Misconstrued.🖕🏻

Samuel held Mercedes hand tightly in his, not on purpose, just out of fear that the small hike could be too much for her. He made sure beforehand that he had gotten everything she needed ahead of time. Comfy clothing, a good pair of hiking boots, he packed his backpack with a first-aid kit and any possible thing they could need in case of an emergency. His other hand held a cooler filled with the food for their picnic. He was taking her to one of his favorite spots in Big Sur that had a gorgeous view they could set up at, he made sure the cabin wasn’t too far from it so she didn’t have to hike very far. Licking his lips he looked down at her “are you okay babe? It's just right up here” he said to her as he gestured the direction with his head. 

Mercedes inhaled deeply. The clean mountain air is a welcome change from the stale LA smog. Samuel set a casual pace and the path before them was relatively clear of obstacles, meaning she could take in every chirp or snapping twig underfoot. She stretched her finger, wiggling them, urging blood to return to her appendages. “Bae, you know I want to continue playing the piano.” She said, looking him up and down. He was being so overprotective, it was sweet. She’d have to thank him later. She leaned in to him, “I’m fine” she said, squeezing his arm. “I feel fantastic. Breakfast was wonderful and once I got used to the silence, I slept like a log. Stop worrying, we are fine.” She said, knowing his mind. 

“Sorry” Samuel said sheepishly as he loosened his grip of her hand fully. He moved his arm around her shoulder instead as they grew closer and closer to the spot. “Good” he told her “I am glad, sorry if I am annoying you” he told her thoughtfully. He wasn’t trying to be overbearing. They reached the spot “here it is” he said as he looked towards the large body of water. “My favorite spot,” he said, nodding his head happily to himself. He sat the cooler down on the ground and said “I have a picnic blanket for us” as he moved to take his backpack off of his back. He whistled for Zeus, he knew the dog was trailing behind them exploring the area for himself. The dog moved in their direction stopping beside Mercedes and sitting down panting. “Need anything babe, I have some water if you need some?” Samuel asked as he crouched down to unzip his backpack in pursuit of the blanket so that she could sit down and get off of her feet properly. 

“Don’t be,” Mercedes said, arm going around his waist. “I’m being selfish. I don’t want you to start thinking I can’t take a little exercise,” she said, turning her face to his side laughing. She dropped her head as they continued up the path. Samuel stepped up to a clearing, the view breathtaking. It was something out of a movie. She moved forward, holding the low hanging tree branch out of her way. Blue water danced under the sun. Wind causing waves across the surface of the water. The lake was enchanting.  “A picnic. Oh Sam” she said, tears she didn’t know she was shedding streaming down her face. 

“No,” he said, shaking his head “I wasn’t thinking that” he told her as he pulled the picnic blanket out of his bag. He placed his backpack on top of the cooler and he placed the blanket down. Samuel looked up at her quickly “yes” he said simply, watching her tears “you don’t have to cry” he chuckled to himself. Mercedes was a water bag he guessed he had his child to thank for that. “I wanted to do something special, it's Valentine’s Day” he said as he reached out for her hand, “come here” he softly. 

These were the types of lies Mercedes loved. Little white ones, that amid to make her smile and feel protected. She shook her head at the man, but chose to stay quiet on the matter. She furrowed her brows. Crying? Her finger lightly brushed over her wet checks and she huffed, hand covering her mouth. Turning she took his hand before burying herself in his chest. “I don’t know what’s come over me. It is just so beautiful here.” She shook a bit in his arm, tears still coming unbidden. “Good grief” she told him, “You have done so much for me. Always.” She didn’t say she didn’t deserve it. Not out loud. Instead she squeezed him tighter, pouring thank you into her hug. 

Samuel hugged Mercedes to his chest, if he were honest she was a bag of water before the pregnancy. He rubbed her back gently, he pecked her forehead and said “stop” with a small chuckle he lifted her head by her chin. He rubbed her tears away and kissed her deeply, drinking her in lovingly “I love you” he breathed as he pulled away. “Here sit down and I will pull our snacks out” he said as he moved them towards the blanket he held her hand allowing her to get down on her knees and sit. Once he’d helped her he moved for the cooler, sitting his backpack to the side he opened it and removed its contents. He sat each container out and opened the lid, laying out a nice but small spread for the both of them. “You can’t drink obviously,” he said with a smirk “but I got us some sparkling Welch's juice” he said, lifting the bottle up for her to see. He sat it down before he grabbed two small plastic cups for them to drink out of. “I thought maybe glasses could be tricky, I didn’t want them to break.”

Mercedes' large eyes fluttered open, she watched as he kissed her soundly, the unique essence that was always him causing her to stutter in his arms. She wanted to remember him just like this. “I am so happy.” She admitted, overwhelmed by his efforts. She dabbed at her eyes a bit more, then took his hands as she sat down on the blanket. Getting comfortable, container after container came out of his pack until a feast was before her. Tilting her head, she looked down at the bottle. “My favorite. OH, 2026 what  a good year” she quipped. Picking up the bottle she cracked the seal and removed the foil, he was being so playfully serious. He again warmed her from the inside out. “Plastic is perfect bae. Everything looks amazing.”

“Are you?” Samuel asked her curiously, the idea of her actually being happy with him was foreign and unfamiliar. He still felt like he was in a fever dream even now. He tucked his lips in at her words, shaking his head playfully he watched her open the bottle and he held the two cups out for her to pour the sparkling juice into. “Good I hope you enjoy the spread” he told her. “I figured we could relax and…” he paused, licking his lips as he stalled. “Talk about our future wedding” he said, clearing his throat a bit “we still haven’t picked a date” he told her though he knew it was his fault they hadn’t. It was for this exact reason, at the mere mention of a wedding he became flighty. 

Mercedes tilted her head, her heart tightening in her chest. Why did her happiness shock him? “Don’t sound so surprised. It’s been years since I’ve been completely happy and right now. Right here with you. I am happy. My question is why don’t you believe me” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him playfully. Chulking, she poured the sparkling grape juices for both of them. Then replaced the cap, placing the bottle between them. It was her to be left gobsmacked. “Really?” she asked, biting her plump bottom lip, “I have some dates in mind, somewhere in August or September would be nice. November at the latest.” To be honest, he had never dreamed of a wedding. She just thought or rather hoped one day she would just be married. The wedding part was optional, “or we could just go to the court house when we get back to LA?” she laughed, taking a sip from her cup.

Samuel looked into her eyes as she replied back to him “well” he began, he took a long sip from the glass and then sat it down. “I can think of a million reasons why you shouldn’t be” he replied back to her, though only one really mattered; Carla and this unborn child she was carrying. He didn’t say that, however, because it would surely ruin the moment. “But I am glad that you are happy with me” he said lifting his glass again; he saluted her or the idea of them together rather. He took another sip of the drink. “August, September, November… of this year?” he breathed shocked, he assumed most women preferred not to walk down the aisle post baby. At the mention of a courthouse he raised his brow “now why would a woman of your status want to reduce herself to a courthouse wedding?” he asked quizzically. “There is no doubt you know you deserve the wedding of your dreams, who are you being modest for?” he hummed before he picked up a grape and popped into his mouth. 

