Page 136 of Tangled Hearts
That was all women wanted—to feel soft. Not just by making them a stay-at-home mom or paying all the bills… they wanted to feel soft knowing they were protected, cherished, revered, hailed, worshiped.
Feminine.
After dessert, Rock guided her to the inside where soft music floated from the live band. He took her hand, pulling her closer.
“Rodrick, you don’t dance.”
“Shiid, I can do a little two step. Look at that nigga over there.” They looked over to the white man dancing with his lady off beat.
Shakeisha snickered, falling forward into him. The wine had snuck up on her.
They moved slowly, his hand firm on her lower back. Shakeisha rested against him, finally letting herself enjoy being wanted this way.
“You know, I used to dream about this,” she confessed. “You picking me up, taking me out, treating me like I mattered. Back then, I was just the girl waiting for you to call after a long night or a fight with Knycole. I swear I’ll never do that again.”
Rock pressed his forehead to hers. “And you won’t. I’m not giving you that version of me again. You deserve better than waiting. You deserve this, shit.” His words were sincere but he understood her hesitancy.
Shakeisha searched his eyes, trying to find the lie, but all she found was sincerity. Her fingers laced with his. “You want me to believe you?”
“Don’t believe me,” he replied. “Just watch.”
“Nigga, nigga.” They rapped in unison like they’d planned it.
The two of them fell into their own little bop. The music was bland so they spent their night rapping songs in a hushed tone, becoming their own radio.
He pulled her in closer as he thought about the feeling in his chest. He’d never felt anything like it. He couldn’t even explain the feeling if he wanted to. He wondered if this was what Hov felt for Knycole. If so, he fully understood why Hov was willing to end a friendship over a girl.
Feeling what he felt, he was willing to bet it all that he’d beef with his granny behind Shakeisha.
“Rock, you okay?” Shakeisha’s voice pulled him out of his head.
Shaking it off, he nodded. “Yea. Did I tell you, I might’ve found a location?”
“No,” she punched his chest. “If you ain’t tell me, who you told?”
He laughed. “Chill. I told Cash and Noir the other day.”
“Oh, okay.”
He wrapped his arms back around her, still swaying to the music. “That’s all you got to say?”
“Yea. I ain’t trippin’ on you still being friends with them. I’m not even trippin’ bout Knycole because I know her heart is tied up.”
“Damn. Straight like that?”
“Straighter than a muthafucka.” She whispered, falling into a fit of laughter, the wine was doing a number on her.
Rock only shook his head. He wasn’t tripping on what Shakeisha was saying. She had nothing to worry about but she was one hundred percent right. Knycole was tangled with Hov and regardless of him being in denial before, he knew the truth now. And if he was being honest, he wasn’t mad about it. He had who he wanted. Rock even loved the idea of having to wine and dine her. He’d never done anything like this but already had so many date nights mapped out in his head.
“But that’s all you got to say?” His thick brows bunched.
Shakeisha stopped moving and grabbed his face, just staring up at him. “Rodrick, I am so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do with it.”
“How you know I’m gon’ get it?”
She smirked. “Call it woman’s intuition.”
CHAPTER 32
