Page 80 of Tangled Hearts
Hov stared out into the distance. Darkness shielded the earth. Within seconds, a strange revelation came to him. The nighttime was his favorite time. His son was born at night, he fell in love at night, got the girl at night, killed at night, sold the most drugs at night—he was a nightwalker.
“Hov?” Nick called his name snapping him back to reality.
Hov took a sip of his beer before answering Nick. “I’m as good as I can be.”
“Heart hurt?”
Rubbing at his chest, Hov soothed his beating organ. “Man… more than you probably know.”
“Oh, I know youngin’. I’ve been on the receiving end of heartbreak and been the one to give it. That’s how I know the power my baby girl has over other people’s hearts.” Nick smirked.
“Who heart you done broke, nigga?” Hov sipped from the tall can again. This time, he was more at ease—loving where theconversation was headed. Hov’s old soul made him always want to tap into people’s origin stories. “I ain’t ever seen you with a woman. Had me thinking you played for the other team.”
Nick laughed at that. “Nigga please. Just cause you don’t see me don’t mean I ain’t got nobody in the cut. I’m a private nigga. Always have been.”
“Shit me too.”
“Not when it came to Knyc. You wish you would’ve did shit different with that whole situation?” Nick asked, resting his right ankle on his left knee.
Without hesitation, Hov said, “hell no. If anything, I wish I would’ve locked her ass away when Rock first got out.”
“Yea, I still don’t understand that.” Nick scratched his head. “I think all that has everything to do with me.”
“What you mean?”
“Shit, just what I said. Knycole know I did that foul ass shit to Rock and any man would want to get their lick back. To protect me, I think she reminding him of his love for her which means he’ll hesitate when it comes to doing me harm. I feel fucked up about it, honestly. I’m over my baby having to save me.”
Hov allowed Nick’s confession to sink in. He spoke nothing but the truth and it helped Hov’s heart feel better. Still, he hated the way his girl was willing to put her heart on the line for her father. “Then you need to fix the shit because I don’t know how long I can be without her, Nick. I ain’t even breathing the same… shit, my appetite gone and everything. If it wasn’t for Qua I’d be withering away in the house.”
“I ain’t the issue. That’s all you.”
“How, nigga?” Hov sat up, his brown eyes darkening.
“You let her ass walk away. I ain’t been in love that many times but I know I would never let my woman walk away gracefully.”
Hov scratched at his head because it seemed that had been the lecture everyone around him gave. Christian pretty much said the same thing. It wasn’t that he let her walk away, he just wasn’t in the business of making her stay or trying to force her hand. If he did that, there was a chance she’d straddle the fence and that would do more harm than good.
“But again, that’s all on me. I let the drugs get in the way of me taking care of my responsibilities which pushed her to seek out love from others.” Nick’s eyes misted. There wasn’t a day that went by where he didn’t regret the things he’d done.
The sound of music filled the silence between them.
Hov had no words for what Nick said. What could he say to the truth? They all came from a home that lacked love except for Noir. Hov, Rock, and Knycole’s homes weren’t warm and fuzzy. They didn’t wake up Christmas morning giddy from knowing Santa came. So, for what Nick said, Hov had no response. He knew he played a part in Knycole straddling the fence.
“So, what you gonna do?” Nick asked looking out into the trees.
As if she knew she was the topic of discussion, Knycole walked through the back door. “What you—” her words got caught in her throat when she laid eyes on Hov. His car was parked outside so she knew he was there but something about being in his presence stopped her world.
Standing to his feet, Hov backed her into the door.
Nick reclined back with a light chuckle. He never got in their business and let them work things out the way they saw fit.
Eyeing her, Hov licked his lips at the athletic two piece she had on. The pink complimented her brown skin and the ribbed material fit her perfectly. Her ass could be seen from the front.
“Quameek,” she panted sucking in air to fill her lungs since her whole body felt depleted.
“You miss saying my name?” He asked, his brown eyes piercing into hers. “Tell me you miss me, Knycole.”
She opened her mouth but before she could admit it, he had his tongue down her throat. The taste of cheap beer never tasted so good. A moan came out when his large hands gripped her ass. When he pulled away, she felt like she was going to die.
