Page 141 of Tangled Hearts
“I love her,” Hov admitted, voice steady. “Always have. Since we were kids, sneaking in places we shouldn’t. It wasn’t about hurting you—it was about not being able to fight it no more.”
Rock’s chest ached but he nodded. “I get it. I feel that same shit with Shakeisha. I ain’t handle her right either, but when I see her with our baby? That’s my heart.”
They stood in silence, watching their kids race to the back room, voices bouncing off the walls.
Hov spoke first. “We was thicker than blood, Rock. Losing you? That shit been hollow. Nobody else filled that space.”
“Same,” Rock admitted. “You the only one that ever knew me for real. That’s why it cut deep.”
Hov pressed his hand to the counter, leaning in. “I’m getting out the streets too. Got some units, some land. Real estate flipping, paperwork solid. I’m building for Qua.”
Rock gave him a long look. “You serious?”
“Dead ass.”
A laugh slipped out of Rock, shaking his head. “Man… you taking the nickname serious, huh? Nigga wanna be Sean Carter so bad.”
They both hollered.
“Aye, some shit just in you,” Hov popped his collar.
Rock agreed, his smile big again. “You always had something that made you stand above the average nigga ‘round the way. I’m proud of you, my nigga.”
Hov smirked. “Likewise.” They dapped each other up, tension melting off both of them the longer they held each other in a brotherly hug.
What sat between them wasn’t just old beef finally dying. It was proof that tangled hearts weren’t only about the girls they loved and lost. It was about the brothers who held them down when life spun out. About surviving enough pain together to know forgiveness mattered. Their bond wasn’t stitched by blood but by history, by mistakes, by loyalty that kept pulling them back no matter how far they drifted. Both of them felt it right then—the story didn’t end with women or war in the streets. It ended with them standing as men, choosing each other, choosing growth, and choosing legacy.
The kids came running back, Rodeisha tugging Qua’s arm. “Uncle Hov, can we stay? It’s big in here!”
Both men laughed, their kids bridging a gap words couldn’t.
Rock pushed his hands into his pockets. “We ain’t fixed everything. Not by a long shot. But I hear you.”
Hov slapped the keys in Rock’s hand.
“What day rent due?” Rock asked holding onto the keys.
Hov smirked. “Shit, nigga, you tell me… this yours.”
“What?”
“I’ll always walk beside you, nigga. Even when we let our pride keep us distant. You’ll always be here,” he tapped his chest. “This yours… I’ll have the paperwork drawn up for you to own.”
“Hell, nah,” Rock tried to hand the keys back.
“When we hit the streets running, we said we’d always do it together. This is our building something good for our seeds. Take it. I ain’t giving you nothing that shouldn’t rightfully be yours anyway.”
Rock’s eyes misted.
Hov pulled him back into a hug. “I love you boy and I’m sorry.”
“I love you too, nigga.”
CHAPTER 33
Knycole cameby late to drop Qua’s swimming bag off at Hov’s since he had lessons after school the next day. The goggles clinked against the zipper as she stepped inside. Hov was leaning in the doorway, shirtless with his sweatpants low on his hips.
Qua’s bag landed by the door, and her eyes cut to the hallway. “He good?” she asked.
