I Can't Let Go

by Chenell Parker

  “I didn’t even say shit,” he laughed.

  “You didn’t have to say anything. I saw the way you were looking,” Kimora noted, right as her phone rang. She answered for Miko as she continued to frown at her man.

  “Are you busy sis?” Miko asked.

  “No, I’m good. What’s up?” Kimora countered.

  “Dirty has to handle some business and I just had to drop my car off at the shop. The damn water pump went out. Can I use your car for a few hours?” Miko asked.

  “Yeah, you can use it. Do you need me to drop it off to you?” Kimora asked.

  “No, Dirty is about to run me over there,” Miko replied.

  “Okay, let me know when you’re outside,” Kimora said before she hung up.

  “Why can’t you wear some jeans and a shirt?” Tino asked, picking up the conversation right where they left off.

  “I want to be comfortable. All we’re going to be doing is eating. I’ll end up having to unbutton them anyway when they start cutting off my circulation.” Kimora frowned.

  “That’s because you got all that ass,” he laughed.

  “What’s wrong with what I have on?” Kimora asked.

  “Nothing is wrong with it. You look good baby. I just hope I don’t have to knock nobody the fuck out.” Tino frowned.

  “That’s your family Santino,” Kimora reminded him.

  “That don’t mean shit to me. Come on. We’re leaving after Miko gets the car,” he said as he helped her up from the bed.

  Tino’s entire family was in town and they had their family reunion the day before. Now, his uncle Miguel and Zoe were doing something at their house and everyone was meeting up over there. Tino’s grandmother didn’t visit very often because everybody usually went to her. She was staying with Val for two whole weeks and they were all excited.

  Once Miko left with Kimora’s car, they left and headed to his uncle’s house. It only took them about fifteen minutes to get to their destination and it was already crowded by then.

  “Damn. It looks like another family reunion,” Kimora said once they pulled up to Zoe’s house.

  There was nowhere for them to park, so Tino blocked someone in. They got out of the car and he grabbed Kimora’s hand before they walked into the yard. They stopped and spoke to a few people who were in the yard before they made their way inside the house. Venus was the first person they saw, and she frowned as soon as she laid eyes on them. Kimora smiled at her just like she always did.

  “Hey my babies. Don’t worry about her being here. Y’all already know how Zoe is,” Val whispered as she nodded towards Venus.

  “That don’t have nothing to do with us.” Tino shrugged.

  “Sit down while I fix y’all something to eat,” Val replied before she turned and walked away.

  They spoke to Tino’s grandmother first before taking a seat in two unoccupied chairs. A few minutes later, Zoe walked into the room looking upset, followed by her husband.

  “Hey y’all. Kimora, I love that dress,” she said, quickly putting a smile on her face.

  “Thanks girl.” Kimora smiled.

  “What’s up Zoe? You good?” Tino asked.

  “Yeah, I’m okay,” Zoe answered.

  She was pissed but she would never say that to anyone else. She was tired of her husband’s family always getting in their feeling when it came to Venus. Zoe wasn’t the messy type, but she wasn’t about to put her friend down just because some of them didn’t like her. She and Venus had been best friends since the fifth grade, and she knew her long before she knew any of them. Zoe and her sister didn’t grow up privileged like a lot of girls their age. Her parents loved dope more than they loved them and it was Venus and her family who made sure that Zoe was straight. They got her school uniforms, supplies and made sure that she had everything else that she needed. Most days, she was at their house more than she was at her own. A substitute teacher at their school took her sister under her wing and made sure that she was straight too. Both their parents died of a drug overdose a year apart and they didn’t even cry.

  When Venus’ parents died, Zoe grieved as if it were her own. They loved her like she was their second child and Venus was like her sister. Miguel knew of the bond that Venus and his wife shared, so he never really tripped when she was around. One of his people must have complained because he pulled her into their bedroom and told her something about it. Zoe didn’t agree with how Venus was going through the men in their family, but she was grown. None of them turned her down, so they were just as much to blame as she was. More than likely, it was Val who said something since she seemed to be the only one who hated her. Tino had moved on and Zoe wanted her sister-in-law to do the same. Zoe didn’t invite her to the reunion because that would have been going too far. But she wasn’t about to let nobody tell her who she could invite to her own damn house.

  “You lucky I don’t have my car. I would have gotten my gun from the glove box and been shooting at your dog ass right about now,” Kimora said as she frowned at him.

  “For what?” he looked up and asked her.

  “Who do you keep texting like that? I’m right here nigga,” Kimora snapped.

  “Calm down baby. It’s business.” Tino smiled.

  “Yeah, okay.” Kimora frowned as she got up and walked off.

  Tino didn’t handle business over the phone, so she knew that was bullshit. Unless it was her, he barely even texted at all. She didn’t want to cause a scene, so she left it alone for the moment. She walked down the long hall in Zoe’s house and went to her tv room. One of Tino’s cousins was in there trying to put her baby to sleep, so Kimora sat down and talked to her. The baby didn’t seem to be tired and Kimora was happy. She was all smiles as she held the baby when Tino walked into the room a few minutes later.

