I Can't Let Go

by Chenell Parker

  “Please don’t embarrass me Kimora,” Hassan said as he grabbed her hand and led her outside of the building.

  “Get your fucking hands off me!” Kimora yelled as a few people stopped to look at them.

  “You’re causing a scene Kimora. Just go home and we’ll talk about it later. The event is coming to an end. I’ll call you as soon as I leave,” Hassan replied as he kissed her cheek and walked away. He said something to the valet driver right before he tipped him and disappeared back into the building.

  “I guess you’re not welcomed here either,” someone said, making Kimora turn to see who it was.

  Harmony saw when Kimora and Hassan walked out of the building and she hid behind a banner so that he wouldn’t see her. She’d purchased her ticket months ago, but she wasn’t trying to be seen if she didn’t have to.

  “As if I give a fuck,” Kimora snapped.

  “You don’t sound very happy for a woman who just got engaged,” Harmony noted.

  “Don’t make me take my anger out on you Harmony. Please don’t,” Kimora begged as she opened and closed her fist a few times.

  “Just so you know, my affair with Hassan didn’t just start when I got hired. It’s been going on for months. I’ve known who you were for a while now. Your personal trainer, Glenn, is my first cousin,” Harmony admitted.

  Now it all made sense to Kimora. Glenn was always talking down on Hassan and now she knew why. Even still, it didn’t really matter too much to her.

  “Do you really think I give a fuck about that Harmony? If I did, I would have beat your ass when I saw you coming out of his office that day. Y’all did me a huge favor. I wish the fuck I would beef over a nigga who can barely get his dick up.”

  “There’s a reason for that too. It’s a lot that you don’t know.”

  “And it’s a lot that I don’t give a fuck about. Hassan is no longer my problem. You have a good night,” Kimora said dismissing her.

  A few minutes later, her car pulled up and she was fuming as she hopped inside. As she drove, Kimora called a twenty-four hour locksmith and arranged to have her locks rekeyed. Hassan had a key to her house but, after that night, he wouldn’t be able to use it. She didn’t care that she was calling after hours. She was ready to be rid of him and be with the man that she really loved.

  “You’re back early as hell,” Prince observed when she walked into the house. He was on the phone smiling hard as hell, but he ended his call when she walked in.

  “Unzip me. I have a locksmith on the way,” Kimora replied.

  “This late!” Prince yelled.

  “Yep. I don’t want that fuck boy nowhere near me,” Kimora replied, speaking of Hassan.

  “What happened?” Prince asked as he followed her to her bedroom. He kept his head turned as Kimora changed into some joggers and a shirt.

  “Can you believe that limp dick bastard proposed to me?” Kimora asked as she laughed.

  “The fuck did he do that for?” Prince countered, right as someone rang the doorbell.

  “I have no idea.” Kimora shrugged, right as she opened the door for the locksmith.

  Prince fixed them some drinks as Kimora’s locks were being rekeyed. She ran down the entire night to him as he laughed at how lame Hassan was. He told Kimora that he wasn’t the one the very first time they met. Kimora was so busy trying to do things differently that she didn’t even see it at first. All it took was Tino entering the picture again to let her see that she was only settling for Hassan. Then, when Kimora confided in him about Hassan’s bedroom issues, Prince knew that it wasn’t going to last long. She was too young to be with a man like that and he was surprised that it lasted as long as it did. Granted, Hassan was good to Kimora, but she didn’t need a man to take care of her. She made enough money to take care of herself. Even if she didn’t, Prince would never see her go without.

  “I’m all done. Here are a few keys for you,” the locksmith said once he finished. Kimora made sure the keys worked before she paid him and locked up her house. The house that she lived in didn’t have a back door, so she didn’t have that to worry about.

  “I’m tipsy as fuck and turning in for the night. You can go back to talking on the phone and lying to one of them dumb hoes,” Kimora laughed.

  “Not this time sis. She ain’t no hoe. Your boy is thinking about settling down,” Prince replied as she waved him off.

  After taking a shower, Kimora laid down and got ready to get some rest. She missed her baby and she couldn’t wait to see her in the morning. If she were being honest, she missed Tino too. They both called her multiple times a day, so she was sure that they were missing her too. Kimora had just drifted off to sleep when her phone rang. She didn’t bother looking to see who it was before she answered and she was pissed when she did.

  “Yeah,” Kimora said groggily when she picked up.

  “Can we talk baby, please?” Hassan asked, making her sorry that she didn’t block his ass.

  “Fuck you Hassan! No, we can’t talk now or ever. I told you from day one that I wasn’t the bitch for you to play with. I’m done with you and this relationship. And no worries, I’ll swing by your office soon to bring you your ring back.”

  Just thinking about it had Kimora annoyed. She snatched it off her finger and threw it on the dresser.

  “Is it really that serious Kimora? Okay, I’ll admit that I fucked up that one time and I’m sorry for lying about it. I’m just not used to you being away from me so much and I got lonely.”