Mercedes relaxed one arm, moving out beside her for support. He wasn’t right, just not completely wrong. She sucked her teeth, “besides all of that…” she said, catching his drift. It had long been a trick of hers to compartmentalize their time together. She took what he offered and never asked for more. She glanced down at her ring; she didn’t have to do that anymore. That alone made each new day with him a blessing. She rubbed her hand over her belly.  “Why not. We’ll have little momma in June, Sam. That should be plenty of time…” At least that was what she thought. “What did you have in mind?” she asked, curious to hear his ideas. She stared at the man for a long moment before finally answering him. “It’s not modest. I never really envisioned a big fancy wedding.” She laughed, “Now my mother, publicist, and manager. I am sure, will have other plans in mind. I suppose I should give them what they would want.” 

Samuel pushed another grape into his mouth munching on it as she spoke, he didn’t know if he believed that. But he guessed part of practicing a healthier relationship required him to entrust that what she was telling him was the truth. He stretched out his long legs “if I were to be honest, I am okay with whatever you want to do” he said simply, he had no idea what his idea of their wedding would look like. The fairytale he had pictured was long gone and they were totally different people now. “What they would want?” he repeated with a raised brow, he grabbed a cracker and bit it, chewing lightly as he thought to himself. “I think we give into what people want enough already” he said, placing the other half of the cracker into his mouth. 

Mercedes plucked a small cluster of grapes from the board, eating two, mulling over her options. “It seems this conversation about us has just become about me.” She quipped, all the while she pushed down the feeling that maybe he was deflecting. She thought, eyes moving back to the crystal clear lake. She shrugged.  “Maybe.” She said, “The powers that be will want a big wedding. You and I both know that.” Looking over to Samuel, “however, if pressed, I’d say something that’s small, just us. That’s the wedding I want just for us. Then we can have a big spectacle for the world. The best of both worlds.” She said, a sweet sad smile on her face. 

“No” Samuel said, shaking his head at her, he didn’t know how to navigate how he felt just yet. It was Valentine’s Day, this is the day meant for lovers not giant truths. He felt this was the perfect time to tell her his feelings but then again it would just ruin the moment. “No it’s about us, but I am just flexible is all” he said instead of the truth. Her not having a big wedding would go against the Hollywood code if you had asked him, she would be letting more than her mother, manager, and publicist down. “A small wedding to start would be perfect,” he said, because it is what she would want to hear. Again, he pictured her chickening out more than he could picture a cake and flowers. He would match the amount of weight she put into it, he didn’t want to be disappointed, he did not want his heart broken again. “September,” he finally agreed, “that would be the perfect month.” 

“Mhm.” Mercedes said, on the verge of laughing. Her grapes rested in her hands. She lifted one and placed it in her mouth, chewing slowly as she considered things. Truth be told, Carla was a huge problem and deep down, Mercedes knew, anything but a private wedding was going to bring that she devil out into the light. No way she was going to sit quietly in the background. Her eyebrows shot up when Sam called out September.  Tentatively, she said, “Okay.. We need a day.” She said, thinking out loud, “The fifth?” she asked, feeling as if she was truly dreaming. 

The large man reached for a chocolate covered pretzel and then a strawberry eating them both silently. “A day” he repeated as he grabbed another strawberry, she answered for him before he could think of a random one. “The 5th” Samuel repeated again, he sounded like a parrot. “September 5th, okay” he nodded his head wrapping his head around the idea of them having set a wedding date. “That works,” he put simply before leaning over to peck her lips passionately, pulling away from her slowly when he was done. “A small wedding, on September 5th” Samuel said more to himself than anything else, he couldn’t believe he was setting a wedding date and that the bride of said wedding was Mercedes. He picked his cup up, taking a long sip of the juice as he looked out over the water. All he could think to himself was how funny life could be sometimes. 

Not for the first time, Mercedes savored Samuel's kiss, quite astonished that he’d agreed so easily. He touched the side of his face, raking her fingers through his coarse beard causing sparks to run up and down her spine. When he released her, she bit her lip reflexively. A practiced habit, she’d long developed to try and keep her emotions and desire for him in check. Whose life was this, because after years of ups and downs there was no way this was hers. -NO-  A thought began to blossom, taking shape in the corner of her mind. She looked down at her ring, her stomach doing cartwheels. “Did we just set a date?” It was a question, but her words were a spoken declaration. Her eyes were twinkling, excitement she’d never allowed herself to feel spilled out into the sunlit day. She crushed every negative intrusive thought that wanted to come up like a bug under her shoe. Overcome with joy, she got to her feet and went over to him blocking his view, opening his arms wide and pulling his legs apart. She eased down, settling between his legs, placing her back against his sturdy chest. With unbridled glee, she announced to the trees, the world, Sam, and herself, “We are getting married,” She said, lacing their fingers together.

Samuel hoisted the large duffle bag up from the trunk of his G-Wagon, he grabbed the other one moving for the cabin door. When he entered he sat them down near their bed for the next couple days. “You okay?” he asked Mercedes “I know it was a bit of a drive for you. I hope you like the cabin,” he said, breathing finally. He wasn't able to get the cabin decorated for her prior to, but he did bring a few pieces of decor to surprise her with tomorrow before she woke up. “I didn’t know if you would or not but I took the gamble anyway, I just wanted us to spend some alone time in one of my favorite places” he said, his hands resting on his hips. He still had more things to get out of the car but he wanted to make sure she actually wanted to be here in Big Sur if not he’d have to change their plans. 

Mercedes closed her eyes, inhaling the clean crisp mountain air. The rays of sunshine danced over her lids, the sun's warmth leaving fleeting kisses on her skin. Her hands rested lightly on her belly as she listened to the melody of nature. “Hmmm…” she murmured, smiling as Samuel’s voice mixed into the melody. “Oh!” She turned, taking in the small quaint cabin. It was different.  Void of the luxuries she’d grown accustomed to. “It’s perfect.” It was the starter home she’d always thought they’d have together as broke, struggling artists. She walked over to him and hugged him. She didn’t said thank you, but she tried to pour those words into her hug. 

Samuel watched her from afar. She was in her own little world, but he loved seeing her at peace already that was why he had brought her here afterall. He wrapped his arms around Mercedes hugging her close to his hard body when she made her way to him “good” he smiled brightly. He leaned down and pecked her forehead lovingly, with a pat to her butt he said “take a look around and then get comfortable baby. I am going to empty the trunk, I don’t want you carrying anything” he told her lovingly. The truth of the matter is he didn’t want her to get a glimpse of her gifts in the back of his truck. 