  “What’s up lil mama?” Tino smiled as he played with his little cousin.

  “You need to let me babysit one day, Kelsey,” Kimora said to the baby’s mother.

  “I’m always looking for a break honey. All you have to do is say the word and I’ll pack her up and drop her off,” Kelsey laughed.

  “When you gon’ stop playing and give me one?” Tino asked her.

  “Never with your sneaky ass.” Kimora frowned.

  “Come here and let me talk to you right fast,” Tino said as he stood up from the sofa. Kimora handed the baby back to her mother before she got up to follow him.

  “What?” she asked when she walked into the hallway.

  “Stop playing with me girl. You always think a nigga trying to be sneaky. I’m trying to handle business,” Tino said as he pulled her into a hug.

  “Don’t try to play me for a fool Santino. You don’t do shit over the phone. Keep playing games if you want to. I know how to play a few too,” Kimora replied as she tried to walk away.

  “Get fucked up if you want to,” Tino replied as he pulled her back and opened the bathroom door. He pulled Kimora inside and locked the door behind them. When he dropped his joggers, Kimora shook her head before he even said anything.

  “Hell no Tino. I’m not fucking you in these people bathroom. If you want it, you better take me home to get it,” Kimora said.

  “Girl, stop acting like we don’t do this shit all the time,” Tino laughed. Kimora was trying to act brand new but she already knew what it was. Nobody’s house was off limits when the mood hit them. They’d done it in Miko’s house, his parents’ house and Prince’s too. The thrill of getting caught made it even better.

  “I don’t care. I’m not cool with Zoe and your uncle like that,” Kimora noted. Zoe was cool and they always got along but Kimora was no fool. Venus was her best friend and that’s who she was loyal to. Even still, Zoe was never known to be messy or entertain drama.

  “Five minutes baby, please,” Tino begged as he slid his hand inside the front of her underwear.

  He had Kimora right then and there and she didn’t even try to fight him anymore. Tino pulled her underwear off and dropped his
boxers. He sat Kimora on the sink and position himself in between her opened legs. They both moaned when he entered, before Tino captured her lips in an aggressive kiss. He wasn’t trying to be in the bathroom all day, so he made every stroke count. He held Kimora’s legs in the crook of his arms as he drilled into her. She was moaning into his mouth, but he didn’t stop kissing her. He didn’t want them to be too loud, just in case someone was walking down the hall. Kimora wanted to scream but she had to remember that they weren’t in the privacy of their own home. She broke away from their kiss and started sucking on Tino’s neck. That was his spot and he loved to feel the softness of her lips.

  “Fuck baby. You feel so good,” Tino moaned as Kimora bit his neck before kissing it again.

  “Ugh, I’m gonna cum,” Kimora cried out as he went even deeper.

  Her nails dug into the flesh on his back as they continued to move in sync. Tino threw his head back and moaned as Kimora’s feminine walls closed in on him. When someone knocked on the door, he didn’t stop or miss a stroke. He didn’t know who it was and he didn’t give a fuck. They had other bathrooms in the house and they would just have to go find one.

  “Shit baby, I’m bout’ to cum,” Tino hissed into Kimora’s ear. Somebody was still banging on the door but he wasn’t in a hurry.

  Once he unloaded inside of her, they held on to each other as they tried to catch their breath. After a while, Tino pulled out of her and grabbed a towel from the cabinet. He cleaned Kimora up first and let her get herself together. Once he freshened up, he threw the towel away while Kimora fixed her hair. After they were both satisfied with their appearance, he opened the door and found Venus standing there.

  “It’s about damn time,” she frowned angrily.

  “The fuck did you stand there for? They got three other bathrooms up in this bitch. You should have used one of them,” Tino snapped.

  “This is the guest bathroom. Zoe wants everybody to use this one. You should have gone to your own house to fuck,” Venus said.

  “Girl, stop acting like you don’t know how good that dick is. I couldn’t wait and my man never turns me down. Women your age still fuck in the bedroom, so you probably can’t relate,” Kimora smirked.

  “Too damn nasty,” Venus fussed as she sprayed air freshener in the bathroom.

  “Girl, stop being petty. My baby shit smell just like strawberries. And it tastes like it too,” Tino replied with a wink.

  Venus was fuming as she watched them walk away, but he wasn’t lying. Kimora must have had some magical pussy because the entire bathroom did smell like strawberries. She didn’t know if it was her perfume or what. Maybe that was what had Tino so gone. Truthfully, Venus didn’t even have to use the bathroom. She saw them go back there a while ago and she wanted to be nosey. When she didn’t see them in the room with Tino’s cousin and her baby, she already knew what was up. Other than the washroom and a storage closet, the bathroom was the only other thing back there. It was crazy how Tino had changed right before her eyes. When they were together, she couldn’t pay him to do something like that. He was spontaneous with Kimora and she envied that.

