We walk along the beach for a while more before returning to our room to rest. Unable to resist the lure of the relaxing atmosphere of the beach, I settle down on the balcony with a book I've brought along and relax. Mekhi pulls out his laptop in the name of answering emails, so I leave him alone with his work. Between the mild humid air and the cool breeze coming off of the ocean I succumb to the sleep I had avoided on the flight here. When I awake I notice that I'm no longer on the balcony but in the bed of our room. I get out of the bed and fix it nicely before stretching then going to the bathroom to freshen up. After freshening up, I go into the living room to find Mekhi working between his phone and computer.
"Did you sleep well baby," Mekhi asks noticing me watching him work.
"Yes, thank you for bringing me in," I reply walking over to sit next to him.
"You're welcome. Are you ready to eat? It's just about lunchtime," he says as he finishes things on the computer and turn it off.
"Wow, I slept that long? I didn't realize I was that tired," I reply shocked.
"All that excitement you had built up has got the best of you in the end. Let's call our friends to have lunch and explore the boardwalk. What do you think," he says wrapping his arm around me and kissing my cheek.
"That sounds like a good idea! Are you finished with your work? I don't want to disrupt you, you do have a business to run," I say to him.
"It'll be fine, I've given most of the work to my assistant and secretaries. We can do whatever you want to do," he says answering my question and easing my concern.
"Okay, let's do what you said then," I say to him amazed at how accomplished he is and how well he handles all of his responsibilities.
"I'll let everyone know, you can change your clothes if you want," he says as he quickly taps out a message on his phone.
"I think I'll keep this on for now," I say then stand to get a water from the mini bar in our room.
"Okay, we'll meet at the restaurant upstairs in fifteen minutes," he says standing to stretch.
"Okay," I reply nodding my head.
…
Twenty minutes later we are being seated at the largest round table they have to offer with all of our friends. Gathered together like this we are all chatting in and out of different conversations after we place our order and receive our drinks.
"How was your walk on the beach this morning," Rylie asks with a knowing look in her eyes.
"It was good and peaceful, thank you for asking. How was your morning," I ask her while shaking my head.
"I fell asleep on the balcony after eating surprisingly," she admits rolling her eyes embarrassed.
"So did I, I was reading a book when I fell asleep though," I confess to her and we both laugh.
"We should go to the club tonight so we can bring this first night to a close the right way," Melissa says to us girls and we readily agree.
"Yes, I knew I liked you," Rylie says with a wide smile.
"Same, we can let loose after the stress of last week," Susu adds.
"After this last week I can definitely dance all night," Jasmine chimes in.
"Same, I think I've slept enough," I admit adding to our excited chatter as Mekhi drapes his arm over the back of my chair watching me.
"I guess it's a plan then," Naomi says clapping her hands together.
"Do you really want to go out tonight," Mekhi asks leaning into my ear.
"Yes," I reply blushing at his closeness.
"Okay," he says leaning back into his original position.
"What was that about? Don't keep secrets," Rylie says and poor Zain shakes his head at her straightforwardness.
"I'm sorry man, this is how they are when they get together," Zain says to Mekhi.
"No worries, it seems like we're all going out to the club tonight," Mekhi says shrugging his shoulders.
"Hey, this is a girl's thing," Melissa says.
"Yeah," Rylie, Nova, and Naomi echoes while Jasmine, Susu, and I remain silent.
"I'm okay with the guys going," I say and the girls turn to look at me wide eyed.
"Why," Rylie and the others say at the same time.
"I think it's safer for you guys if we're there," Cameron answers looking at Melissa then the rest of us.
"Exactly because I know better than you think, that you guys are not going to the club on the next floor," Devin adds.
"Lena," Rylie says exasperated.
"Well I was thinking more in terms of the fact that I know I will have several drinks tonight and I'm sure you guys are too so we should have someone to accompany us for that reason," I say reasoning with the girls and understanding dawns in their eyes.
'And I want to spend this time wrapped up in my man's arms! I can see you ladies anytime, I have no idea how much longer Mekhi and I will have this free time to be together like this.'
"That makes sense in the grand scheme of things. That way you girls can get wasted, not that I approve, but no one will be able to take advantage of you," Mekhi says adding to my reasoning.
"Okay we can agree to that," Melissa says and the rest of us girls agree by nodding our heads.
"We will have some time with just us girls though," Rylie declares and no one refutes her statement.
"Now that that's over, we can enjoy our lunch," Zain says and we all hold hands to bless our food.
We eat our lunch conversing about possible adventures we could go on while we are here. After putting together a rough itinerary of what we can do for the next five days as well as have time to ourselves we finish our lunch peacefully and are ready to walk the boardwalk. As the guys are settling the bill the girls and I head towards the elevator to go back to our rooms and grab our bags. I hear Mekhi enter the suite not long after I do, however I'm in a rush to transfer my wallet, phone, and other miscellaneous items over to my rucksack.
"We should reapply sunscreen before we head out to the boardwalk," Mekhi says as squirts some onto his hand and begin applying it to his body.
"You're right," I say and place my bag on the dresser as I grab the sunscreen to apply more to my body.
"We should probably take it with us. There's no telling how long you girls would want to be out exploring the boardwalk," he says.
"You're right! I'll put it in my bag. You're on a roll with the good ideas today," I say complimenting him.
"Or you're just so excited that you haven't stopped to think about the basic things," he says with a sarcastic smile.
"Hey! What do you mean by that," I ask him not know whether I should be offended or not.
"That because you're so busy thinking of other things I will worry about the small and basic things," he says smoothly and I'm still unsure whether I should be offended.
"Uh huh," I say deciding to let his comment slide.
"Don't mind me baby, I'm just teasing you," he says hugging me from behind.
"You know, I thought so but I wasn't sure," I admit.
"Let me help you put some sunscreen on your back," he says changing the subject.
"Don't worry, I'm not mad at you. I'm too happy to be mad," I say to him handing him the sunscreen.
"I'm happy to hear that. Let's get out of here so we can really get this day started," he says as he finishes rubbing the sunscreen onto my skin.
"Okay," I say and place the sunscreen in my rucksack.
We leave our room together and meet the others in the lobby of the hotel to embark on an afternoon of walking the boardwalk.