Mercedes relaxed into the towering man’s frame. She loved being at home in his arms. She leaned back, eyes bright with amusement. “Wow, I haven’t seen one of those in a while.” She said, reaching up to touch the side of his face. He was smiling and that little gesture was the best Valentine’s Day present ever. She chuckled and crinkled her nose as he kissed her on the forehead, then sent her off with a firm swat on the butt. She giggled, then walked away rubbing her butt playfully. Before leaving the cabin she grabbed her notebook. Out on the porch, she stepped down, taking in the symphony of sounds. Each separated but binding like a well-rehearsed choir. Just off the porch towered two of the biggest trees she’d ever seen in her life. Opening her notebook, she opened to a blank page and used her pencil to rub the impressions of the back into the paper. Satisfied with her work, she dated the page before wandering a bit further into the woods. 

Samuel furrowed his brows as she walked away, he had no clue what she meant by those words. He thought about it for a moment before he walked away smirking to himself at the final realization of what she meant. Moving for the truck again he hoisted up a large cooler grunting slightly, as he carried it into the cabin he had a few ideas for meals they would eat and make together when the time came. He sat the cooler down near the small kitchenette before he walked back outside, he looked around himself watching as Mercedes wandered. His instincts told him to tell her to stay close by but she wasn’t a child, she was a grown woman and he knew she wouldn’t put herself in harm's way. He was just being overly protective and he knew it. Licking his lips he grabbed a couple of shopping bags that had some craft items in them that he purchased to do with her. Everything he’d preplanned for this trip he wanted to be intimate and relaxing. Some of the bags housed some decor he’d put up after he put her to sleep tonight. He took those bags inside and sat them against the small eating table before he walked back outside. He would leave her gifts inside the trunk for now, it was better for them to be hidden there then inside. He closed the trunk behind himself and moved around the car. He moved towards the backseat and let Zeus out of the truck “go find Mommy” he ushered petting the dog's bottom and he took off in Mercedes direction. He pulled his phone out, checking his messages quickly; he wouldn't be doing much of that for the rest of the weekend. He had dropped their other two dogs off at CJ’s house, he told Carla that he would not be in LA over the weekend, and he let his assistant know about his whereabouts and how to handle any business related dealings while he was gone. Everything was covered. Moving towards the cabin he closed the door letting out a sigh of relief and then moved to follow Zeus and Mercedes. 

Mercedes walked out just a little ways away from the cabin. The redwoods were so massive, she walked around the base counting her steps as she went to get a measure of the tree’s size. Lost in her own thoughts, she jumped out of her skin, heart pounding when Zeus broke through the underbrush, racing to take up his place at her side. She bent down with a grunt. She would not be able to move freely by this time next month so instead of worrying about it, she chose to focus on the here and the now. She got low and scratched the dog behind his ears. “Who is a good boy?” She asked, “Did daddy send you to protect me?”

Samuel tucked his hands into his pants pocket, following the sounds of Zeus’ pounding feet as he found Mercedes finally. Samuel rounded on her “I did” he said in response to her question, he stopped beside her looking around them. He took in the scenery fully now, the massive trees and the sounds of birds far off in the distance. He could see himself retiring and living in a home ducked off on land surrounded by trees just like this. He pictured even now, the sound of Mercedes adorning their home with melodies from a piano, little feet pitter pattering against the hardwood floors. Pulling himself from his thoughts he scratched at his beard and said “are you hungry baby girl?” gently “I can whip you and the baby something up to eat… or we could make something together” he offered her. 

Mercedes lashed love on the huge dog. It seemed she was destined to be surrounded by giants. She looked up at Sam, the sun and trees the perfect backdrop.  He belonged here. While the massive oaks dwarfed her, they seemed normal-sized in relation to Sam. She tapped at his legs, holding her hand up to him, “I am always hungry,” she giggled, wiggling her fingers at him.   She groaned a bit, “Let’s do it together, you can show me your ways; oh, master chef.” She smiled. 

He disregarded her first comment, shaking his head playfully, she was eating for two or so he read. He assumed hunger came with the territory. He looked down at Zeus as he sat there watching them both “I am sure Z is hungry too” Samuel said, petting the dog's head lovingly. He would not pester her about being on her knees on the ground instead he grabbed her hand to help her to her feet again. Once he had he repeated, “Master chef?” with a chuckle “hardly, but I did want us to make some pizzas together. Is that okay?” he asked. “If you aren’t in the mood for that right now, I have some other recipes I wrote down for us to try this weekend” he told her. He grabbed her hand and moved to pull her with him towards the cabin he added “I want to make the pizza’s over an open fire, real camper lifestyle” he chuckled again, another smile gracing his face casually. “I thought it would be fun to try and see how it pans out. I have s’mores in mind for dessert” he told her looking down at her. Zeus trotted close by on the other side of her, where he typically liked to be. 

After being hoisted to her feet Mercedes brushed at her knees, wiping away the dirt “you are cute when you’re modest,” she said with a dry chuckle. “No babe. Pizza is fine and besides it sounds fun.” She trough it alongside Sam, even with a leisurely pace she had to take two steps to his one. “It’s so peaceful here. I can’t wait to see the stars. Even in the hills, there’s too much light pollution to actually see the constellation. I’m so excited. Thank you for bringing me here,” she squeezed Sam’s hand as he led the way back to the cabin. 

“Let’s not get on our knees again” Samuel said slyly “you make me so nervous you know that right?” he said. It wasn’t really her fault his mind had reduced her from an able body individual to this fragile thing that he would see no harm being done to. He needed to rewire his brain if anything, though he could not see that happening until after their child was born safely. “Great! It should be fun” he told her, nodding his head as they strolled. "It is, that is why I like it here so much” he told her honestly. “You want to watch the stars?” he asked her, he didn’t think about doing that himself, that would be something he would enjoy as well. “Okay” he said thoughtfully, reaching the door he opened it and allowed her to walk in first, Zeus scampering in behind her. “You are welcome, we could add it to the rotation, you know. Maybe even buy a cabin here” he said the thought hitting him suddenly, he was surprised he had not thought about it before in the past. “If you want to, you can freshen up while I get a fire going outside in the pit,” he voiced, moving to gather the supplies they would need. 

Mercedes rolled her eyes playfully, “I want you to remember that statement later.” She hummed, hand rounding her tummy, “No, I do need to start watching it. I’ve gotten a little bigger over the last two weeks,” she sided-eyed Sam, giving him a good once-over. “Don’t sound so shocked. It’s something I’ve never really done before. Even back in Ohio, there was always a lot of light out. There are many stars we couldn’t see. Did you forget I was a bit of a nerd in school? Until you came along, I was quite the student.” She reminded, fully amused. “Great, I'm going to see which star we can see from here.” She stepped inside and placed her notebook on the table before removing her jacket. She thought about it for a moment, laying the coat over the back of the chair. “This place is stunning and best of all it's one of your favorite places. I’d love to have a place here -away from the hustle and bustle.”  The idea of owning another home with Sam gave Mercedes goose bumps. He was planning a future with her. It was the one thing she’d wanted since she laid eyes on the man. “You go do that and I’ll get us unpacked.” She said, moving to the bed where her suitcase sat.