  Once enough time had passed, Venus walked back to the front of the house in search of her friend. She saw Zoe standing there talking to Tino and Kimora and she walked right over to them.

  “You might want to sanitize your guest bathroom.” Venus frowned in disgust.

  “What?” Zoe asked as Tino and Kimora laughed.

  “Out of respect for you and your house, we’re about to bounce,” Tino laughed while shaking his head.

  “Thanks for everything Zoe. The food was bomb.” Kimora smiled as she and Tino walked away. It was getting late and the crowd was getting thin. They said their goodbyes to everyone before they headed home. As he drove, Tino got a message on his phone from Zoe. When he laughed, Kimora wanted to know what was so funny.

  “Zoe said that the bathrooms upstairs are bigger and we would have had more room,” he chuckled as he read the message to her. To show that there were no hard feelings, Zoe even sent a bunch of laughing faces with the text.

  “That bitch Venus is messy as fuck. I can see me having to lay her old ass the fuck out very soon.” Kimora frowned.

  “Why you always calling that girl old? She’s only thirty-two,” Tino laughed.

  “That bitch is old and worn out. Besides, I know it gets under her skin,” Kimora smirked as they pulled up to their house. Instead of getting out, Tino turned his body towards her and grabbed her hand.

  “I love you baby. More than I love my damn self,” he said as he looked at her.

  “I love you too baby,” Kimora replied with a smile.

  She thought it was strange when Tino first told her that he loved her more than he loved himself but she had grown accustomed to it now. Once they got out of the car, Tino let her open the door and he stood close behind her. When they got inside, Kimora tuned on the light and gasped as she looked around the living room. Her eyes watered when she saw all the balloons and gifts that were strewn around the room. It wasn’t any kind of special occasion but she still appreciated the gesture.

  “Aww baby, this is so sweet.” Kimora smiled as she hugged him and kissed all over his face.

  “Dirty hooked everything up for me. That’s who I was texting with all day,” Tino noted.

  “Thanks for clearing that up because I was looking at you sideways,” Kimora admitted.

  “I already know,” he laughed.

  “What’s all this for? I appreciate it but what’s the special occasion?” Kimora asked.

  “Just because I love you so much. That’s always a special occasion to me,” Tino replied as she grabbed the bags and started looking inside. Kimora was excited when she saw that he’d gotten her the Louis Vuitton purse that she had asked for. He got her a wallet and a few more things that she couldn’t wait to wear.

  “Thank you boo. I love everything,” Kimora said.

  “I got one more thing for you but you have to close your eyes,” Tino said.

  “Okay.” Kimora smiled as she did what she was told.

  Tino walked down the hallway and grabbed the last gift that he had for her. Kimora was still sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed when he walked back in. He took a moment to admire her beauty before he gave her the last and best surprise of the night.

  “Open your eyes,” Tino said.

  “My puppy!” Kimora yelled when she saw him holding the snow white Pomeranian puppy that she had asked for months ago. They were hard as hell to find and she had given up hope of ever getting one. Kimora took the puppy from him and he got down on his knee right after. Her brows wrinkled in confusion until she looked around the dog’s neck and saw a beautiful diamond ring hanging from its collar. Kimora’s hand went up to her mouth and her eyes watered with unshed tears.

  “I don’t have to make a big speech because you already know what it is. My heart don’t even beat right without you. Will you marry me baby?” Tino asked.

  “Yes baby, I’ll marry you,” Kimora replied, right before he pulled her close and hugged her. He took the ring off the dog’s collar and was about to slip it on her finger until he thought about something.

  “Read the engraving,” he instructed.

  “I can’t let go,” Kimora said, reading it out loud. His favorite song along with their birthday was engraved in the ring and she could no longer hold her tears. Tino slipped the ring on her finger as happy tears cascaded down her cheeks.

  “Do you like it?” he asked her.

  “I love it. I love all of my gifts but this is the best one. Oh, and my puppy.” Kimora smiled.

  “You remember what you wanted to name her, right?” he asked her.

  “Yes, Winter,” Kimora replied.

  “She’s paper trained and she already knows her name. I got her a cage and a few other things but we can go to the store to get everything else,” Tino noted.

  “My baby is about to fly as fuck. Hey Winter.” Kimora smiled as she
rubbed the dog’s back.

  “Don’t break me trying to dress a damn dog,” Tino laughed.

  “I got something for you too. I was trying to wait for the perfect time to give it to you but it doesn’t get more perfect than this,” Kimora replied.

  “Let me see it,” Tino said excitedly, right as the dog started barking.

  “I wonder what she wants,” Kimora said as she put the puppy down and watched her run down the hall. She went into her cage and used the bathroom on the puppy pad that was inside.

  “I guess they didn’t lie. The lil bitch really is trained,” Tino noted.

  “Don’t call her that.” Kimora frowned.