I Can't Let Go

by Chenell Parker

  “Okay, you can look now,” Tino said as he stood behind her and hugged her from the back. When she looked down, Kimora’s eyes bugged when she saw a huge orange bow on top of a brand new black beamer. Dirty had come through and dropped it off early that morning like he asked him to.

  “Oh shit! Are you serious?” Kimora asked.

  “Happy birthday baby.” Tino smiled, right before she jumped into his arms and kissed him.

  “Thank you boo! I love it!” Kimora yelled excitedly.

  “Yep and I love you. But I’m sure you know that already after all this time,” Tino replied.

  “I love you too. I’m not even hungry no more. I’m about to get dressed and go stunt on these hoes,” Kimora said, making him laugh.

  “Handle your business but don’t come back too late. This is home for us for a few days,” Tino replied. He needed to go handle his business with Venus, so he was cool with it. He could always get food delivered for them later.

  “Okay,” Kimora said as she went back inside to get dressed.

  “Hold up before you get dressed,” Tino said as he dropped his shorts and boxers. Kimora smirked but she already knew what he wanted. He was hooked already but she had no complaints. He was teaching her a few things and she was having fun learning.

  About two hours later, Tino pulled up to the house that he shared with Venus. He spent a little time helping Kimora get familiar with her car before they went their separate ways. He sighed as he ran his hand through his waves. He wasn’t in the mood to argue but he already knew what it was. He was going to be honest with her and he knew that Venus wouldn’t take it too well.

  When he walked into the house, Venus was sitting on the sofa drinking a glass of wine. She was a great cook and the smell of a home cooked meal greeted him as soon as he walked in. Usually, she would be up fixing him a plate by now but she just sat there and stared at him like she was waiting for him to say something. Tino took a seat on the sofa that was across from where she sat, ready to get it over with.

  “Are we gonna talk about where you were last night or are we gonna sit here and stare at each other? Nah, scratch that. Where you were is irrelevant. I wanna know who you were with. Judging by the passion marks on your neck, you seem to have had fun,” Venus said as she looked at him expectantly.

  “I was with Kimora,” he replied honestly, making her heart drop. For some reason, Venus assumed that he was with his ex, who he still messed with sometimes. Hearing that he had spent the night with Kimora was even worse.

  “I can’t even say that I’m surprised because I saw it coming. Shit, I’m surprised that it took this long for it to happen. You got it out of your system so you should be good now.” Venus frowned as she downed her glass of wine and poured herself another one.

  “There was nothing to get out of my system. Being with her wasn’t a one-time thing,” Tino admitted.

  “Meaning what?” Venus questioned.

  “Meaning just what I said. It’s not just about sex with her. Feelings are involved and I can’t just walk away like that,” Tino said.

  “So, what exactly are you saying Santino? You trying to be with that lil bitch or something?” Venus asked.

  “Don’t disrespect her,” Tino said, defending Kimora. “And, yeah, I do wanna be with her.”

  “Are you serious right now? You’re really sitting here telling me that you want to be with somebody else? All these years we’ve been together and this is how you do me,” Venus fumed.

  “Would you rather I lie? If I would have fucked with her behind your back, that would have been something else that I was wrong for. Nigga can’t win for losing. I’m being as honest as I can be right now,” Tino said.

  “No, you’re a fucking liar! I asked you more than once if you were dealing with her and you swore that you weren’t. Now, you expect me to believe that all of sudden you want to be with her!” Venus stood up and yelled.

  “I’ve never lied to you about anything. I wasn’t dealing with her then but it’s not like I didn’t want to. I’ve been knowing her for a minute, so these feelings didn’t just come about suddenly. I’m trying to do this shit right and keep it real with you. I’m not trying to be playing games and juggling two relationships.”

  “Since when? You’ve never cared about being faithful to me,” Venus pointed out.

  “Well, things changed,” Tino replied.

  “What does this mean for us?” Venus asked as if she wasn’t comprehending what he was saying.

  “Look, I’m not trying to leave you stuck out, so I got you on the bills until you get straight,” Tino replied.

  Venus was a certified nail tech and she had her own nail salon a few years ago. She was too busy following behind Zoe trying to be a kept bitch, so she didn’t want to work anymore. Tino had no problem taking care of her as long as they were together but that would only last for so long. He would never disrespect Kimora by taking care of his ex while they were together. The way her attitude was set up, she wasn’t gonna let him even if he wanted to.

  “Wow. I guess that means you’re moving out,” Venus said while shaking her head.

  “What did you expect? I’m telling you that I want to be with somebody else. Why would I continue living here with my ex? I’m gonna look for me another spot and I’ll come get all my shit as soon as I find one,” Tino replied.

  The house they were renting was in her name, so he was good either way. Now, he was happy that his family had talked him out of buying a house with her when he wanted to. He didn’t have anything tying him to her and that made leaving even easier.