Her comment back to him made his eyebrows raise to his hairline “oh?” he asked her a bit of shock weaved into his one word response to her. “I am not even falling for that bait” he said, shaking his head at her, hiding his smirk and amusement. “I have noticed” Samuel said easily, the prospect excited him actually. That is the one thing he had been waiting on, the waddle and big belly people spoke of. “Until I came alone?” he repeated as he squatted down near a bag rummaging through it “oh did I change that somehow, you sure you weren’t always a bad girl underneath that good girl act?” he joked. He placed the items he needed in his cargo pants pockets and he stood up moving over to the chopped wood stacked up inside. “Really?” He said back to her, turning to face her now “I would love that, I will look into it as soon as we get back home” he said pleased, having more properties under his belt always excited him. When they weren’t using the cabin he could get his management team to rent it out possible, yet another cash grab. He stacked a few pieces of wood in his arms and said “okay” as he walked over to her and planted another kiss, he moved to walk outside balancing the wood easily. Once out there he moved for the fire pit so that he could get a fire going. 

“I did not stutter, sir.” Mercedes said, enjoying their easy banter. “Maybe you are right.” She exhaled. He’d always been too fine to overlook and when her wild fantasy became better than reality, she made sure to enjoy every second with him. Being away from him used to be physically painful. Doing what she loved dulled the ache somewhat, until one night on stage in Amsterdam, it didn’t. That’s when she’d sought him out and he’d allowed her back into his life. She touched her stomach. “Excellent,” In midstride, Mercedes changed direction and went to put away the food first. Then she grabbed Samuel’s bag and sat it on the bed. She unpacked, humming as she hung shirts and arranged his toiletries in the bathroom. After all his things were taken care of she started on her bags. Careful to hide Samuel Valentine's gift in the back of her drawer under her shirts.  

Samuel bent down and placed the wood into the bottom of the firepit, stacking them strategically. When he was done with that he stacked some kindling on top of the wood pieces. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a lighter and a piece of paper. He lit the piece of paper and stuck it into the pyramid like mound, watching as the paper and kindling began to burn. He dusted his hands off gently and moved to stand back up tucking the lighter back into his pockets. He watched the pit for a moment standing back before he moved inside of the cabin with Mercedes. “I think I got that going” he told her as he moved to wash his hands in the kitchen sink. “Need any help?” he asked her cutely as he reached for a paper towel, drying his hands. 

Samuel entered the cabin, the smell of a campfire already clinging to him. “Alright. I’ve almost got everything put away.” Mercedes moved over to grab her toiletries bag. She nodded, “Yes, can you put the bags away in the closet? I just need to put this stuff away.” She said, holding up the bag in her hand. “Lumberjack looks good on you, babe.” She grinned, entering the bathroom. 

Samuel tossed the napkin away and nodded his head at Mercedes “I sure will” he told her as he grabbed their bags and put them up as she asked. He watched her walk away and while she put those items away he moved to grab some dog food for Zeus. “Really?” he replied back to her with a snort. He needed to grab his dog bowl from the car, he rushed to do that quickly unlocking the G-Wagon and pulling the pet bowl out of the car. He checked the state of the fire burning in the pit. He returned to the cabin and he prepared the food for the dog “here boy” he said, placing the bowl down on the ground. He gently rubbed the dog as he chowed down. “A simpler life would be a dream” he told her honestly as he moved to toss the packaging from the dog's food away. 

Mercedes laid out her skin care products and placed the bath products in the shower, noting a bathtub that was big enough for two. She only half wondered if it was big enough for her broad chest and long-bodied man. She exited the bathroom and leaned on the doorway, contemplating what Samuel had just said, “are you joking?” she asked, tilting her head and watching him feed Zeus. “There is something freeing about it. Like you can actually breathe.” She added a far off look on her face. 

Samuel moved about the kitchenette he needed to gather all the items they needed to make their own personal pizzas. He got the dough premade; he wasn't going to over complicate anything for her. The sauce was store bought too along with the other ingredients they would use as toppings. They just needed to assemble them for the most part. It would be easy and straightforward. At her question he turned around shaking his head “no” he said simply. “Well, yes” he told her nodding his head again, “being in a relationship with a global superstar can be… smothering” he told her, as soon as he said it he felt bad for it. “Not that that is a problem, just an observation” he told her rubbing the back of his neck. 

Mercedes' eyes went to Samuel, her sculpted eyebrow shot up, the mixed answer to the question confusing her. His clarifying statement, however, was surprising. “I see.” She said, pushing off the door frame, she joined Samuel in the kitchenette. Going under the cabinet, she found a pair of cast-iron skillets that might help with cooking the pizzas. “Seems like more than an observation, babe. How long have you been feeling this way?” She asked, not trying to sound unkind. She sat the cast iron on the stovetop and looked at Sam fully. She bit her lip, worried he might be having second guessing their relationship.  

Samuel watched her as she walked towards him, his eyes followed her as she grabbed some cast iron skillets. “I haven’t been thinking about it really” he lied, it was a horrible lie that did not sound believable even to his own ears. He changed his strategy. She was already on edge or she would not have asked him to expand on his way of thinking. He chose to go at this with a different approach. “I guess I always have, but” he added, grabbing her face gently and turning her head in his direction, his eyes boring into hers. “You have a gift that heals people in ways medicine nor therapy can, therefore it is worth it in my opinion” he said seriously. He thought about changing the subject, it would be easy for him to brush the topic off and move back to their pizzas but something they lacked in the past was communicating fully and he had never been so open with her in his life. Conversations like this were important otherwise he assumed they would never grow. 

Meredes gave Sam a placating look, folding her arms across her chest. Lucky for her, even he could hold up that lie. He placed his hands on either side of her face and she relaxed her posture, lowering her arms and staring up at him with sorrow-filled eyes. She loved the music, just not as much as she loved him. “That's a beautiful sentiment, but what happens when it’s not enough?” His words were right, but it wasn’t like he didn’t have less complicated options. Did she have a choice? “I want us to work. Truly. I guess I’m just shocked you felt that way.” 

“Who is to say it will resort to that?” Samuel asked, pulling away from her, he already knew what she was thinking. It was the same thing he thought about walking down the aisle. That eventually the ball will drop and everything around them will crumble because that is all they knew. Her declaration stalled him, he turned his head to look at her again. “We do work” he corrected with a lot more bass in his voice than needed. It was a horrible way of thinking but he is the only person that got to have doubts when it came to the both of them. He was scarred by rejection, he would never reject her and he hadn’t past or present. “I guess on a technicality I come with a lot of baggage so…” he said, not finishing the sentence. “It is not something that changes the way I feel or alters the plans we have in place. It’s you and I, no matter what, right?” he asked her, turning to her again and holding his pinky out for her to grab with her own. 

