So every year my family goes on a trip or a cruise, usually cruises, and our first destination trip was to the Sandals Grande Riviera in Ochos Rios, Jamaica! As a military member, I don't always have the luxury of going with my fam on every trip, so I have to pick and choose which ones to go, and I DEFINITELY was not missing this one. 7 days on an all-inclusive resort! And for the first time I was able to bring a friend (All friends before her always claimed "broke" and I ended up solo).
Anyway, My 3rd day on the resort, We are passing the bar in the main house waiting for our shuttle to the other side for a beach party, so we decided to stop for a drink. And this FIIINNNEEEEE chocolate man was behind the bar, with this intense stare, washing some cups, and staring at me. And I was Overtly staring right back. He was the most clean cut, finest, sharpest man I had see on the whole Island. And he was looking at ME.
At first, he didn't smile, grin, nothing, it was just this hard cord stare like he was looking into my soul, judging me, and I couldn't tell if he was checking me out or wondering "what the heck is this girl staring at??" There were 3 other bartenders there including their supervisor, and they were all so nice and friendly, chatting it up with us, but Kevin was silent! Didn't say a peep. So I finally had to say something to him three drinks later. I said, "So what's up, Kevin, why don't you talk?" (They have their name tags on their uniform and I took advantage of that). He simply replied, "I Don't talk much, I just hang out." And I was like okaaaay...what's his deal? But I was intrigued, and I convinced my family to stay and get more drinks until the beach party started. I had written a toast to Jamaican men (I will post below), and when I made the toast outloud, Kevin was all over me, That was all she wrote.
Every night since then, I made it a point to sit at his bar until he closed and talk to him about how much we liked each other. At first, I was only flirting with no intentions of carrying anything back home. I was on vacation, and flirting and having a good time. He later told me that he knew I was his wife the minute he saw me. I actually told me the very next night after we met that he loved me, but I said he was talking crazy and I didn't believe him. But I really did like him and I knew he was different, and I enjoyed his conversation, his company, and the fact that he is sooo fine really helped me get over the quick 4-letter-word distribution.
I am not super proud of what happened the next night, being a Christian woman, but I would say this was the greatest sin I couldn't stop myself from committing...The next night, I invited him to my poolside deck to chat a little bit. It's totally against the rules to be in the guests area if you aren't servicing and he could have gotten fired (although, he did give great service when it was all said and done, LOL). We set up a time, and when he met me by the pool, he told me we should go inside so we weren't seen. He could lose his job. So we did. And I had the deepest conversation I ever had with a stranger. He opened up to me about his last love and why he didn't trust anyone with his heart. And oddly enough, I opened up about my last love and it was eerily similar to his story. It was actually the first time I had spoken of it since it had happened 10 months prior. I felt like he had given me the key to his soul and we talked for what seemed like hours, and minutes at the same time because I didn't want it to end. And out of nowhere, he gave me the deepest, most passionate kiss I had ever received in my life! And well...that escalated rather quickly. I'll just say time interrupted what fate brought together and I was very upset about it. But he gave me the best sex I ever had in my life and it didn't even last long because he had to leave. I was hooked for him, but I still didn't realize him as my husband yet.
We actually broke quite a few rules during my stay. Rules are made to be broken, right? He took me my friend and my aunt off of the property to a go-go club (strip club). We had a lot of fun, he paid for everything, and it was just a good night. I felt like his woman. And I felt comfortable with that title, In fact, I always felt comfortable around him, like...we had done this all before. We had met before. And had been together for years.
The night before I left, we spent the night together, went to a party and had a blast. I was very sad to leave him but I knew I wanted to keep in touch. I felt love for him but I didn't dare admit it. I mean, who goes to Jamaica fro vacation, falls in love and lives happily ever after? This is not How Stella Got Her Groove Back! Besides, I just figured was caught up in the romanticism of it all and I was on vacation high, and when I got home, I would forget about him.
But it just so happened that after our week's stay, my friend and I (both military) went on a cruise that was going to Jamaica! (When you're military, you capitalize on your leave, especially coming from Hawaii like we did). He made arrangements to pick us up and take us around, show us "the real Jamaica." We had a very wonderful day, and in the days leading up to our arrival back to Jamaica, I could not stop thinking about him. I wanted to talk to him everyday. My mind was gone and I didn't want to accept it. And I actually paid for the on-board wifi during the cruise so I could talk to him via WhatsApp. That's when I knew it was real because I am FRUGAL and I don't usually pay for that stuff. But I was head over heels in love.
We talked everyday since the day we met, he would constantly pour his heart out to me and confess his love for me. I finally came to terms that this man was made for me when I got back home and wanted nothing to do with the guy I was seeing before I left for Jamaica. That was my proof that this man was my husband (along with God smacking me in the head with it the whole time).
One day I decided I needed to see him soon, and I wanted to try to arrange to visit him the next month. When he found out, he said he had a huuuge surprise for me and he couldn't wait to see me again and give it to me. A few days later we were having one of our heart to hearts that was a normal everyday thing for us, and he told me he couldn't hold the surprise any longer, and when I got there, he was going to propose to me. I was speechless. Completely at a loss for words and all I could do was cry. I couldn't believe it. And in the next few days, we decided, why wait? I'm going to be there, we both got confirmation from God that we were meant to be husband and wife, so what would we wait for?
And that next month, I brought a wedding dress, shoes, the whole get-up, researched where we could do it, planned this wedding in about 3 weeks, arrived on the 10th of February, and married on that following Valentine's day, with a beautiful reception in Montego Bay at the Ocean's 11 beach club and restaurant. They were so accommodating and helpful to us, I love that staff and the food. Everything was simply amazing and just perfect.
And here we are...still madly in love, impatiently waiting for that day we get an approval on that visa and I'm flying to Jamaica to go get my man! Oh what a joyous day that will be!
A Toast to Jamaican Men
There's no place on earth like Jamaica.
Good weather, good food, good wine.
But my FAVORITE part of all,
are the men, who are so fine!
Skin so smooth and bronze,
kissed by Jamaican sun.
Skin all shades of black,
and so youthful, thanks to the Rum.
But there is one type of man
in Jamaica you must find.
He never has to touch you,
but he'll put you on your behind.
A bartender he is, so sweet and so great,
that in my suitcase he goes,
back home with me to the states!
Cheers, Mon!