  “So just that quick, I’m your ex now. Fuck you, Santino. Straight like that. I’ve been good to you over the years and I deserve better. But, what I won’t ever do is beg a nigga to be with me. Don’t do me no favors boo. You can get your shit and get the fuck up out of here right now. I’m good,” Venus said as she fought back her tears.

  She was hurt but she would never give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Never in all her thirty years of living had a man ever broken up with her. What hurt even more was the fact that she didn’t see it coming. She and Tino’s relationship was fine and she had no idea that he was unhappy. It was all good though. Kimora was a damn fool if she thought she was going to be the only one. More than likely, he would be back to fuck Venus, just like he did with his ex. And as much as she loved him, Venus knew that she would let him.

  Tino got up and walked to their bedroom to pack. He felt bad about hurting Venus but he wanted to be happy too. Kimora did that for him and he couldn’t remember ever feeling like that before. He couldn’t wait to cuddle with her at night and wake up to her every morning. He wanted to love her the right way, something that he’d never done with Venus or his ex.

  Tino sent Dirty and his uncle Corey a text telling them that he needed their help. He wasn’t prepared to leave the same day, especially since he and Kimora hadn’t found anywhere to go just yet. It was cool though. His parents’ house was big enough to accommodate fifty people and Val would love to have him and Kimora there, even if it was temporary. Once Tino had everything packed up, his cousin and uncle helped him carry everything out. He gave Venus the keys before he left and headed to his mother’s house. As soon as the door closed behind him, Venus let the tears that she’d been holding back fall freely. There was no doubt in her mind that she would bounce back. She just didn’t know which one of the Lopez men she would bounce back with.

  K imora moaned. She was flipped upside down in Tino’s arms with her brown and blonde highlighted hair almost touching the floor. His hands squeezed her soft, plump ass while her thighs were positioned on both sides of his neck. Tino savored her while she sucked him expertly, just like he’d taught her to. She felt light as a feather in his arms as he made circles around her clit with his tongue. Two years later, he and Kimora’s sex life was like something straight out of a porno. The student had become the teacher and Kimora had him hooked like a dope fiend. Once she came for the
third time, Tino lowered her onto their bed and flipped her over on her stomach. Kimora arched her back and waited for him to slide up in her from behind.

  “Shit! And they wonder why a nigga be going crazy,” Tino said once he entered her.

  Kimora was as tight now as she was when he first entered her two years ago. At twenty years old, her beauty only intensified, the same as his love for her. Some said that Tino was obsessed and maybe he was. Never in his twenty-four years had another woman even came close to making him feel like Kimora did. He couldn’t even explain it but, for the past two years, she was the only woman that his dick had been inside of. She was the first woman that he didn’t cheat on and he didn’t have the desire to. Kimora was his life and he made sure to let her know exactly how he felt.

  “Throw that ass back,” he hissed while slapping Kimora on her ass. Kimora started backing up into him as he grabbed her hips and gave her long powerful strokes.

  “Yes baby! Fuck me!” Kimora yelled as he hit all of her spots and drove her crazy.

  “Ahh, fuck!” Tino moaned as she tightened her pussy muscles on him and moved back and forth. He grabbed Kimora’s hair and yanked her head back and gave her a sloppy kiss. He bit down on her lip, making her moan into his mouth.

  “Ooh,” Kimora moaned when he started fucking her harder. She buried her face into the mattress as he drilled into her deeper.

  “You trying to have my baby?” Tino asked as he grabbed her hair tighter and licked her ear.

  “Ugh, shit, yes baby!” Kimora yelled, telling him what he wanted to hear. She was cumming again and she held on tight to the sheets as Tino continued to stroke her.

  “Fuck!” Tino yelled as he wrapped his hand around her neck and released his seeds inside of her.

  “Damn,” Kimora said as she collapsed in the bed with Tino falling right on top of her.

  “That might be some twins right there,” Tino laughed as he kissed the back of her neck.

  Tino had been begging her for a baby since they moved into their townhouse two years ago. They ended up staying with Val for about three weeks before they got a place of their own. Kimora had recently gotten her associate degree in paralegal studies and she was taking online classes for her bachelor’s. Tino already had his bachelor’s in information technology and he was taking online business classes. He’d opened up two hookah bars that his brothers ran for him and he was ready to buy Kimora a house.

  “Don’t forget to put my license plate on my car before you leave. My temp tag expired yesterday,” Kimora reminded him.

  She and Tino had celebrated their birthday in Dubai the month before and she came home to a brand-new Mercedes truck. That was her third car since he got her the BMW for her eighteenth birthday. The year before, she had a Range Rover and celebrated her nineteenth birthday in Italy. He always sold her previous cars and let her keep the money. Val stopped doing her yearly celebrations after Tino practically begged her to. It was cool when he was younger but he enjoyed spending time with Kimora instead.

  “I got you baby. What are you getting into today?” Tino asked, pulling her away from her thoughts.

  “I need to hit up the nail salon but that’s about it,” Kimora replied.

  They laid around and talked for a while before they got up and took a shower. Once they were dressed, Tino put the license plate on her car while she straightened up their room.

