Four hours later we're stepping onto the tarmac as the morning sun rises illuminating the sky in soft hues of yellows, pinks, and oranges. I can smell the salty seawater in the air as I take a deep breath happily embracing my surroundings. I smile as I hold my bag in one hand and Mekhi's hand with the other.
"The sunrise is beautiful isn't it," I say with a smile squeezing his hand.
"Almost as beautiful as you," he says with ease looking back at me with a smile of his own.
"You're blind and biased," I say shaking my head in disbelief.
"Your smile is like sunshine and waking up next to you is my sunrise; it just doesn't compare," he says shrugging his shoulders and leaving me blushing my life away.
"You're making me blush," I say as my face gets even hotter in the cool air conditioned airport.
"Well it's the truth," he says and pulls me to the baggage claim area.
I look around and am glad that none of our friends heard our little exchange. After we've reclaimed our luggage we go to the shuttle area and look for the shuttle with the resort we have booked. We finally load into the shuttle and I whisper to Mekhi about Jerry, whom is in the front passenger seat in full conversation with the driver. He reminds me to relax and rest my eyes for the hour long ride to the resort. Following his advice, I lay my head on his shoulder and find sleep peacefully. I'm shaken away by Nova leaning over the back of her seat.
"Girl wake up, look out the window," Nova says with an irritable excitement.
"Ohh wow," I say as I wipe my eyes and watch a school of dolphins leaping in and out of the ocean water.
"You almost missed it," Nova says while taking pictures with professional camera.
"I did, thanks for waking me," I say as I continue to take in the beautiful view of the rising sun over the sparkling ocean water.
"You're welcome," she says as she continues taking pictures.
I look around to see that all of us girls nearly have our noses pressed to the windows taking in the ocean view. I turn around to look at Mekhi only to see him watching me with affection in his eyes. I blush on cue at his intense staring.
"Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face," I muster up the courage to ask as I instinctively wipe my face.
"I'm just enjoying the view," he says leisurely caressing my face.
"Ahem, is that all," I ask after clearing my throat trying to cover my shyness.
"Of course. What else could it be," he asks innocently removing his hand from my face and wrapping it around my shoulder.
"If that's all," I say calming myself down and preparing to go back to my view of the ocean when he leans in and kisses me.
"That is all," he says after his release of my lips and I go back to my view of the ocean with a burning face.
We arrive at the resort ten minutes later and the girls and I are chatting away walking to the receptionist desk as the guys and porters sort out our luggage. As we're finished checking in our guys and the porters have our luggage sorted on trollies going to each of our rooms. Handing each of our guys a room card we head to the elevators first to open the doors as well as explore our rooms as it will take them several elevator trips to get all of the trollies to the rooms. We are on the thirty-fifth floor with only two levels over us, both of which host a restaurant and nightclub. Although we are on the same floor our rooms are not next to each other in the way we thought they would be since we booked relatively around the same time. Bidding farewell to each other until at least after lunch, we go our separate ways to our rooms.
I unlock the door and walk into my room to see that it's not the simple hotel room I imagined it would be. It's a suite, I realize as I explore this space seeing that it hosts a living room, dining room, full bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and heated floors, guest bathroom, and two bedrooms. If I didn't know any better I would think that this is an ordinary suite, but after investigating I can clearly see that this is the presidential suite. The furnishings and décor are very chic and modern as well as top quality. I'm still exploring the suite opening up the balcony door to inhale some of the salty ocean air when there's a knock on the door. I open the door and take a step back as Mekhi and one of the porters bring our luggage into the room. We thank and tip our porter as he leaves taking the trolley with him.
"What do you think about the room," Mekhi asks as hugs me from behind.
"I think this room is a presidential suite and…it's really nice. Thank you Kai," I say with a sigh.
"What's wrong," he asks turning me around and looking at me with concern in his eyes.
"You've done so much for me and my friends. I don't know how to thank or repay you," I say to him truly grateful for all that he has done.
"You don't have to worry about that love," he says with sincerity pulling me closer to him and kissing my forehead.
"But I do, I don't kn-," I say before he captures my lips.
