Hold Me in Contempt Read Online Free PDF Page B

always here for him. He knows that,” I said as calmly as I could. “Please forgive me,” I added sweetly before opening my arms for a hug.
    Tamika rolled her eyes at me again and looked to Leah. She tried to play hard for a few more seconds, but then she softened and halfheartedly accepted my hug.
    â€œFine. I’ll accept your apology. But don’t be late again. You’ve been late, like, the last three times,” she said dismissively, like I was one of her ex-boyfriends trying to get back in good with her. She was crazy as hell, but she was my favorite cousin. We both looked like our grandmother—had long, slender arms and dimples on either side of our lower lip.
    â€œI won’t be late anymore. I promise,” I said. “Hey, Lee!” I hugged Leah and gave her twenty dollars for Monk, who was away in Washington, DC, on a fifth-grade history-class field trip. Leah had been an out lesbian since Monk was born. She never let her hair grow beyond an inch and wore jeans and Adidases everywhere she went. She was twenty-six, but she only dated women in their forties. Still, she was just as unlucky in love as Tamika, and I couldn’t recall any affair she’d had that lasted past six months.
    â€œSo, how was brunch with Kent?” Tamika asked with her disposition decidedly changed. “What’s his ass up to?”
    â€œA whole lot of crazy,” I said, knowing I wouldn’t mention seeing Kim 2 and Ronald. Tamika felt she was responsible for the whole thing because she’d introduced me to Kim 2 and promised on the Bible that if she ever saw her again, she’d “beat her down to the white meat.” Now, considering Tamika’s age and success, that might sound like an idle threat, but being born and bred in Harlem, I had no reason not to believe it. If I even mentioned Kim’s name, we’d be in a cab riding back to the restaurant to try to find her.
    â€œEverything Kent does is crazy,” Leah pointed out.
    â€œWell, this is the craziest yet,” I said. “He claims he’s getting married.”
    â€œMarried? To whom?” Leah and Tamika asked together so loudly, all of the other parents who were standing in groups turned and looked at us quickly.
    â€œHe can’t be marrying Keisha. She’s . . . ​you know,” Leah said, looking at Tamika hesitantly before I could answer.
    â€œWhat? Keisha’s what?” I asked.
    â€œI saw her at the club a few weeks ago,” Leah answered, frowning a little. “She was with this dom I know named K.D. And I’ll just say this, K.D. likes turning bitches out. I wouldn’t be surprised if Keisha’s next.”
    â€œCome on, Lee. We both know plenty of straight women go to the gay club for entertainment only. I’ve gone with you before. That doesn’t mean she’s turned out by some butch named K.D.,” I said.
    Tamika looked away like I was in denial.
    â€œI guess the way she was grinding on K.D.’s lap was just for entertainment, too,” Leah said. “I’m not saying . . .  ​I’m just saying.”
    I stood there with my mouth agape for a minute as I added Kent’s sudden desire to marry his Latin lover to the equation. He’d loved Keisha since they’d met in junior high school, and she’d gotten suspended after taking the rap for his having stolen their science teacher’s wallet. They were one of those couples who lived to break up, but you always knew they’d get back together in the end.
    I told Tamika and Leah all about Kent trying to get me to pull some strings to get Lydia into the US. We had a good laugh and agreed there was no way he’d ever make it down the aisle to actually marry that woman. If Keisha was that open with her underground dealings at the club, there was no way someone from somewhere didn’t see what she was doing and send word to Kent.