  “You’re full of shit Hassan. I talked to Harmony and she told me what was up. You’ve been fucking that hoe long before you hired her but it’s all good. I was battling with myself about a few things, but you made the decision so much easier. Lose my number and the key to my house,” Kimora replied before she hung up the phone and silenced her ringer.

  She wasn’t worried about him showing up because his key no longer worked. Even if he knocked, he had to go through Prince first and that wasn’t happening. Kimora wasn’t even hurt by his betrayal. Maybe if Tino wasn’t in the picture she would be, but she was good. And that’s exactly why she snuggled under the covers and drifted off to sleep feeling better than ever.

  K imora thought she was dreaming when she felt something wet on her leg. Her comforter must have fallen because it was no longer covering her trembling body. When she felt her underwear being pulled over her hips, her eyes popped open to reveal Tino kissing in between her thighs while pulling her underwear down.

  “Good morning baby,” he smiled as he looked up at her.

  “Good morning,” Kimora replied as she lifted her hips to assist him. “Where’s Tina?”

  “At the house with my mama,” Tino replied as he lifted her shirt over her head.

  He called Kimora a few times, but she didn’t answer. He rented a car at the airport and they went straight to the Airbnb. Tina and Val were tired since their flight was so early, so they went back to sleep. Tino dropped his bags off and went straight to Kimora’s house. For some reason, he thought that Kimora was ignoring him because Hassan was there. When he pulled up, Prince was just about to leave in Kimora’s car. They were still helping Nita pack and he was on his way to her house. He let Tino in before he left, and he was happy that they had the house to themselves.

  “Lock the door. Prince is here,” Kimora said as she watched Tino undressing himself.

  “He left,” Tino replied as he lowered his body on top of hers.

  He didn’t care about Kimora’s morning breath as he pressed his lips against hers and tongued her aggressively. Kimora moaned as he kissed down her body until he came to her second set of lips. She hissed when he closed his mouth over her clit and sucked it delicately. Kimora ran her hands over the waves in his head as he ate her like she was his favorite food. She thrusted her hips upwards and rode his face like a wave. The familiar buildup in her belly let her know that she was close to the edge. The smacking noises that Tino made were turning her on and she pushed his face
in deeper.

  “Oh shit, Tino!” Kimora yelled when he lifted her legs high and made her feet touch the headboard. He ran his tongue from the crack of her ass to her clit and she was going crazy. Kimora couldn’t move with the position he had her in and that was his goal. Tino was like a wild animal as he moved his head up and down then side to side rapidly. Kimora was happy that Prince was gone because she was screaming like he was killing her. When he lowered her legs, he flipped her over and started eating her from the back. Kimora was ready to tap out, but he stopped before she could. He came up for air, but he wasn’t done.

  “Fuck,” Tino moaned when he entered her from behind.

  He grabbed Kimora’s hair with one hand and wrapped his other hand around her neck. He pulled her head back and gave her a sloppy kiss before he started stroking her. His thrusts started out slow and steady. After a while, he started fucking her like a savage, making the headboard bang against the wall.

  “Oh, my God! Tino yes!” Kimora screamed as he pulled her hair and pounded her middle like a drum.

  “You need to bring your ass back home. You hear me!” Tino yelled as he stroked her into ecstasy.

  Kimora came again, so she couldn’t even answer him. She nodded her head, agreeing to whatever he said. She yelped when he flipped them over with her landing on top. Kimora’s back was to him as she planted both feet firmly and started riding him backwards. Tino alternated between smacking her ass and holding her hips.

  “Turn around. Let me see you,” he demanded.

  Without missing a beat, Kimora turned around and continued riding him like a professional jockey. Tino had his lips pinched in between his teeth as he watched her work. He pumped from underneath her as she bounced on him wildly.

  “I’m gonna cum again,” she announced while closing her eyes.

  “Look at me,” Tino ordered, making her open her eyes.

  The sex was great but looking in her eyes as she moved on top of him was even better. He felt her vaginal walls tightening around him and knew that she was about to cum. He was close too, so he grabbed her hips tighter and came at the same time as she did.

  “Shit,” Kimora panted as she collapsed on top of him. They were drenched in sweat and the sheets underneath them were soaked.

  “I missed you baby,” Tino said as he kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back.

  “I missed you too,” Kimora replied.

  “I thought I was about to come here and act a fool. You didn’t answer when I called, and I thought that nigga was here. You need to tell his ass what’s up,” Tino said.

  “Don’t even go there with me, Santino. We’ve been fucking like rabbits, but we still haven’t made anything official,” Kimora said as he climbed off him and out of the bed.

  “The fuck you mean? It was official when I slid up in you on Christmas night,” Tino replied as he followed her into the bathroom. Kimora started the shower and they both stepped in under the hot stream of water.

  “Stop acting like you don’t have some loose ends to tie up too. Avoiding Venus is not the same as breaking up with her,” Kimora noted as she washed her body.

  “That’s nothing to me and you know that,” he replied.

  “It’s not just that Tino. I’m not moving to New Orleans to live with you in a house that she has access to.”

