Read Online Exit Strategy by L. V. Lewis - Free Book Online

way to my place, I tell Carmelo the whole story about Byron and the incident at Wicked. It seems like so long ago. I’d been there just to talk to Princess Danai about backing KSR so I could delve into what I’d believed would be a one-night stand with Tristan White, which backfired. I don’t share my intentions concerning Tristan that night with Carmelo, but he seems shocked when I tell him that Tristan was the one who saved me from Byron.
“Is White the most recent ex you mentioned earlier?”
I’m taken aback. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
“When you mention his name, your eyes light up like you’re speaking of some god-like character or something. It doesn’t take a lot of grey matter to figure that one out.”
“Oh,” I say, thoroughly at a loss for words. Who knew I was such an open book. I’ll need to watch that shit around Tristan.
“If you feel that way about him, why are you not with him?”
“It’s complicated.” And if I tell you the truth, I’ll break my NDA, KSR will be Tristan’s, and Jada and I will be in the poor house. Even my thoughts about the situation sound hopeless.
“Meaning he’s got commitment issues. Not surprising for a man of his net worth.”
“Believe me, he doesn’t have to fear for his net worth on my account.”
“I know that about you, Keisha, but he doesn’t. Old money always fears the women they meet are either going to be gold diggers right off the bat or the lifestyle to which they become accustomed is going to turn them into one.”
“That’s what prenuptial agreements are for.”
“Exactly.”
I let Carmelo entertain this fantasy he’s created about Tristan because I don’t have the energy to refute him. We talk more about old friends from DePaul on the rest of the trip to my place.
When Carmelo parks in front of my stoop, he turns to me. “Keisha, the night is still young. How about I make a liquor run and we hang out a while longer?”
“I don’t know ... that Byron altercation kind of wiped me out.”
“C’mon, that is exactly why you need to let loose and tie one on with me for old time’s sake.” He smirks. “I promise not to get you drunk and take advantage of you.”
Against my better judgment, I say yes. “But you don’t have to make a liquor run. Jada and I keep a stocked bar.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Carmelo says, rubbing his hands together gleefully. He jumps out of the car and is opening my door for me as I get my seatbelt off.
We decide to do tequila shots since the the drinks we consumed at Bordelo contained tequila. Neither of us is interested in mixing liquors and spending the rest of the night hugging the porcelain goddess. Carmelo is just as engaging as he was in college, and after a couple of shots, I’m hanging on his every word as he shares more stories about being on the road. It’s mind-boggling how many celebrities he’s met.
“No fair. You’ve got a head start on me,” I say. I scoot back on the sofa and hug my knees to my chest. I’ve replaced my heels with a pair of soft, furry slippers. “Give me and KSR another year, and I’m going to surpass you. You just hide and watch.”
“What? ‘Hide and watch’?”
I wave him off. “Oh, that’s some southern thing my mama says.”
He laughs. “How is Mama Beale, anyway? I’ll never forget those epic Sunday dinners we had over at her house when we were starving college students.”
“You men always lead with your stomachs,” I say, remembering Tristan’s first reaction to Mama’s cooking. “She’s fine. Or should I say, she’s more than fine. Mama and Pastor Johnson are getting married next month.”
“Not surprising. They always behaved like an old married couple to me, anyway.”
I shake my head and down my drink. I’ve got a strong buzz going. “Am I the only slow-witted fool who didn’t see this coming?”
“It’s the grown child denial syndrome. My dad had it with his mother. We all kept telling him that Deacon