Hello! Here is chapter 8…Sam and Mercedes take another step forward, getting to know each other a little bit more. Yes, things have been sweet and cozy so far, but don't get too comfortable—drama is on the horizon. Relationships aren't all smooth sailing, and these two will soon face challenges that will test their bond! Stay tuned! Thanks for the reviews and support, they meant a lot!

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Mercedes glanced at her phone as it buzzed on the counter. She tapped to answer, switching it to speaker as she finished arranging the throw pillows on her bed.

"Hey, what's up?" she answered.

"Hey! Just wanted to check in on the Christmas plans. We haven't discussed the menu yet," her sister's voice came through.

Mercedes smiled, stepping back to survey her tidy bedroom. "I'm thinking we stick with the usual—roast, mashed potatoes, and maybe add some Brussels sprouts this year. You know, something to make it look fancy."

Her sister chuckled. "I love how you're still trying to make Brussels sprouts a thing. Alright, fine! Fancy it is. And you're bringing dessert, right?"

"Yep, I've got it covered," Mercedes replied, glancing at her reflection in the mirror as she smoothed down her black blouse. She hesitated, then added, "I'm waiting for someone to pick me up right now."

Vivian was silent for a moment before asking slowly.

"As in a date?" She giggled. "Ohhh, this I have to hear about."

"His name's Sam," Mercedes said, trying to sound casual as she adjusted her hair. "And we've been...spending some time together lately."

"So, what's the plan? Dinner? Drinks?"

"Yes and yes. He texted me yesterday, saying he wanted to take me out on a proper date. We've met a few times, but he said he'd never officially asked me out and wanted to fix that."

Sam had told her they'd meet before Christmas, but she hadn't been holding her breath. Between their busy schedules and the holiday rush, she'd already resigned herself to giving him his gift after Christmas. It wasn't a big deal, she knew—just timing.

Then, the day before, his text had come through, simple but purposeful:

Hey, I was wondering if you'd let me take you out tomorrow. A proper date this time.

The words had lingered in her mind all evening, the way he phrased it—like he wanted to make a point of doing things right. It wasn't just a casual meetup or a spur-of-the-moment coffee. He was putting thought into it, and that meant something.

Mercedes had stared at the message longer than she cared to admit before replying:

I'd like that.

Now, standing in her bedroom, her heart fluttered at the memory. She wasn't used to someone being so intentional, so considerate. It felt new and exciting—and maybe just a little terrifying.

Her sister's voice brought her back to the present. "He sounds sweet, Mercy. Is it a special occasion?

Mercedes laughed softly, shaking her head. "I think he just wanted to do something thoughtful. Well, we might also exchange gifts, so I'm a little nervous about that part."

"Gifts already? That sounds serious," her sister teased.

"I don't know. I just... I don't want to make things awkward if he doesn't have anything for me. But I guess it's not about that, right?"

"It isn't. Whether there's a gift or not, it's not the end of the world. Besides, you have already been giving him something—your wit, your smile, your undeniable charm. That's a gift in itself."

Mercedes laughed.

"Right."

"Look, if he's planning a proper date, I'm sure he's got it all figured out," her sister said reassuringly. Then, with a dramatic sigh, she added, "Mercedes, just enjoy it! I've told you this a million times—have fun!"

Mercedes laughed at her sister's exaggerated tone. "Okay, okay, I get it! You don't have to yell at me."

"I do, though," Vivian shot back, her voice light but teasing. "Enough with overthinking! Just let this be what it is."

After they hung up, Mercedes set the phone down and took a deep breath. Sharing about Sam with her sister felt like crossing a line she hadn't even realized she'd drawn for herself. It wasn't that she didn't want people to know—it was that letting them in made it all feel more real.

She glanced at her reflection again, smoothing down her blouse one last time. She'd been cautious, maybe too cautious, about letting herself believe this could be something more than casual. But Sam was making it hard to keep her guard up.

The buzz of the intercom pulled her from her thoughts. She walked over and pressed the button, her voice light as she said, "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me," Sam's familiar voice crackled through the speaker.

