Finding Forever (4 page)

The atmosphere was ill-lighted and mysterious, but unusually sexy as Whitney crossed over the threshold and headed up the steps. Once she reached the top, a cornucopia of secrets and hidden treasures awaited. The main area of Brennan’s, where the bar was located, had a chic Parisian feel to it. The room was lit by soft yellow bulbs while the walls were made of exposed brick. On one side of the room was a huge window overlooking the Central West End. On the other side was a built-in fireplace and fully stocked wine cellar. An assortment of chairs made of different materials and leather benches filled the rustic space.

Whitney searched the crowd of unfamiliar faces and found Koran with a drink in his hand, looking directly at her. Just the sight of him took her breath away. Koran had that masculine thing down to a science. He was boyishly handsome, but there was still something about him that told her he wasn’t to be fucked with. He was five-eleven with an athletic build. His style was very current, but edgy. Koran looked absolutely delicious in a Yankee’s cap, v-neck tee, black vest and black dirty-wash jeans. Adorning his neck was a beautifully beaded black and silver rosary. To make his cycle complete, he wore a pair of black, gray and white Crea8tive Recreation high top sneakers.

A warm smile exploded onto Whitney’s face. The way Koran surveyed her physique with approval as she sauntered over to him let her know that she too looked amazing. Koran couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. Whitney was nothing short of hypnotizing in a sleeveless black baby doll dress, fishnet stockings, and leather ankle boots. Loose curls and a pair of dangling gold earrings surrounded her face, highlighted by M.A.C makeup.

“I thought I told you to be here at eleven,” Koran chastised her while hugging her tightly. From the glazed overlook in his eyes Whitney could tell he was drunk.

“I’m here now, ain’t I?”

“Oh, I see . . . yo’ ass tryin’ to be grown. Let me tell you something.” He pulled her closer so he could whisper in her ear. “Don’t make me fuck you up. Daddy don’t like when you don’t listen.”

“Koran, please.” Whitney laughed, pushing him playfully in the chest.

“You look nice.”

“Thanks.”

“Ay, but let me introduce you to a couple of people.” Koran escorted her over to where he and his friends were sitting. “This my boy, Sheek, and his gal, Ashley. That’s O, Brass, Jay and his girl, Lauren.”

“What’s up?” Everybody spoke at once.

“Hi.” Whitney waved back.

“I know you drinking tonight. What you want me to get you?” Koran asked.

“A Washington Red Apple, please.”

“Yo, O, go get my girl a Washington Red Apple.”

“Anything you say, boss,” the young solider replied in a sarcastic tone.

Whitney could see the hesitation in his body language as he got up and their eyes connected. Unlike the others he seemed to be bored and preoccupied, but when he looked at Whitney a glimmer of lust filtered into his eyes. Everything from the way her hair flowed over her shoulders to the way her dimples glowed in the light had him going.

“I thought you said you were going to get me a drink,” Whitney questioned, turning her attention back to Koran.

“I did get you a drink. I had him go get it.”

“You’re a mess.” She grinned, unconsciously wrapping her right arm around his neck and the other around his waist.

“On the real, I’m happy you’re here. It feels good to be spending time wit you like this again.”

“It feels good to me, too.” Whitney eased up and gave him a light kiss on the lips.

“What was that for?”

“’Cause, I missed you.”

“Tell me anything,” he teased as his cell phone began to vibrate against his hip. Koran checked the screen and saw that it was Trina.

“You ain’t gon’ answer that?”

“Nah, I’m good.” He pressed the end button, sending her call to voice mail.

“Excuse me, sweetheart, here’s your drink,” O interrupted.

“Thanks.”

“Let me know if you need anything else,” he stressed, licking his lips.

“Yo, my man, go have a seat. You doing too much.” Koran ice grilled him.

“Calm down. I was tryin to help you out.”

“Yeah, well, you helped.”