He kisses me passionately with one hand on the small of my back and the other holding the back of my head. I return his passion and pour my gratitude into my kiss. We kiss for what feels like a long time. When we finally separate, the both of us are breathing heavily. And I'm definitely trying to gather my thoughts as they scattered the moment his lips touched mine.
"You don't have to keep thanking me. Doing these things for you is what I want to do. I'm pleased that you are so appreciative of everything, just let me take care of you in the way that I know how…okay," he says holding my face with both of his hands.
"Okay," I agree nodding my head and he kisses me once more.
"Let's freshen up and I'll call for breakfast," he says releasing my face and holding my hand.
"Okay," I agree and follow him to the bedroom to unpack our luggage.
As we're unpacking, he pauses to order breakfast for us before continuing to help put our belongings away. We place the clothes on hangers in the closet, the folded clothes in the drawers, and toiletries in the bathroom. When we're finished we roll our suitcases into the spare bedroom. After placing our valuables in the safe, we then go to freshen up. I take a brief shower and wear one of the many sundresses that I've packed with light make up, perfume, and sandals. Exiting the bathroom and going into the dining room, I see that breakfast has arrived. Mekhi, freshly showered and in chino shorts and short sleeve button up shirt with the first few buttons undone, looking very pleasing to my eyes.
"You look beautiful baby. Come, breakfast is here," he says looking at me with his panty busting smile that sends my heart pounding.
"Thank you," I say with a smile walking to the table and sitting in the chair he pulled out for me.
"You're welcome," he says pushing in my chair then kissing me on the cheek.
"So what did you get for us to eat," I ask placing my hand on the lid of the dish.
"Something light," he replies and I remove the lid to reveal the food underneath.
"Ooh you know I love a good omelet," I say to him as I place one on my plate.
"I know, I ordered some fruit as well," he says revealing the fruit on another tray.
"Thanks Kai, you're the best," I say as I add some fruit to my plate as well.
We hold hands to bless our food, then begin eating. We chat about all the different things we can do for the next five days. I say five because we are still at the beginning of this one. After eating a second omelet, fruit, and drinking a cup of tea we decide to take a walk on the beach. We freshen up, apply sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for me then head out. Hand in hand we walk to the elevator, only to get on and have Mekhi whisper sweet nothings in my ear the whole way down. Blushing my life away, I hide my face as we pass through the lobby and go out to the deck which gives way to the beach. Before stepping on to the sand, I bend down to take off my sandals only to have Mekhi complete the task for me. He holds both of our shoes in one hand and grab mine with the other. Finally letting my feet sink into the powder soft sand, I feel like I am truly on vacation.
"Relaxing," Mekhi asks in response to my sigh of satisfaction.
"Yes, I have been looking forward to this for quite some time. It's the vacation I didn't realize I needed until I planned for it," I reply to him with a content smile as we stroll along the beach.
"Well I'm glad to see you finally relaxing and that you allowed me to be here with you as you unwind," he says squeezing my hand with a smile of his own.
"I'm happy that you are here too! I wasn't so sure in the beginning about bringing you along however my feelings outweighed the logic and I figured we only have the moments we are in to create the memories we want…I want to create as many memories with you as I can. While we are here and you're not Mekhi Eason, you're Mekhi Johnson the collegiate basketball champion, café occupying, girlfriend stalking normal person," I say while smiling through my heated blushing face.
"Does my being an Eason worry you so much," he asks seriously.
"Maybe not in the way that you think. You are an Eason and being with you comes with pressure, responsibilities, and a whole new world that I have to feel my way through. Not that I'm not willing to endure these things to be by your side but this is will probably be one of the last times for me that you are just Mekhi and not Mekhi Eason," I elaborate.
"So you want to live a simple life," he asks as we pause to watch the waves and let the water cover our feet.
"I like simple. I'm a simple girl who enjoys simple things however I know that being with you will not be so simple and I can withstand that," I answer.
"It will be rough in the beginning but after we're finished with school and I settle down I will give you the simple life you seek. Just give me some time and I will ensure that my world doesn't affect yours in any way that you don't want it to," he says sincerely looking me in the eyes.
"Well if you're promising, I'll naturally hold you to it so don't let me down…okay," I say to him with a soft smile trying to lighten the mood.
"As you wish," he says and kisses me gently.