After a random movie night with Vanessa and Carmen, we decided to walk around downtown Orlando. As we crossed, Church St., I maintained an awareness of my surroundings. At a glance, I saw a man looking at me, but I wasn't certain. I preceded to walk North on Orange Ave., and again, I looked back again to confirm... This time, this man is smiling and continues to stare. (Remember Lorretta Devine in Waiting to Exhale?)

I quickly encourage my girls to turn left into PourHouse to grab a $5 fireball beverage. I approach the bar alone and guess who was intently staring with a smile, 3 yards to my left??? You guessed it! WILLIS! As the gentleman I know of him today, he offered to buy me a beverage and I kindly said no thank you from a distance.

I departed from the bar and his cousin, Nick met me as soon as I approached my girls. He said, "My friend wants to buy you a drink". As I kindly said no thank you again, Vanessa intervened and said, YES she'll take one, with Carmen backing her up. - Of course I couldn't say no after the team effort.

I recall thinking to myself, "you never know how God's trying to bless you". I immediately asked him take a quick picture, he didn't hesitate, and I shared my number without him asking a question.

The next day, we met at my favorite breakfast/lunch spot and we talked for 3hrs after the restaurant closed on their patio. I knew he was something special from his intense stares, persistency, and engaging conversations.

7 years later we are here today in love, stronger than ever, and choosing each other. I honestly believe God brought us together and we are here today, now, and forever.

He is truly my best friend, my man, my fireball baby!

Willis may try to tell the story differently. Read on...

Not a different story, but an accurate "shorter" story....April is long winded. She should have said "I'm getting ready to close" about halfway. Hahaha.

Now for the truth...

While hanging in downtown Orlando during 2014 March madness with several IT cohorts, I told my cousin Nicholas "Nick" that we needed to Irish exit or what my uncle calls pop smoke because I was single and ready to mingle and walking around with 15 dudes was NOT helping.

Thirty seconds later, April and her girls passed us walking in the opposite direction. We waited a couple steps before popping smoke on the fellas and quickly turned around to catch up to the switching that was taking place....Yelp!

After making it inside the Pour House on the opposite side of the bar, April made a very clear gesture that she was interested. Nick agreed to walk through the crowd since it was packed and we were about 15 yards away from them. This way I could maintain eye contact just in case they switched locations or April wanted to play hard to get.

After they made it through the crowd, we exchanged contact information and parted ways.

To my surprise, April called after Church the next morning. We met and talked for hours. It was very uncommon (unicorn-ish) to meet someone professional that loved God, family, knew how to have fun, enjoyed intellectual conversations while also having so much in common. I knew April was different and possibly the one and her connection with my family months later sealed it.

Sitting on the shoulders of the wisdom from so many family members, mentors and friends I know that this is the best decision I have ever made and pray that God continues to bless April, me and our union.

KAIZEN

#onelove#itisso#loverainesforever#dobetter