Page 40 of Tangled Hearts

“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.

“Now, let’s try this shit again. Tell me you miss me,” Hov angled his head to get a better look at the girl of his dreams. He loved Knycole so much that he allowed her to make stupid mistakes like running back to Rock to stroke his ego. Her time was up, though.

Their time was up.

Hov was finally taking the gloves off and getting in the ring to fight for the girl he felt was for him.

He never wanted to take it there because Rock was his brother.

However, that friendship was severed, and they would never go back to what they were.

It could be an all-out war if that’s what Rock wanted.

“I miss you so fuckin’ much, Hov.” Knycole’s confession was all he needed to hear.

Lifting her into his arms, he took her into Nick’s spare bedroom. The way his dick was trying to bust through his jeans, he knew he couldn’t wait to get her to his house, so Knycole would have to get the coins fucked out of her in her daddy’s house. Wouldn’t be the first time either.

“How you plan on fixing this shit?” He asked before he nipped her collarbone.

“I—” she hummed at the pleasure and pain. “I don’t know how to fix it.”

“Easy… tell that nigga you made a mistake and I’m where your heart resides.”

“I can’t do that.”

Hov’s dick deflated, brown eyes slicing across her face like a blade. “Get the fuck away from me, Knyc… dead ass.”

Panic filled her eyes. “Wait, what?”

Hov was already turning his back on her.

She reached out to touch him but he snatched away like she had the cooties. “What do you want me to do?” Knycole wailed, her hands desperate to touch his skin.

Glaring at her, Hov couldn’t believe the scene before him. How was it that Knycole could be so self-centered that she didn’t know how to fix the shit she’d broken? “Fix it!”

“Hooowww?”

“Get up, Knyc.” His husky voice was low as his eyes cast down to her since she’d fallen to the floor. “You really doing too much right now.”

“I’m trying to talk to you… trying to understand how I can fix us.” Knycole sniffled, her big wet eyes piercing his soul.

Hov pinched his nose. “The fact you making this shit harder than it should be is telling me everything I need to know. Knycole, once I walk out this door, I will not ask you to choose me again… I will never beg for your love again. I will force myself to live life without you as my heart in human form. I won’t ask you to choose me because I will choose me. ”

Knycole’s heart shattered into a million tiny little pieces and her eyes flooded with tears.

Hov was many things, but a liar wasn’t one.

If he said he was going to move on with his life, she had to believe him.

Even with her most vital organ dangling off the cliff, she couldn’t make up her mind.

Having to choose had always been a challenge for her. This time was no different.

Hov watched her face contort, eyes cry, and mind play out every possible choice.

No matter how bad he wanted to reach out and touch her face, he knew he couldn’t.

Knycole had to learn to stand on her own and decide for herself.

The days of allowing her to fail just to pick up the pieces himself were gone.

He couldn’t be her savior because who was going to save him while she watched him drown?

Bending down, he grabbed her chin between his thumb and index finger. Looking into the eyes he loved so much, Hov kissed her lips. “Don’t worry kid, I’ll make the choice for you.”

And with that, he strolled away leaving her to pick up her own pieces.