  “I’m going shoot some hoops but I wanna go out to eat tonight,” Tino said as Kimora stood in the mirror to comb her hair down.

  Kimora cooked for him sometimes but he wasn’t in the mood for what he knew she’d make. He didn’t miss Venus at all but he did enjoy her home cooked meals. Kimora wasn’t too skilled in the kitchen but he appreciated her efforts. He was sure that his arteries were probably clogged up because she fried damn near everything that she cooked. Fish, shrimp, chicken and burgers were really the only things that were ever on the menu. And no matter what she decided to fix, French fries was always the side dish. Still, Tino smiled and dug in whenever she sat a plate in front of him.

  “Okay, I might go hang with Prince for a while once I’m done,” Kimora replied as they walked out of the house together. Since he knew their history, Tino never had a problem whenever she and Price did anything together. Kimora didn’t get to see her best friend as often as she used to because Tino got all of her free time.

  “I love you baby,” Tino said as he opened the door for her to get into her car.

  “I love you too,” Kimora said as she kissed him and started her car. As soon as she drove off, she called Prince to see if he wanted to roll with her.

  “What’s up sis?” Prince asked when he answered for her.

  “What’s good with you? You trying to roll me with today or what?” Kimora asked.

  “That nigga let you out of his sight. Hell yeah I’m rolling with you. Ain’t no telling when I’ll get another chance,” Prince joked.

  “Stop lying nigga. I might not see you every day but I make sure we talk,” Kimora noted.

  “I’m just fucking with you, sis. I know you love me if nobody else do. I just got dressed so I’m ready,” Prince said.

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes,” Kimora replied before she hung up. She called and talked to Miko for a while and got some gas before she pulled up to Prince’s apartment.

  “Where are we going?” Prince asked when he got into the car and buckled up.

  “The nail salon,” Kimora laughed.

  “Hell no Kimora. I wish you would have told me that shit before you picked me up,” Prince complained.

  “That’s why I didn’t tell you. I don’t understand why you just won’t try it. Tino gets pedicures with me all the time,” Kimora said.

  “That don’t mean shit to me. That nigga will battle the devil in hell for your soul if he had to. I’m not with muthafuckers playing with my feet. Shit seems mad gay to me.” Prince frowned.

  “There is nothing gay about a man being well groomed. And trust me nigga, you need it,” Kimora said.

  “The fuck you trying to say?” Prince asked.

  “Your shit is rough and you always trying to wear slides. Come on. Just try it one time, my treat. If you don’t like it, I won’t bother you again,” Kimora swore as they pulled up to the nail salon.

  “Alright man,” Prince sighed while getting out of the car.

  He was happy that the place wasn’t crowded and they didn’t have to wait. He and Kimora took the last two pedicure chairs and put their feet in the warm water. Prince had to admit that he was enjoying it already. The water felt good as hell while the chair was massaging his back. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes until he felt a presence in front of him. The workers were setting everything up to get started but they had him fucked up.

  “Fuck no Kimora! I know dude ain’t trying to touch my feet!” Prince yelled when the man took a seat in the small chair in front of him.

  “Excuse me. Can you do him and let the man do me?” Kimora asked the lady who was about to start on her.

  She really didn’t understand until another worker who spoke better English walked over and explained. Prince visibly relaxed once they switched places. He couldn’t even lie; Kimora was on point and he was happy that she convinced him to come. The shit felt amazing and he wanted to ask her when she was coming back.

  “Damn,” Prince sighed when the nail tech started massaging his feet.

  “I told you,” Kimora laughed.

  “Ole girl bout to make me propose to her ass. She don’t have to speak English. Doing shit like this will have me cashing out on her lil ass,” Prince said as Kimora laughed at him. She convinced Prince to get a manicure too and he was all smiles once they were done.

  “Thanks sis. I gotta do this shit again,” Prince said when they stepped outside of the salon.

  “All you had to do was give it a try. I knew you would like it.” Kimora smiled.

  “Come on, let’s get a drink,” Prince said as he walked to th
e daiquiri shop that was two doors down.

  He ordered them a drink and they were on their way right after. He and Kimora hit up the mall and chilled with Miko for a while. Before dropping Prince off home, she ran him to the barber shop to get a lining. His barber sat him in the chair as soon as he walked in, so Kimora sat in there and waited with him. Once he was done, they went to the gas station next door and grabbed a few snacks. As soon as they walked to the car, Prince stopped and frowned at a woman who was walking over to him.

  “Who is that?” Kimora asked.

  “That freaky bitch Marisa. I hate that hoe,” Prince fumed.

  Kimora had heard about her before but she had never seen her. Prince hadn’t dealt with her since he got her pregnant about three years ago. He was trying to make her have an abortion, but she refused. God must have not wanted him to become a father either because Marisa miscarried when she was only three months. Prince didn’t even want to deal with her after that but she tried for a while. He hated running into her anywhere because she was always on some bullshit.