Mercedes grabbed the sides of Samuel’s waist.  “No one is saying it will happen. But this is how we make sure it doesn't happen.” She bit her lip looking up at the man. She squeezed his sides finger nail digging the answer into his flesh ever so slightly as he raised his voice. It took a fourth of will not to visibly flinch. She placed her hand on his cheek, combing her fingers through his beard. “We work” she said, voice steady as she held his eyes with hers. She inhaled only hesitating for a second. “ You and our family are the most important thing to me. Even more important than singing, if my career doesn’t work for our family I’m willing to change it.” She said, voice cracking. She glanced at his pinky. She took her hand from his beard and hooked her pinky around his, “no matter what” she echoed, voice steady as stone. 

Samuel blinked a few times “and do what Mercedes?” he asked her seriously, the usage of her first name an indicator of how unamused he was. “Music is your life, well half of it anyway. Me being the root cause of you sitting that aside would never sit well with me. I spent part of our youth pushing you to pursue it” he acknowledged. She echoed his sentiment and even sealed it with a pinky promise, neither could go back on it. “It is an adjustment is all that I meant by what I said earlier. I am not used to being front and center, or the guy on your arm. The one the cameras want to snap photos of too. But it is okay, I will get used to it. Everyone else eventually does, right?” he told her. He pecked her lips before she could get another word in, he moved for the fridge now. “You know there are tons of meats you shouldn’t be eating” he voiced “I managed pepperoni or chicken. Cheese of course. Onions. Peppers. Mushrooms. And olives as toppings. I hope those work for you” he said, pulling the items out for them to use. 

Mercedes exhaled a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She sucked her lips into her mouth, letting the storm pass her by. She strolled over and sat on the edge of the bed, leaning back on her hands as Sam tried to change the subject. “ Sam, I understand what you’re saying. But sometimes I think you forget how bright your own star is. People have speculated about you and I for years. My staff has literally shown me forums of people who have gone through our yearbook and tried hard to connect all the dots. You’ve been the man on my arm this whole time.” She told him, holding back her smile. “Now they just have things to talk about earnest.” She exhaled dramatically. “Do you know how many women I am going to have to fight over you?” she smiled, admiring his muscular back, as he leaned into the refrigerator.

Samuel placed the items down against the counter, he looked back at her seeing her across the room now sitting down. He sighed “okay, that is fair” he said nodding his head he couldn’t hide his smile, he even chuckled at the thought. “You have a valid point there” he had to admit though it was killing him to do so. “None” Samuel said resting his hands on his hips “not only do I refuse to let you fight someone, I think most women should know I am inaccessible” he said confidently. Though he could very well picture fights between Carla and Mercedes clear as day in his head. He had to will himself not to shake his head at the imagery. He pulled out the pizza dough and the jar of sauce they would use next sitting down on the counter as well.

Mercedes sat quietly, tongue rubbing across her full lips while Sam processed.  “I know” she grinned and sat up, to cover her mouth. This man was a whole mess.  “Oh… so you are not going to let me lay hands. I see.”  Translation she was going to have to keep her antics from him.  Much like when she beat Tiffany Brooks ass back in high school. Silly bitch kept talking about getting with Sam. Mercedes struggled reaching for a pillow, grunting, she got up and grabbed the pillow. Rushing Sam she smacked him on his hip. “I hate when you fake modesty.” She howled and swung the pillow again. 

“No, why would I?” Samuel asked tilting his head “you don’t have to stoop to other people’s levels, I feel like I have been preaching that to you a lot lately” he said thinking about it. “You are Amiyah Soul, who cares about these other nobodies?” he said. Licking his lips he watched her as she smacked his hard frame with a pillow “fake?” he questioned with a chuckle as she swung again. He wrapped her up easily “there is not one fake bone in my body” he told her leaning down towards her, pecking her lips lovingly. His hand slid down to her round ass and he smacked it playfully “we need to feed you two, stop goofing around” he said laughing despite himself. 

“I’m not stooping to their level. I’m trying to drag them to hell. They seem to believe that Amiyah will not whoop that ass.” Tears formed at the corner of her eyes as she laughed so hard it hurt. Mercedes leaned into him as he wrapped her up fully, pillow falling to the floor as her hands went around his waist. Damn him, she thought her insides instantly turning to goo. She savored his kiss, her small hands running over his back quietly, affirming his statement, Lord have mercy. It was definitely nothing fake about this man. With her smile still affixed to her face, she acquiesced with a nod, “okay” she said, pouting just enough to be cute. 

Her response shocked him a little, in the past couple of months he’d seen a side of her he really didn’t know existed. He might have spent his whole life thinking she was this mild mannered woman but there was a side to her that liked to fight dirty. He didn’t know if it should turn him off or on, she was scrubbing the perfect image of her in his head away little by little. “You are crazy,” Samuel told her with a shake of his head. He had no right to judge lord knows he didn’t hesitate to put his hands on people; he was working on that though. “You are so cute,” Samuel said, pecking her nose sweetly, “and I love you, so much” he added. “And nothing will ever change that. Not your career. Not other women… nothing” he reassured. 

Mercedes' heart pounded in her chest, his words making her feel absolutely invincible and loved. The feeling consuming her. “Promise?” she asked, her voice a hesitant whisper.

“I promise” Samuel said looking into her eyes, he searched hers for a moment offering her another squeeze to his broad body before he let her go. “I got everything out and ready for you” he said as he gestured to the layout of items for their pizza. “Oh” he said “I almost forgot”  he breathed as he moved to retrieve a small container of flour. “We need this to roll our dough out” he showed her. “Let’s work on yours first,” he said, tucking his lips knowingly. 

Mercedes accepted his word as truth. If it were a lie, she’d die believing in it. Believing in him.  Once out of his embrace, she picked the pillow up from the floor and tossed it back onto the bed. She nodded and moved over to the sink to wash her hands. “That sounds straightforward.” She grabbed a dishtowel and dried her hands, going over to stand beside the man. She pointed to the premade dough, then to the canister in his hand.  “What is the flour for?” 

“So the dough doesn’t stick to the counter's surface” Samuel said easily, “let me wipe it down clean for you first” he said thoughtfully as he grabbed something to complete the task with. Once he was done he picked up the container and sprinkled a little flour down on a small section of counter space for her. “Okay, grab you a dough ball and let's work on kneading it into a circle” he gestured as he placed the top back on the container housing the flour. He sat it aside and looked down at her small frame expectantly. 

 “Oh.” Mercedes said the back of her neck was burning. Not for the first time, she could feel her mother judging her from Ohio. She waited for Sam to finish prepping the surface, scooping a little flour to dust her hands with it. She did as instructed and picked up the ball of dough,  it was cold, yet firm to the touch and thankfully not sticky. She placed the ball in front of her and did what came naturally. She pressed the ball down with the heel of her hand, trying to work outward to flatten the ball into a circle. “Is this right?” She asked, glancing over at Sam. 