Koran wasn’t a fool. He was a man and a man knew when his woman was being hit on. A part of him couldn’t blame O. If he wasn’t with Whitney he would’ve tried to get on her, too. She was a bad girl. Any man would die to have her, but Whitney was his and only his. If O kept it up he would have to learn that the hard way.

“Koran,” Whitney shouted, getting his attention.

“What’s up, babe?”

“I know you’re not trippin’ off that.”

“Man please, I’m good,” he waved her off. “But hurry up and finish your drink. I’m ready to go.”

Five minutes later they left the bar. Outside, Whitney and Koran stood face-to-face, snuggled in each other’s arms. There were so many things Koran wanted to say as he took a glimpse into her buttery brown eyes. Whitney was impeccable. There was still so much about her that hadn’t been touched, yet so much that he wanted to explore. Fucking around with a nigga like him would only corrupt her life. Yet and still, she was the one he wanted to confess all of his sins to.

“You gon’ get a room wit me?” He kissed her lips softly as his cell phone began to vibrate again.

“I don’t know, Koran.” Whitney released her lips from his and observed the oncoming traffic.

“What I tell you about that?” He turned her face and made her look at him. “I’m right here. Stop running away from me.”

“I’m not running.”

“Yes you are. You been running for the past eight years, but I ain’t letting you get away so easy this time.”

“But what if I told you I’m afraid?”

“Don’t be. I got you, ma. I ain’t going nowhere.” Koran examined her face while running his hand through her hair.

Pleased to be in his presence, Whitney stood quiet for a moment. Everything seemed to be perfect. The moon was clearer and more visible than ever. Millions of stars twinkled, cramming the sky. A slight but tranquil breeze filled the air, whizzing over their bodies. Whitney wanted nothing more than to give in to Koran’s request, but the memories of what they once shared didn’t outweigh her current circumstances. This has to end, Whitney thought while closing her eyes. You can’t hurt him again, her conscious reminded her as he massaged her scalp with his fingertips.

Walk away now while you still can. But it was too late. Whitney had already fallen victim to his touch. Koran’s mouth and tongue were doing things to her neck that should’ve been illegal in all fifty states. In a matter of seconds she’d become submerged in his kisses. And, yes, they should take their time before jumping back into things, but nothing had changed. Koran still had a way of getting what he wanted without using force. She was his and he was hers. But Whitney was determined not to fall prey to his sly grin and charming ways.

“It’s time for me to go home.” She gathered her composure.

“C’mon, ma, come chill wit me.”

“Nah, I gotta get up in the morning. I’ma call you though.” Whitney quickly pecked his cheek before getting in the car.

Disappointed, Koran inhaled deeply so he wouldn’t get mad.

“A’ight, shorty, hit me up tomorrow.” He closed her door.

“I will.”

Finding Forever

It was six in the morning when Koran tiptoed into the house smelling like Patron. Drunk and high weren’t the words to describe how he felt. Koran felt like he was floating on air and, although he was tired as hell, he was determined not to pass out before grabbing something to eat. He was almost sure there was some leftover Lo Mein in the refrigerator. Flicking the kitchen light on he found Trina sitting at the table with her legs crossed. From the look on her face he could tell she was pissed, but all of that was beside the point. Koran wanted to know why the fuck she was up in his crib.

“Where have you been? I’ve been callin’ you all night,” Trina hissed.

“Are you conscious? What the fuck are you doing here?” he asked, shocked and confused.

“Evidently I’m here to see you.”

“How did you get in?”

“How soon we forget. You gave me a key, dumb ass.”

“I ain’t gon’ be too many more dumb asses and if I gave you a key why you ain’t give it back when we broke up?”

“What you think you can just come by my house when you please, but I can’t come over here? Koran, please, if you do think that you got life fucked up!”

“Where the fuck is yo’ son?” he stressed, throwing his hands up in the air.

“He at Mercedes’ house.”

“What I tell you about having him over there all the time? You know that bitch got a nasty house.”

