Page 20 of Falling Into Gravity

She smiled, chewing on her lip. “That’s the goal…balance.”

He looked around. “Looks like you balancing just fine…no need to create a goal on some shit you already achieving.”

“When you put it like that…”

“You live with them?”

She shook her head. “No, I got my own spot in Madison Heights. But I’ve been staying at the beach house with my best friend who’s also Siasia’s little sister.”

“Cool.” His head bobbed, in a slow rhythm.

She looked at him sideways. “You still at home?”

“Yea...my parents’ house.”

“No shade - that’s smart.” Aku sipped her wine, feeling great from the weed and the drink mixture.

“Not really,” He stretched his legs out. “But those the cards I’ve been dealt...life is all about choices.”

She blinked. “So true.” Aku let the vibe settle between them, quiet but full. Her eyes traced the fine details of his face. His hair was long, jet black, the type that looked soft even when it wasn’t. His lashes curled naturally, making her store-bought ones feel unnecessary. But it was the subtle scars and the tattoo above his brow that kept pulling her in. That was her favorite feature. It reminded her of how her mama used to look at her daddy—like the rough edges were the whole point. Malik had that same kind of presence. He looked like a lost boy, but moved like a leader, and somehow, both made sense.

They sat embracing the quiet for a moment. She played with the drawstring on her pants, then turned her body a little more toward him.

“How you know Zaire?” she asked, desperate to fill the space with words. “The pro golfer?”

He nodded like he expected the question. “He grew up in Crescent too. We used to play basketball on the same block. Then one day he showed up with a golf club talkin’ about ‘I’mma change the world.’ We clowned him for like a year. Then he started winning…”

She grinned. “He seems really grounded.”

“He is…always been different…real focused. Never let the hood box him in…”

“You either?”

He looked at her for a second, then shrugged. “I tried.”

“You succeeded...you have a fuckin’ app, Malik?!”

He nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“You always been into tech?”

“Not always. Pharoah started it, pulled me in and I ain’t looked back yet. I like building shit… solving stuff.”

“That’s dope. Who’s Pharoah?”

He closed his eyes, picturing who Pharoah was before now. A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. “Pharoah, is my reminder…life ain’t always for the living, sometimes it’s for the lessons.”

Aku gulped, her chest aching at how smooth pain seemed to ease off his lips. Her fingers tingled to touch him. Even if only to remind him that he was still there.

“What about you?” Malik asked, trying to ease the tension of his ominous words. “How you end up styling people?”

She perked up. “That’s easy. My mom used to let me pick out my clothes. I’d throw fits if she tried to change anything. Then my cousin made me style Jacory… you know who that is?”

“Yea, cuh,” Malik laughed. “Don’t start throwin’ round famous folks and shit.”

“I’m not!” Aku shrieked.

“I’m just fuckin’ with you…tell me more.”

---