Samuel rested one hand on his hip as he watched her, tilting his head, his eyes gazed at her lovingly. “Mhm” he breathed softly to her “not too big of a circle though, it needs to fit in the pan” he coached moving to stand behind her. He rested one hand on the counter leaning against it as he watched her “see it’s not hard at all” he said happily. She doubted herself too much. He was sure if she actually got the time to work at making a meal, without pressure of being perfect or meeting any one else’s expectations that she would be able to cook whatever she desired. 

Mercedes concentrated, nodding as Sam told her to watch the size. She glanced at the pan, measuring the size of her dough as she worked. “I guess not,” she said, hesitantly. “But I have a good teacher.” She leaned back into him with a soft giggle. “How do you make the back crush?” She asked, rolling up the dough around the edges. She had no clue what she was doing again; it just felt right.  

He shook his head at her words “you are a natural. You just gotta stop comparing yourself to Valerie” he told her. Samuel leaned up right, he placed a hand on her hip watching her from above. “Here” he said and he placed his hands over her small ones, he helped her gently tuck the edges of the dough creating a small crater. “See” he said, pecking her against her temple “you never needed me really” he told her as they worked hand and hand around the dough's circumference. “When we are done with this, we are going to oil your pan, place your dough in and then you can assemble it with whatever toppings you want” he coached some more. 

“Thank you, bae,” Mercedes said, her unashamed smile splitting her face. She loved and hated that he knew her better than she knew herself. “That is easier said than done. She makes all this look so easy.” She talked and her hands continued to sculpt the dough base for her pizza. When Sam’s large hands slipped over her, guiding her hands to tighten her pressure on the edges of the dough, rounding it to perfection. She decided that making pizza with Sam was her new favorite thing. “Untrue.” She said, leaning into him, craning her neck to look up, “I always need you.” She grinned. Nodding, “Okay, this looks good, I think. Do you think we should cook it a bit first, like my mom does her pie crust?” She said, admiring her work. 

“And in due time so will you baby” Samuel said to her confidently, he knew that to be a fact eventually she will be as good as she hoped to be. “Yes it does look good” he said grabbing a hand towel and wiping his hands “yes lets add a little oil to your pan and I’ll let it heat up a bit over the fire to let the bottom cook a bit” he told her as he moved to grab the oil opening the bottle for her. “You can put some in my pan too babe, while I work on my dough” he told her, moving to unravel his ball of dough. He placed a little more flour down, sprinkling it evenly before he began to shape his dough much like she had done to her own. 

Mercedes didn’t argue. She would never be as good in the kitchen as her mother, but she didn’t need to be. She nodded, “Sure, bae.” She told him, first washing her hands in the sink. She dried them on a dish towel before picking up the olive oil bottle. Pouring a drizzle in both cast-iron pans, she set the bottle down, then brought the pans and placed them near where Sam worked, “I think this is enough oil. What do you think?” She asked, watching his fingers make quick work of the crest. 

Samuel worked quickly at his task, to be honest he was way hungrier than he’d let on. He wasn’t sure if the pizza would actually be enough. It wasn’t about the meal anyway it was about the time he got to spend with her making it. He looked over at her “yes that’s good, here you finish this for me” he said slyly and he dusted his hands off with the towel again. He grabbed both pans and he moved for the door, maneuvering outside he headed for the fire. It was just as he left it, he placed the pans on the fire pit cooktop allowing the fire to heat the cast iron. As he did so he looked around them, he’d picked a cabin that sat off by itself but a few meters away he saw another couple in a cabin of their own outside in hammocks. 

Mercedes nodded, pleased. She replaced Sam and worked his dough as he left to start baking her crust. She drew the edges up, making the crush. Once she completed the process, she carefully transferred the dough into the cast-iron pan. With a relieved sigh, she washed her hands, drying them quickly, then grabbed the cast-iron pan and took it out to Sam. The fire crackled and she inhaled the scent of burning pine. “Here you go, bae,” she said, handing over the crust. She rubbed her hands together over the fire. She followed his track, noticing the hammock. “I am going to bring out the toppings.” She told him, moving back to the cabin. Back in the cabin, she grabbed the basket from the shelf, filled it with all the toppings, then went back outside. “Are they ready yet? I am hungry.” 

Samuel turned to see Mercedes “thank you baby” he said as he grabbed the cast iron and placed it down on the open fire. He nodded his head at her words “okay” he said with ease watching as Zeus followed Mercedes around aimlessly, he shook his head with a smirk. Looking down at the pans and the crust as he noticed the bubbles forming. He nodded his head pleased. “Yes baby” he said to her without turning to look her way “what do you want to put on yours” he asked looking over at her now. “Let me go get you a chair” he commented as he moved to do so, he grabbed both fold out chairs from off the porch and placed one down for her and then one for himself. 

Mercedes rolled her eyes a bit. She wanted to protest that Sam was going overboard. She was not an invalid, but he was doing his best to take care of her and she didn’t want him to think she didn’t appreciate him. “I’m going to go a little traditional with my pizza. Pepperoni, green peppers, and mushrooms. What about you?” she scrunched up her face, nose crinkling  “is this enough food for you?” he placed the chair a little closer to the fire. “Thank you, bae. Did you want to add something? I don’t need you getting light-headed way out here in the woods.”  

“That sounds good actually, do the same for me” Samuel said to her. He stood as she sat, watching the fire, watching her, wanting to make sure nothing happened. “No, but it’s fine, I’ll make myself a sandwich or something” he told her. “I won’t pass out,” he said, shaking his head at her. "Don't worry about me, I need to be making sure you don’t pass out,” he said, running his hands through his long hair. “I’m invincible” he told her, flexing his large arm. 

Mercedes reached for the jar of sauce and a spoon. “This is so cool bae.” Mercedes said, looking at the cast iron contraption, sitting above the fire pit. The tripod had three cooking areas, suspended above the fire. “I guess you thought of everything. How do I move the pan away from the heat?” she asked, turning to Samuel. She snorted as he playfully flexed, “if you say so.” She sang, making a mental note to at least be the one who made him the sandwich later.

Samuel looked down at her “I’ll get it for you I don’t want you to hurt yourself” he sounded like a broken record he hated it so much. He knew she was more than capable of not burning herself. He grabbed a pair of heat resistant gloves putting them on and grabbed the pan for her resting it on the grate for Mercedes. He removed the lid for her, holding it away from her and at his side “Here you go, you can put your toppings on now” he told her. 

Mercedes mused to herself, he really was a natural out here in the woods. She spread the sauce on the pizza crust, then added her topping finishing everything off with cheese. “There. Let’s get this back on the fire. Can you bring over the other one? And I’ll get it dressed. Samuel, when did you start coming up here?” she asked, curious about this side of him. 

Samuel stood by watching Mercedes as she decorated the pizza to her liking, he nodded, placing the lid back on the pan before placing the pot back onto the fire. He grabbed the second pan repeating the same steps. He pulled the lid off and said “extra pepperoni please” cutely. “Hm” he said to himself he should have known she would ask but he was still nervous to ask. “Around the time I started working on the second book…” he breathed. “I needed fresh air, seclusion, to clear my writer's block” he told her truthfully. 

