Chapter 3
I arrived at Grantley Adams International Airport mid-afternoon. About an hour later, Emmanuel, the driver my sister hired for the duration of my trip, dropped me off at the house. He would be at my disposal during my stay, which was very convenient.
He entered the code to open the gate, drove up the short driveway, and stopped in front of the house. He rushed from behind the wheel to open my door, and I stepped out, looking around as he retrieved my luggage.
“Do you want me to take it inside?” he asked.
“Thank you, but I got it from here.”
I reached into my purse to get cash for a tip, and he held up his hand.
“Mr. & Mrs. Spencer paid me handsomely. No tips are needed while you’re here.”
“Oh. Are you sure?”
“Positive, ma’am. You have all my information. If you need me, I’m just a phone call away.”
“Thank you.”
As he returned to the vehicle, I entered the code into the keypad to open the front door, rolled my luggage inside, and locked the door behind me. Before moving further into the house, I looked around, taking in the beautiful view of the living room and kitchen.
I left my luggage at the door and walked around to get a feel for the space. It was very welcoming and smelled freshly cleaned. The windows were large, and the sunshine illuminated each room perfectly.
The kitchen was massive, which wasn’t surprising because cooking was one of my sister’s hobbies. The refrigerator was fully stocked with plenty of groceries. I wasn’t sure I’d use all of it during my visit, but I’d try.
There was a total of five bedrooms, two of which were primary with large, full bathrooms. One of the primary rooms spoke to me more than the other, so I went back to get my luggage and began making myself comfortable while I called to check in with my family.
“Hey, Eva. Did you make it okay?” my mother asked as soon as she answered.
“Yes. I’m at the house getting settled now. Ma, it’s so beautiful here, at least what I saw on the way from the airport.”
“I’m sure it is. Maybe me and your father will visit soon. They’ve offered a few times, but you know how your father is. He acts like Chicago is the be-all end-all, and there’s no place better.”
“I mean, Daddy ain’t wrong, but it doesn’t hurt to visit other places, especially places as beautiful as Barbados when it’s only twenty degrees in Chicago.”
“Ain’t that the truth. I’m worried about you being there alone.”
“I’ll be fine, Ma. I saw a car from the security company Lainey hired when the driver dropped me off. Where’s Daddy?”
“Somewhere around this house, hiding from me. I have a list of things I need him to do, but he’s not interested.”
My parents were both retired from corporate America, and my mother always had little projects for my father to do around the house.
He eventually did them because he would literally do anything to put a smile on her face, but he never missed an opportunity to give her the run around.
I think he enjoyed making her fuss at him.
“Ma, leave Daddy alone and let him rest.”
“I will, as soon as he finishes this list.”
We talked a while longer, and by the time our call ended, I’d finished unpacking and putting my things away. I’d be here for two weeks and refused to live out of my suitcases.
My stomach growled, leading me to the kitchen. While I looked for something quick to eat, I called my sister.
“Hey, Sissy! I got your location, so I know you made it,” she answered.
“Yeah, I’m here and unpacked. I just finished talking to Mama.”
“What’s she up to?”
“Worrying Daddy to death. Lainey, this house is beautiful. Have y’all ever thought about moving here?”
“Not really. The people we love the most are in Chicago, and we want the kids to grow up knowing our family.”
“I guess that’s true. I hadn’t considered that. It’s gonna be hard to leave paradise after two weeks and go back to that tundra.”
“It’s always hard to leave when we visit. Even your nieces wanted to stay longer the last time we were there.”
“Because they’re smart. Anyway, I just wanted to check in. Thank you so much for this, Sis. I feel better already, and I’ve only been here a few hours.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad we’re blessed to have the means to bless you. When you come home, you’ll be rejuvenated and ready for a fresh start.”
“And will! Love you.”
“Love you more.”
I ended the call and began to pull a variety of vegetables from the refrigerator. I had a taste for stir-fry and was happy to see I had all the ingredients I needed. I didn’t enjoy cooking as much as my sister did, but I could definitely hold my own in the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, I was seated at the table enjoying a bowl of stir-fry chicken and rice and a glass of wine. While I cooked, I played one of my favorite playlists, and instead of scrolling social media, which I was taking a break from, I continued vibing out to my music.
Once my stomach was full, I cleaned the kitchen and returned to my room to put on my swimsuit after deciding the perfect way to start my vacation was a quick dip in the pool.
A few minutes later, I was outside, catching the sun before it set, taking selfies in my revealing swimsuit that I’d post on Flikstagram in the future.
“Damn, I need a tan,” I mumbled as I looked through the pictures.