Her heart gave a little flutter. "I'll be right down."

She grabbed her coat and the small, neatly wrapped gift sitting on the counter, taking a deep breath. Sam wanted to make this special, and this time, she really let herself believe it could be.

XXXXX

Mercedes threw her head back and laughed, her cheeks aching from the sheer joy of the moment. It was her first official date with Sam - if you didn't count the cooking class - and she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed this much. She already knew he was a gentleman—thoughtful, polite, and charming in that effortless way that always seemed to catch her off guard. But tonight, she was discovering a whole new side of him, one she hadn't expected.

He was goofy, quick-witted, and completely unafraid to poke fun at himself. He had a way of making her feel at ease, as though they'd known each other far longer than they had. Their conversation flowed naturally, jumping from lighthearted banter to deeper topics without a single awkward pause. It felt easy. Comfortable. Right.

Mercedes dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a napkin, still chuckling. "Boy, you're crazy," she said, shaking her head in disbelief at his latest story.

Sam chuckled, leaning back in his chair, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Crazy in a good way, I hope."

Mercedes smirked, taking a sip of her wine. "The jury's still out."

The restaurant was perfect—intimate and warm, with fairy lights strung across the ceiling and golden light that made everything feel magical. She glanced around briefly, taking in the cozy atmosphere before her gaze returned to Sam.

"I have to hand it to you," she said, resting her chin on her hand. "You really know how to pick a spot."

"I'm glad you like it," he replied, his voice softening. "It's one of my favorite places, but I have to admit, the company's making it hard for me to focus on the food."

Mercedes felt her cheeks warm, and she rolled her eyes to hide the smile threatening to take over her face. "Smooth, Evans. Real smooth."

"Hey, I'm just being honest." His grin widened, and for a moment, their eyes locked, the air between them shifting slightly.

She broke the moment with a small laugh, sitting up straighter. "Okay, now you're making me nervous."

"Good," he teased. "I was starting to think I was the only one. By the way..." Sam reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small, neatly wrapped package. "I brought something for you. I hope you like it."

Mercedes felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty. She had been wondering if he'd get her something, and now the moment was here. She smiled, pulling the gift from her own bag and placing it in front of him. "Well, I hope you like it too."

His eyes lit up, and they exchanged gifts at the same time. Mercedes carefully unwrapped the box to reveal a delicate silver bracelet with a tiny charm shaped like a music note. It was simple, elegant, and undeniably her.

"It reminded me of you," Sam said, his voice a little shy.

Her fingers brushed over the charm, and she smiled, touched by the thoughtfulness behind the gift. "It's beautiful, Sam. Help me put it on?"

He nodded quickly, taking the bracelet from her hands. His touch was gentle as he clasped it around her wrist, his fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. She tilted her wrist, watching the charm catch the light.

"It's perfect," she said, meeting his gaze.

Sam's lips curved into a grin. "I'm glad you like it. I had some help."

At Mercedes' raised eyebrow, he chuckled. "Brittany and Santana helped me pick it out. I wasn't sure what to get, so I asked their for advice. They mentioned that you like music... and that it's a big part of your life. So, I thought this might be something you'd like."

Mercedes laughed softly. "Leave it to these girls to know exactly what I'd love."

Sam proceeded to unwrap his gift, his expression softening as he took out the leather wallet. He flipped it open, running his fingers over the embossed waves.

"Wow, this is awesome." he said, his voice low with appreciation.

Relief flooded through her, and she laughed. "I'm glad. I wasn't sure if it was too much or not enough."

"It's exactly right," he said, his hand resting over hers across the table. "Thank you."

"Thank you," She replied, her smile warm and genuine.

His eyes softened for a moment before he added, "So, music, huh? I guess I should've known. I don't think we've ever really talked about music. It's funny, considering how much I love it as well."

She shrugged, a little sheepish. "Yeah, music's always been a huge part of my life. I mean, I wanted to be a singer when I was younger."

Sam's expression softened, a mix of curiosity and admiration. "A singer? Wow, that's amazing. What happened?"