Mercedes nodded, “just extra pepperoni?” she asked, while doubling everything she had placed on her pizza for him. She stopped working and looked over at Sam. “Hmm, so you had writer's block before.” A weight lifted off her chest. She’d been worried about him since he told her he was struggling to write his next book. “This would do the trick. I swear, I've already got two melodies in mind.” She smiled going back to finish his pizza.

He nodded his head in response to her question though she very well did more than he asked. He couldn’t complain because he would in fact eat it and she knew him better than that. Samuel looked down at her, his head tilted slightly “well, yes…” Samuel told her “though this situation is different” he let slip. “Oh!” he said amused by that “dare I say we both now have a secret spot where our creative juices flow?” he said playfully. “That’s good, I am sure the world misses you playing in their ears” he told her knowingly. 

“It’s ready.” Mercedees said, indicating he could put the pizza back on the fire. She placed everything back in the basket, “how is this blockage different?” She used a napkin to wipe off the spoon then threw it into the flames. “Seeing as you don’t mind sharing, I believe we do.” She sighed, “I don’t know, these songs might just be lullabies for our daughter. You know. The world can wait from time to time.” She told him, still feeling raw from their earlier conversation.

“Okay babe” Samuel said as he placed the lid back onto the pan and placed it back over the fire. “It’s hard to explain sweetie” he said as he removed his gloves from his hands and sat them aside. He could not admit to her what he had admitted to Ava, that would be too much to unpackage and this weekend wasn’t supposed to be heavy at all. He lowered himself into his own chair finally “lullabies” he repeated nodding his head. “Your next album is gonna be a kidz bop album?” he said jokingly, a smug smirk gracing his face. “That will be different,” he told her, looking over at her. 

The pizza smells delicious. Mercedes could already taste the cheezy goodness. She leaned back in her seat. “Hmmm, what is this book going to be about?” She asked, trying to make sense of the blockage. “I am sure there must be a stress element to this blockage.” She mused, looking up at the sky. She sucked her teeth swatting at Sam, “that would be funny, Amiyah Soul live and in concert with the Wiggles.” She snorted, “I don’t know bae. They say those kids groups make coins,” she said laughing along with the man.

Her next question caused him to lean back up in his chair, it wasn’t like she wasn’t inquisitive he could not be mad at her. This happened to be her nature, decoding everything around her. He licked his lips “the writer's block doesn’t matter honey, I am releasing a book of poetry for the time being. I am sure eventually the ideas will flow” Samuel said, trying to change the subject. “Besides.. If you read them you would know” he said slyly, turning his head to the side out of fear of what she will respond back to him with. He pretended to stare at everything and nothing at all around them. Feeling her swat him he looked back over “oh please” he said shaking his head. “Your manager isn’t going for that…” 

“Poetry? That is amazing. I have some of your poems from high school, I can sell for a profit now.” Mercrdes said, with a smile. His writer's block did matter, but it was clear he didn’t want to talk about it. She licked her lips, “I read the first book.” She confessed, “a few times she confessed. Especially when I missed you the most.” She watched as the fire crackled, the orange glow mesmerizing. “I wanted to read the other books, there was just so much of us in the first, I think I wanted to stay locked in that time. After that,” she shrugged, “I have it on good authority the books got hella spicy.” She licked her lips, “I have a great idea.” She sang looking over at the man. “I love a good audible book. You could narrate Summer Fling for me.” 

“You better not” Samuel said amusement weaved in his words “those are sacred” he said biting down on his bottom lip. He watched her, staring at the side of her face as she spoke. He was shocked but he wouldn’t show it out of respect for her. He didn’t think she’d read any, but then again they didn’t talk about his published work often. “If there is any to read that would be the one” he wasn’t being modest it actually was his better work of art in his opinion. Her next comment transcended him from their memories as children back into the here and now. “What?” he said, thinking he had only heard her partially. “Mercedes please” he said, lifting a hand to her and he turned his head trying desperately not to laugh a full belly laugh. “You are something else” he admitted “does not shock me you have people offering you up the spark notes though.” 

“I don’t know. People would love to have the works of a young Samuel Evans.” She laughed, “I am kidding. I would never.” She told him honestly, though she was still laughing between every word. “Is that so…” she clicked her tongue, “It shouldn't, Rhonda loves your books. When she found out I knew you personally, she began to swear the books were about me. And I’m serious. I have a copy in my bag.” Mercedes boasted, eyes twinkling, “ besides, I know what you are capable of. I have a feeling hearing you read your thoughts aloud would be titillating." She loved teasing him, but she’d never really thought the books were about her. The girl in those pages was so much more than she could ever be. She inspired him, she supposed. In the same way that he inspired her. 

“Yes those should be put up in a safe place actually” he told her, it wasn’t a command it was a suggestion. Though he guessed perhaps they already were. “Oh Rhonda” Samuel repeated with a shake of his head, that should have been more obvious to him than it had been. “You have a copy of what in your bag?” Samuel asked with a raised brow as he stood up. He used the lid lifter to check their pizzas and said “you are lying” with ease. He closed the lids and turned to her, standing at his full height. He towered over her form “you don’t need words on a page Mercedes you already know what you and I are like in the bedroom” he said. “We have sonograms as proof,” he said cockily. 

“It seems you don’t believe me.” Mercedes watched as he checked their food, sitting casually in her seat. She scanned him, eyes running up and down his sculpted form. With only a little difficulty she rose, managing to look down on him despite the height difference. “Hmmm, yes, but variety is the spice of life.” She retorted, “I’ll be right back.” She grinned and went back to the cabin to retrieve the book. Walking back out, she went back to her seat, laying it in her lap. She slowly turned to Sam, “wait.. Did you just say we? Samuel Evans…” She said, hand covering her mouth. 

She was challenging him, he could tell in her body language and he licked his lips slowly at the thought of it. His hands rested on his hips as he watched her leave, her quip making him stick his lips inward. His heart rate had picked up a bit, there was no way she had brought a book with her, he didn’t want to believe it. But there she was leaving him outside and sealing with a cute ‘I’ll be right back’ to boot. He found his seat again and looked back up as she approached him, sitting down. She rested the book in her lap playing coy, he had to bite his bottom lip looking at the cover of Summer Fling sitting there. At the revelation his eyes moved away from her, he was never ever supposed to admit to her or anyone else that the books were about them. In all this time he’d never slipped up but he just had and he could not take it back. “Oh you knew Mercedes,” Samuel said, looking at her again. “Let’s stop pretending” he said seriously. He picked the book up and gazed down at the cover, the book had hardly been touched if at all. He opened it to the front page before he closed it again. He knew exactly what page to turn to though he handed it back to her,  “181” he said without any context, it was more to himself than anything. “Eveything beyond that is what you are yearning for” he finally breathed. “Steven turning Maya every way but loose…” 

Mercedes' hand fell away from her mouth. Artists used their lives to create it was the inevitable. She looked at him as he examined the book. “Knowing something is different from confirmation” she said her throat was dry. She took the book back, gazing at the cover with new eyes. She hid the words, still overwhelmed.  Did he really love her that much? She looked at him, with wonder in her eyes. It shouldn’t take her breath away, he was every love song she wrote. Even the ones where anger met passion. She blinked, eyes going back to the cover. He knew the exact page. She crossed her legs at her ankles, rocking in her seat as heat raced up her neck. “Sir…” She whispered, turning to page 181 with shaky fingers. She only scanned the page, eyes growing wider with every passing sentence. 