Since my skin was fair and I lived in Chicago, this was the time of year that my melanin betrayed me. From November until May, I was as pale as could be and couldn’t do a damn thing about it aside from vacationing in a much warmer climate.
“That’s okay. After two weeks of being kissed by this beautiful sunshine, I’ll be all good.”
I tossed my phone onto my towel, which was on one of the lounge chairs, and eased myself into the pool. It felt amazing, and I was certain I’d spend a lot of time here during my stay.
With another playlist setting a new vibe, I played in the water like the happiest child in the world, having the time of my life.
After doing a few laps and tiring myself out, I got out, dried off, and went inside.
I’d exerted so much energy, I was hungry again and planned to eat another bowl of stir-fry after I showered.
Once I had all my toiletries in the shower, I turned the water on to let it warm while I did my skin care routine.
It wasn’t extensive, and a few minutes later, I stepped into the shower.
I’d had braids for about a month and decided to keep them in for this trip.
I let the water run over them for a few minutes to rinse the chlorine and wondered if they’d last two more weeks.
Fresh out of the shower with my hair wrapped in a towel, I heard my phone ringing in the distance. I glanced around my room and didn’t see it, so I rushed out of my room, naked as the day I was born, and collided with a wall that wasn’t there before I showered.
The wall caught me before I fell to the floor, and as I steadied myself, with my breasts fully exposed and on display, in what I now knew were a strong set of arms, I panicked.
“Solo? Oh my God!”
I pushed him away, or rather, he let me push him away, and raced back to my room, slamming and locking the door.
“What the hell is he doing here, and why didn’t anyone tell me he was coming?” I whispered as if Solo was listening by the door.
I paced my room, still naked, trying to get over my embarrassment. After a few minutes, I slipped into some shorts and a tank top, wondering why Solo’s fine ass was in Barbados and in this house. Lord, are You testing me? If so, give me an ‘F’ right now.
“Was this planned? Did Lainey set me up?”
I continued talking to myself, asking questions that would only be answered if I retrieved my phone and called my sister. I approached my bedroom door, taking a deep breath before slowly turning the knob.
As I peeked through the crack, I didn’t detect any movement.
I took a chance, dashing to the kitchen, snatching my phone from the counter, and hurrying back to my room.
Once I was on the other side of the door, I leaned against it, breathing like I’d just robbed a bank.
On the way to my bed, I noticed the call I missed was spam before going to my sister’s contact and waiting for her face to appear on my screen.
“What’s up, Sissy? Everything okay?”
“Umm, no! Everything is not okay. Did you set me up?”
“Set you up? What are you talking about?”
“What is Solo doing here?”
“Solo? Solo as in Solomon Holmes?”
“Do you know another Solo? Yes, Solomon Holmes with his fine ass. Why is he here?”
“I have no idea. Semaj didn’t mention anything about Solo staying at the house.”
“Well, he’s here, and he saw me naked.”
“Wait! What?”
“You heard me. I thought I was here alone. After I showered, I heard my phone ringing, so I thought I was safe to grab it from the kitchen. I ran right into his chest and would’ve fallen to the floor had he not caught me.”
“That’s good.”
“No, Lainey, it’s not good. Did you not hear me say I was naked? He saw me in all my glory.”
“Did he look like he liked what he saw?”
“Seriously?”
“I am serious, Sis. Your body is banging.”
“Oh my God. I can’t with you right now. Can you please talk to your husband and find out what’s going on? I don’t want to be here with him and his wife—”
“I thought I told you they divorced.”
“Solo and his wife are divorced? Since when?”
“I don’t know. A few months, maybe.”
“What happened? I bet he cheated and is probably here with one of his jump-offs.”
She laughed. “No, that wasn’t it. Solo is a stand-up guy. Maybe you should ask him why they divorced.”
“I’m asking you.”
“Well, I’m not telling you.”
“See, that’s another reason I know you set this up.”
“Believe what you want, baby sis. I gotta go.”
“Wait! Hello! Lainey?” I exhaled, releasing the annoyance I had for my sister. “I can’t believe this.”
I was on the beautiful island of Barbados with Solomon Holmes .
. . fine, fit, chocolate, and sexy ex-NFL player, current sports analyst, and newly single.
This was destined to be an interesting vacation.
It wasn’t every day that I found myself in this kind of predicament, but my big sister told me to enjoy my company.
As I tossed my phone on the bed, there was a knock on my door. I got nervous because the man on the other side of the door had just seen me naked. He knocked again, and I finally gave him permission to enter, praying it wouldn’t be awkward.