Free Prima Donna by Keisha Ervin Page B

was the only one. But for the last three years of her life all she’d known was the love he’d shown her.
     
    After strolling the beach one last time, McKinley placed her orange, suede, peep- toe heels back on and headed to Hotel Victor for an early dinner. As she walked the sun was just starting to set when suddenly she spotted him. There he was, sitting on the edge of his silver, SL 65 AMG, with his left hand in his pocket, surrounded by his homeboys. Everything about him screamed heartbreaker and to keep it moving, but McKinley couldn’t take her eyes off of him.
     
    He was six feet, 190 pounds with skin the color of peanut butter. A blue Yankee’s cap cocked to the left covered his low cut, but enhanced his Asian-inspired eyes, chiseled cheekbones and soft kissable lips. She didn’t know if he had a girl, but visions of what they could be filled her mind. He was the type of nigga she wanted to wake up in the morning and cook breakfast for, forget her past for, shed tears for; but McKinley had bigger fish to fry. Like figuring out where she’d get her next buck from. Using the common sense God gave her, she made her way into the hotel’s lobby instead of giving into temptation.
     
    Hotel Victor was one of South Beach’s premier hotels. Their luxury suites, breathtaking views and spa treatments were one of a kind. McKinley especially loved their use of vibrant colors and modern furniture. Vix wasn’t just another South Beach restaurant, it was an experience. It provided artistry in every aspect of the restaurant, from the cuisine to their elegant paintings. The tables were made of beautiful marble slabs. Each one was stylishly decorated with vanilla tea candles and twenty-four karat flatware. There were a mixture of crème and mustard colored chairs, trimmed in brown. McKinley was seated at a table for two by the window, which was opened.
     
    A soothing breeze kissed her skin as she skimmed through the menu. Once her order was placed McKinley pulled out her cell to call her mother, but the sight of Jamil’s face on her screen brought her to tears. Overthrown with emotions, she threw the phone back inside her purse as well as her ring. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be like now that Jamil was dead.
     
    Not only was he her boyfriend, but her mentor and friend; so when the proposal of marriage came up, there was no way she could say no. But now, McKinley was on her own and with little to no money and forced to move back in with her mother. Unknowingly a tear slipped from her eye and she began to cry. Choking back the tears that filled her throat, McKinley got up and walked quickly to the restroom to gather her emotions.
     
    Once her emotions were in check she placed on a new coat of Chanel lip gloss and exited the restroom. On her way back to her table she locked eyes with the caramel thug from outside. Pleased to see her again, he strolled toward her with a smile. McKinley hoped and prayed that he couldn’t tell she’d been crying as he approached.
     
    “ How you doing?” He gently took her hand, fascinated by her facial features.
     
    “ Fine and you?” McKinley smiled.
     
    “ Better now.”
     
    “ Really?” She laughed.
     
    “ Yeah. So what’s your name?”
     
    “ McKinley.”
     
    “ Nice to meet you McKinley.” He looked at her in awe.
     
    “ Nice to meet you, too. . .”
     
    “ Koran.” He shook his head.
     
    “ My bad. It’s just that you look like someone I used to know.” Koran referred to his late wife, Whitney, who had lost her battle with cancer three years before.
     
    If it wasn’t for the height and weight difference, McKinley would’ve been a dead ringer for Whitney.
     
    “ I get that a lot.” McKinley chuckled.
     
    “ So umm. . .are you here with somebody?” Koran looked around. “I don’t wanna get you in trouble or nothin’,” he joked.
     
    “ You good, no actually, I’m here by myself.” McKinley stared him directly in the eye while