“He a’ight. Malik know how to call me if something wrong! Now answer the question! Where the fuck have you been?”

“Man, fall back. You better gon’ wit that shit. I ain’t gotta explain nothing to you.” Koran sighed, dropping his keys on the counter.

“I ain’t better gon’ with nothing! Do you know what time it is? I’ve been callin’ you since twelve o’clock!”

“And?”

“And? Who the fuck you think you talkin’ to, Koran? What, you got some other bitch now? That’s why you actin’ brand new!”

“I’m going to bed,” he replied dryly before heading upstairs.

“Nah, don’t walk away! It must be true.” She grabbed him roughly by the arm.

“Ay.” He looked at her like she was crazy and then yanked his arm away. “What I tell you about puttin’ yo’ hands on me?”

“And what I tell you about tryin’ to play me crazy? Keep it, funky nigga! If you fuckin’ another chick let a bitch know!”

“Lower your fuckin’ voice!”

“I ain’t gotta lower shit! Fuck yo’ neighbors!” Trina pointed her finger in his face. “I’m tired of you doing me like this!”

“How the fuck am I doing you, Trina? You brought all this shit on yourself. Two months ago you was halfway out the door. You ain’t even want to be in a relationship. Up here lettin’ them crusty dyke lookin’ bitches you hang wit soup yo’ head up to cheat. You should’ve came and talked to me. I would’ve told you all that nigga wanted to do was fuck. But nah, you thought the grass was greener on the other side. So guess what, ma, I ain’t got shit for you.”

“So you just gon’ keep on throwing that shit up in my face?” Trina rolled her neck as her nostrils flared. “Yeah, I fucked up, but you ain’t just gon’ deal wit me when you want to! I’m tired of everything being on yo’ terms! You just ain’t gon’ continue to come see me and fuck me when you feel like it!”

“Trina, you cheated on me.” Koran placed his hands together as if he was praying. “I ain’t never fuck around on you. All I did was try to be a good man for you and a father to Malik. I hit the block daily so you could have your dream house. You wanted the new Z4 BMW, so I copped you one. Them diamonds in your ears came straight from Fred Leighton. You ain’t never have to worry about me out here fuckin’ some other broad, ‘cause every night I was at home dickin’ you down. You the one that wanted to fuck and suck another nigga. And not only that . . . you was giving that lame ass muthafucka my money. But you got the nerve to question me? Girl, you better take yo’ ass a time out in the corner and think about it.”

“You know what Koran? FUCK YOU!” Trina screamed as tears streamed down her face.

“Now you wanna cry? Trina, you got me fucked up. I ain’t got time for this shit. You better save them tears for somebody who will wipe ’em,” Koran barked, walking away.

“Koran, wait,” she begged, taking him by the hand.

“I’m tired. I just wanna go to bed. What is it, Trina?”

“Why can’t you just give us one more chance? Please? I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Trina felt as if her heart was stuck in the center of her throat as she stood and gazed into Koran’s eyes. Hours seemed to go by as she awaited his answer. He just had to say he would take her back. She’d learned her lesson. How much longer would she have to beg and plead? If given the opportunity, she was sure to do things differently. She wouldn’t take him through unnecessary drama just so she could get her way. She’d love him like he loved her, honestly and truly.

There had to be some love left for her in his heart. They’d been together too many years and shared too many tears for Koran to be done, for real. He just wanted to see her squirm a little bit. Yeah, that had to be it. There was no way Trina was all the way out of his system. Their relationship wasn’t over. How could it be when he still came over and made love to her at night?

Trina was willing to do anything to get back what she and Koran had shared. There was no way in hell she was letting him go without a fight. This was her show and, yes, Trina couldn’t give two fucks that she was second choice. She’d accepted it from the beginning. She didn’t care that she never saw a look of everlasting love in Koran’s eyes. That look was for one person and one person only, Whitney. Trina knew all about her and the undying love she and Koran had shared, but that shit was in the past.