evans and made herself right at home.

She was just taking her first sip of coffee when she heard the front door open and close, signaling someone's arrival. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought it might be him, returning already from his place. But then the voice that echoed through the hall put a stop to her wishful thinking.

"So..." She turned and she saw Santana standing there with a playful smirk on her lips. "You and trouty have fun at the pond?"

Mercedes' eyes widened and she almost choked on her coffee. "He... he shoved me in..."

Santana gave her a knowing look and took a seat at the table next to her. "Just so you know, part of my job is to walk the property," she reminded her with a smile.

She took a slow sip of her coffee, mentally trying to wrap her mind around what she was alluding to. "Really now? That's interesting."

"Right. Now imagine my shock when I'm strolling around and I hear an odd noise from the pond, so of course I go to check it out. And what do I find? You and Sam engaged in a make-out session. Would you like to clarify that for me?"

She felt a blush creeping up her cheeks as she shook her head. "Nope." She replied,taking another sip of her drink, she glanced at Santana before quickly looking away, feeling the warmth in her cheeks intensify.

Santana smirked, nodding. "So when did this happen?"

Mercedes was silent for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "It... it's not like that," she finally said, averting Santana's gaze. "We were just messing around."

Santana raised an eyebrow at her, her smirk never leaving her face. "Messing around, eh?"

Mercedes looked at her, her eyes wide. She sighed heavily and slumped back in her chair. "Yes, messing around. It's... it's complicated, okay?"

"I'm sure it is," Santana replied sardonically. Her smirk softened into a warmer smile. "Look, Mercedes. You don't owe me any explanation. I just want you to be careful."

Mercedes nodded silently, appreciating Santana's caution yet feeling a pang of annoyance for the intrusion on her private life.

Suddenly, the door swung open once again and Dwight walked in, oblivious to the charged atmosphere. "Oh good! You two are here," he said boisterously as he put down bags of groceries he had been carrying. "Could you help me with these?"

Mercedes nodded and got up, grateful for the interruption. She made her way towards Dwight and began unloading the bags filled with fruits, vegetables, and other items. Meanwhile, Santana sat at the table, a smug smile on her face as she watched them.

As Mercedes was pulling out the last can of soup from the bag, Dwight cocked his head to one side and looked at Mercedes carefully. "Are you okay? You look… off."

Santana released a soft chuckle from behind them, causing Mercedes to roll her eyes.

"I'm fine," Mercedes said quickly. "Just had a bit... overwhelmed."

Dwight raised an eyebrow. "overwhelmed?"

"It's nothing, just nerves about the event." she brushed it off quickly.

"Alright then," Dwight acknowledged, but there was a tiny hint of skepticism in his voice that did not go unnoticed by Mercedes.

Once all the groceries were in their rightful places, Mercedes left Dwight and Santana in the kitchen, claiming the need for fresh air. Stepping outside, she was met with a soft afternoon breeze that caused her loose blouse to flutter gently against her body. She took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of the surrounding greenery, as she walked towards the side of the house where there was a small bench under a large apple tree.

Settling down on the bench, she brought her knees up and hugged them to her chest. Her mind went back to the pond where she and Sam had shared an unexpected intimacy. She bit her lip at the memory, unsure about her feelings. She was definitely attracted to Sam; their chemistry was unmistakable from the first time they had met. But did it mean anything more?

She looked up at the tree above her, studying its thick bark and numerous moist apples hanging from its branches, some of them looking too ripe and ready to fall off any moment. A smile graced her lips as she likened herself to one of those apples, hanging precariously on the branch of uncertainty, waiting for a gust of wind to make a decision for her. She closed her eyes briefly, savoring the peaceful moment.

The rustling leaves above were disrupted by a familiar voice. "Mind if I join you?" Mercedes looked up and saw Jack standing in front of her with a soft grin on his face.

"Of course, sit." Jack took a seat beside her, offering her a warm smile.

"Heard you were in the kitchen," he said casually, looking straight ahead and not at Mercedes. "Pop said you seemed worried about the event…"

Mercedes let out a soft chuckle. "So he sent you to check on me?"

Jack turned to her with a shrug. "Well, yeah. You're part of the family now. We look out for each other."

Mercedes found herself softening towards Jack and his candid admission. Even through all the unwanted attention and the confusing feelings, it was strangely comforting to realize how much she was cared for in this house. "Thank you, Jack," she said, giving him a sincere smile.

Jack returned her smile with an equally genuine one. "Anytime," he responded before turning to gaze at the horizon ahead of them. After a moment of silence, he turned back to her, his brow furrowed slightly. "About this event..." he began, hesitantly.

She looked at him questioningly. "Yes?"

Jack paused for a moment before letting out a sigh."I think you being able to do all this in such a short amount of time is incredible."

She looked at feeling a rush of gratitude. "You think?"

He playfully nudged her. "Of course I do. I knew having you here would shake some things up, glad I was right." He said standing.

"Thanks, Jack." She replied sincerely.

"Anytime." He winked and started to walk away before looking over his shoulder. "Oh, the pond isn't as secluded as Sam thinks."

Mercedes groaned, placing her face into her hand. "Does everything know?"

Jack laughed. "Sweetheart, I'd be surprised if the whole town didn't know by now. Don't fret, no one will say anything to you about it."

She nodded, watching him walk away before figuring she could distract herself with helping a vendor or seeing if Jane or Stacey needed anything. Her chat with Jack did loosen some of the worry she had for the event and now she just needed to get through the rest of the day. She stood, stretching before feeling her phone buzz, she pulled it from her back pocket, scanning the messages from her friends, her sister before landing on Sam's.

SJ: 8pm

MJ: [eye roll emoji] I'm not coming.

SE: you and me both know you are

SE: unless you want me to come to you.

SE: wouldn't be the first time I snuck a girl into my room

MJ: don't hold your breath.

She put her phone on silent and shoved it back into her pocket before walking over to where she figured Stacey or Jace would be to offer some help.

The rest of the day was a blur for Mercedes. She couldn't focus on anything other than Sam and their intimate encounter at the pond. She took her sweet time in the shower later that evening, washing away the day's sweat and stress. She left her hair down, allowing it to air dry into its natural waves, while dressing in simple jeans and t-shirt that perfectly showed off her curves. A part of her felt flustered and annoyed at his sudden change in demeanor, but she mostly felt an overwhelming anticipation for what he'd promised would surely be a night to remember.

I mean… she was loud lol! next chapter will start off… very nice.