  “Stop talking crazy Kimora. We were in the process of looking to buy a house before you left, and we need to make that happen. I want shit to be different this time around, but I need you to talk to me baby. Shit won’t always be good but running away won’t solve anything.”

  “I get it Tino. I was wrong for running but you know why I ran. How long are you gonna punish me for that?” Kimora questioned as she turned the water off and stepped out of the shower.

  “I’m not punishing you because I understand. I just don’t want it to happen again,” Tino said.

  “It won’t,” Kimora promised.

  “I love you,” he said as he pulled her close and kissed her.

  “I love you too,” Kimora replied.

  They continued to talk as they got dressed and made plans to take Val and Tina out to lunch. Tino grabbed her brush and went to look in the mirror.

  “The fuck is this!” he yelled when he picked up the engagement ring that Hassan had given her the night before.

  “It’s nothing. I’m giving it back,” Kimora swore.

  “That nigga is really trying to take my family,” Tino said as he laughed sarcastically.

  He never told Kimora, but he heard her and Hassan arguing on Christmas day. He was on the phone with Tina and he heard them loud and clear. His lame ass was pissed because Santina called him by his name instead of daddy like she used to. Tino made sure to put a stop to that and his baby was a fast learner.

  “Fuck him.” Kimora frowned.

  “The fuck made you even deal with his lame ass. I know it wasn’t the sex because the nigga can barely get it up,” Tino laughed, making Kimora look at him sideways.

  “I’m gonna kill Miko,” Kimora said. She already knew how he got that bit of info, so it didn’t even make sense to ask. She knew that it didn’t come from Autumn or Prince and they were the only other ones who knew. Knowing Miko, she told Dirty and he and Tino had a good laugh about it all.

  “It’s all good baby. My shit gets hard just by looking at your pretty ass. You don’t ever have to worry about that,” Tino replied as he kissed her.

  He and Kimora went to the house to get Tina and Val. Once they got dressed, they went out to eat and took Tina to a small fair that was in the area. When they got back to the house, they sat around relaxing and watching tv. When Dirty called, Tino got up and prepared to leave. He went to his suitcase and grabbed what he needed before he headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?” Kimora asked him.

  “I have some business to handle,” Tino replied.

  “What business? You don’t even know anybody here,” Kimora pointed out.

  “I’m a businessman baby. New business is everywhere.” Tino winked as he walked out of the front door.

  He hopped in his rental car and put the address that Dirty gave him in the GPS. It took about fifteen minutes before Tino pulled up to his destination.

  “Can I help you?” a young girl asked when Tino walked into the building. She licked her lips lustfully but she was wasting her time.

  “Nope,” he replied as he kept walking to the back without a second glance.

  “Hello. How can I help you?” an older gentleman asked politely when he saw Tino walk up.

  “I’m here for your boss,” Tino replied as he walked into Hassan’s office.

  “Wait! You can’t go in there. Mr. Forbes is at lunch,” the man replied as he followed him inside.

  “I know and I’ll be in here waiting when he gets back,” Tino replied as he pushed him out and closed the door behind him. He looked around the office and frowned at all the pictures of Kimora and Tina that were strategically placed everywhere. He picked up one of the pictures on the bookshelf and sat down as he studied it closely. Tino was on a mission, so he sat back and relaxed until Hassan decided to show up.

  “Bitch, I know you’ve gotten my previous messages. You and I both know that I’m the wrong nigga for you to play with. You got twenty-four hours to call me back or that’s your ass,” Hassan fumed as he left yet another message on Harmony’s phone.

  Harmony was a bold bitch to even think about crossing him. Truthfully, she was the first and he was determined to make her the last. The Forbes’ were not the kind of family that you wanted to be your enemy. Hudson didn’t win elections just by pure luck. He always had dirt on his opponents, just in case he needed it. A few times, candidates would drop out of the race before it even began. They were too afraid of their dirty laundry being exposed. Hudson wasn’t squeaky clean either, but no one ever dared to bring up his past against him. Harmony got some heart from somewhere but she should have known better.

  Hassan kne
w everything about everybody in Carmel, so she knew that she couldn’t hide for long. Just like him, Harmony was born and raised there and so was her entire family. She knew that he went to great lengths to get what he wanted and what he wanted most was Kimora. Things were already going downhill and Harmony’s confession of their ongoing affair only made things worse. He didn’t know if it would help or not, but he needed her to at least try talking to Kimora again. Maybe tell her that she was bitter and lied or say anything that would make things better between them. It seemed as if their relationship wasn’t the same since she ran into Santina’s father again. She became distant and Carmel seemed like the last place that she wanted to be.

  Hassan and Kimora always discussed marriage and he just knew that his proposal would make her happy. Instead, it seemed to push her further away. Being married was what every woman in Carmel wanted but Kimora was different from all of them. They didn’t leave when their men cheated. They hung in there and worked it out. His mother caught his father with his pants down several times and leaving never even crossed her mind. Had Hassan known that Kimora was flying in that day, he would have met up with Harmony outside of the office like he usually did.