Samuel licked his lips looking over at her again “Mercedes you are really going to act like those pages aren’t about us?” he asked her, he didn’t know if she was putting on an act or not right now. As she opened the book he stood up and checked their pizzas again. He really just needed an excuse to do anything but sit and watch her read the book. “I think they are ready” he said as he excused himself to grab something from inside the cabin, he needed something to put the pizzas on. He returned outside with a cutting board for the both of them, a spatula as well as a knife. He worked fast to place her pizza on a cutting board, he cut it in fours for her. “Steven is going to tell her he can’t imagine life without her and Maya will agree. That is how it starts, that is how it always started. Here eat” he said, offering her the pizza casually. 

Mercedes read down the page, eyes moving from one sentence to the next. Steven was no longer a voice she made up in her mind. It was Sam. All rough, smooth confidence. “Do you want me to stop reading?” She asked, with no intention of doing so. She continued until Steven’s words intercepted Sam’s real voice. Then she placed her finger in the book and looked up Sam. “You seem… I don’t know, worried?” Taking the pizza, she opened the book on her lap. “I’ll stop if this makes you uncomfortable.” 

Samuel looked into her eyes and he shook his head “no” he said simply, he didn’t mind her reading it he guessed. He actually didn’t know how he felt right now. His emotions were all over the place. But one thing he did know is she had every right to read the books whenever she desired. “I am not uncomfortable” he assured her as he moved to grab his own pizza. He cut it in half and sat down beside her, looking over at her again. 

“I always felt guilty that I never finished your series. Everything I write is in prose. This,” She said, a hesitant finger tracing the book’s spine. “It’s through your eyes. Bare. I never wanted to believe she was me; she is so much more than I ever was.” Mercedes blew on her pizza, then took a tentative bite, puffing as the cheese pulled away from the crust. It broke away and she managed to taste her creation. She savored the taste, smiling. “I did well!” she said, going for another bite.

Resting the cutting board that held his pizza on his lap, he twisted his lips as he thought to himself for a moment. “It didn’t start out as a passion project. It was a way for me to write out my feelings and thoughts. My professor told me I had a story within my journaling” he admitted. “I was bitter and angry…” he told her, licking his lips slowly. “I would have lashed out otherwise and the girls at school weren’t enough to compensate for that. So a book was born," he confessed. “You were the only possible muse Mercedes, I have never loved anyone else so intensely” Samuel said, his eyes moving to Zeus as he idly roamed the outside area. Despite their current situation the idea of what he just said annoyed him a little, he didn’t know why. Pulling himself out of the space he was staring in he looked at her “good?” he asked her in relation to the pizza’s turn out. “That’s good” he said absently as he moved to pick up one half of his pizza he bit into it his gaze on the fire. 

Mercedes turned, his words cutting. Slowly, she lowered her pizza from her mouth and just sat, the weight of his confession settling on her. She knew the feeling of never quite being satiated all too well. How did he manage to make her feel both exposed and empowered? She turned away as she felt them coming. She used her free hand to try and wipe away the tears that spilled over her cheeks.  

Samuel chewed slowly on the pizza in his hand, after a moment he looked over at Mercedes. He sat his pizza back down and said “are you okay?” gently, dusting his fingers off. He rested his hand on her back “you know I hate to see you cry baby” he said quietly. He didn’t have to see her to know she was doing it; he knew her well enough. 

Mercedes wiped at her face feverishly.  She was going to ruin the weekend. She couldn’t do that and she wouldn’t do that to him. “I’m not crying.” She lied, flicking away the last of her tears she turned to face him. “Don't mind me. It’s the hormones. For what it’s worth. No one will ever compare to you.” She told him, voice breaking with emotion. He deserved someone better than her. Someone who was not soiled by secrets and lies. She was just too damn weak and selfish to let him go. Yet, he was her peace. The addiction of feeling safe and love was all consuming. She did not deserve him, not one bit, but she will fight like hell to keep him. “I love you.”  

“Yes you are” Samuel said knowingly, he continued to rub her back gently even as she tried to wipe her tears. He didn’t know if he believed it, there were plenty of men that she could have and that would love to have her. “Come here” Samuel said as he moved to place his meal on the grate  beside them. “I don’t want to see you cry, I don't even deserve the tears…” he breathed sadly. 

“No I’m not.” Mercedes hiccupped, wiping at her eyes. She inhaled a deep, steadying breath. Sitting the items in her lap to the side with his, she gladly melted into his arms. She clung to his frame. Burying her face in his hard chest. “You have no idea how much you do.” She said against his chest. “I am messing up our dinner and I’m so hungry.” She said, crying again in earnest.   

Samuel pulled her into his lap and hugged her tightly to him “you are” he corrected. “Baby it’s okay” he breathed “you aren’t ruining the dinner, as soon as you calm down you can eat sweetie” she said soothing her gently. He was sure now it was her hormones that had her emotional. He pecked her cheek lovingly and rubbed her back “I love you and all I will ever need is for you to love me back and never leave me again, okay?” he said reassuringly.  

Mercedes listened to the thump of his heart. It’s steadiness calming her. She nodded, “I won’t.” She promised, the words hoarse, but strong. She sat up slowly, brows drawn down in deep concentration. Feeling the sensation again she grinned, grabbing Sam’s hand. “Here.” She said, holding her breath. His large hand almost covered her entire stomach, which must have been a good thing, because as soon as his hand was in place. Mercedes felt her shift seeming closer to her father's hand. 

Samuel pecked her cheek again at her confirmation, he felt secure in the fact she wouldn't leave that was more important to him than anything. She didn’t even have to love him fully just as long as she didn’t leave him again. As she grabbed his hand placing it over her stomach, he felt their daughter move against it and he smiled. “Our little nugget” he breathed softly as he pressed his hand against her stomach gently trying to egg their daughter on to do it again. 

Mercedes hand rested over Sam’s, her cheeks hurt from the wide smile on her face. She nodded not wanting to move herself for fear she might miss the baby moving. She held her breath for a moment, then pouted, “I think-” she cut off as she moved again. “Either she likes you or pizza,” Mercedes said, smiling. She kissed Sam’s cheek. “I think I'd better enjoy you as much as I can. I have a feeling she is going to be a daddy's girl.”