Mercedes paused, her fingers playing with the bracelet. "Life, I guess. I got caught up in other things, and I think I lost the courage somewhere along the way. But I still love music. It's always been my escape."

Sam smiled, his voice warm. "I get it. Music has a way of doing that."

"What about you? Any hidden talents?"

Sam waggled his eyes playfully and Mercedes laughed.

"Be serious!"

"Alright, fine. I used to want to be an artist. Like, sketching, painting, the whole deal."

"Wait, you?" Mercedes asked, genuinely surprised.

"Yeah," Sam said with a sheepish grin. "I even thought about going to art school. But my dad wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea. He wanted me to join the family business."

"Ah, the family business," Mercedes said knowingly. "What is it? Real estate? Law?"

"Finance," Sam said with a chuckle. "My dad runs an investment firm. He was already disappointed I chose dentistry instead of taking over the company. Being an artist? That would've been the final straw."

Mercedes stared at Sam for a moment, her gaze softening. There was this person in front of her, a whole unknown universe, with dreams, contradictions, and layers she hadn't yet uncovered. She still had so much to learn about him, and that thought filled her with a quiet, unexpected joy.

"Dentistry is a pretty solid career, though." She smiled.

"It is. And I love it, don't get me wrong. But it wasn't my first love. Art was."

"And do you still draw or paint?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Sometimes," he admitted. "Not as much as I'd like, but I'm working on that."

"Good," Mercedes said, her voice warm. "You should. You deserve to do what you love. And I'd love to see your drawings someday."

"Of course. After you sing to me," he teased, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

"Oh, my God!" She exclaimed, rolling her eyes but unable to hide her smile. "I'll think about it."

Later, when Sam finally walked her to her building entrance, they shared a lingering goodbye. For a moment, she'd thought about asking him to come upstairs. The idea had crossed her mind more than once lately. But he'd mentioned earlier that he had an early flight and hadn't finished packing, and she didn't want their first time to feel rushed.

It wasn't that she had a rule about these things—no set number of dates or milestones to hit before crossing that line. It just felt right, the way they'd been easing into this, savoring each moment. But lately, their kisses had grown so intense, their touches so magnetic and all these times, she'd felt her body on fire, wanting for more. It was becoming harder to resist the pull between them.

As she stood in the stillness of her apartment, Mercedes smiled softly to herself. She liked the way they were building something real, something worth waiting for. But she couldn't deny it anymore—she was ready. And when the moment came, she wanted it to be perfect.

XXXXX

Christmas Day at Mercedes' sister's house was everything she had hoped for. The cozy home was filled with the smell of roasted meats, cinnamon, and fresh pine from the tree in the corner. The living room sparkled with festive decorations—twinkling lights, hand-made ornaments, and stockings hung with care. Mercedes was surrounded by the people who meant the most to her: her sister, her brother-in-law, and their kids, along with some of his extended family. Laughter and chatter filled the air as everyone gathered around the table, sharing stories and enjoying the delicious spread of food.

The evening was relaxed, the perfect mix of comfort and celebration. The turkey was perfectly cooked, the sides were just the right amount of rich, and the desserts were indulgent without being overwhelming. They ate, they laughed, and they took turns telling stories, some funny, some heartfelt.

Later in the evening, she found a quiet moment to Facetime her mother, who was celebrating on the other side of the country. The screen lit up with her mother's warm smile, and though they couldn't be together, it felt like they were. Mercedes showed her the Christmas tree, the food, and her family gathered around the table, and they chatted about everything and nothing. It was the kind of simple, perfect moment that made the holiday feel complete.

Just as she was about to set her phone down, a text notification popped up. It was from Sam:

"Merry Christmas, Mercedes. Hope you're having a wonderful time with your family. Can't wait to see you soon. Thinking of you."

A smile tugged at her lips as she typed a quick reply:

"Merry Christmas, Sam. It's been a perfect day. I'm thinking of you too."

As she set her phone down and rejoined her family, she felt a warmth that wasn't just from the fire in the corner or the good food around her. It was the warmth of connection, of love, and of someone special thinking of her from far away.