Page 45 of Falling Into Gravity

Myesa was in leggings and one of Anthony’s shirts, frying up sausage like she had eight mouths to feed. “Who in my house?” she asked.

“Nobody,” Malik replied, holding the bra behind his back.

Granny giggled, her eyes glued to Family Feud.

“Malik Anthony. If I walk down that hall and see a lil fast girl in your bed?—”

“She ain’t fast, Ma. She just got heavy feet.”

Granny wheezed. “He brought that girl from the other night back here? That the one with the pretty lips and the smart-ass mouth that was out there styling Zaire’s cute ass?”

“Yea,” Malik admitted, trying to slip past.

“She cute. Look like she don’t play the radio.”

“She don’t,” he laughed.

Myesa stared him down, lips twitching like she was trying not to laugh. “Tell her come speak. Ain’t no ghost guests in this house.”

Malik only nodded, knowing Aku was about to have a heart attack walking past his people. Even though she pretended not to, he knew she cared about what others thought about her, especially families. That was probably ’cause she came from a close-knit family too. His wasn’t as successful as hers or even as big, but his home had always been laced with love. Sometimes it was hood love but love was love in his eyes.

When he pushed the door open, Aku popped up, yanking the bra from his hands. “Who all in there?” she asked, slipping the bra under her shirt to put it on as best she could without revealing her small breasts to him.

“My Ma and Gran,” he told her, moving towards his bed to make it up.

Aku gulped. “I’m ‘bout to climb out the window.”

Malik laughed at how serious her face looked. “I doubt that, since it’s burglar bars on it.”

“Shit,” she hissed.

“It’s cool.”

“Easy for you to say…matter of fact, come to my house with me. They cooking and your stomach was growling last night.” It was her turn to smirk.

Malik didn’t say anything at first. Meeting people’s family wasn’t something he was fond of doing. The way they came from two different worlds, made him question if he should.

“Come on ,” Aku whined. “Ahvi is the best cook and I know you’re going to love my people.”

When she fluttered those almond eyes, Malik knew he couldn’t tell her no. “Let me hit the shower first.”

“Ugh! If I’m still smelling like last night, you need to, too.” She rested her weight on one side, tapping her bare foot against the floor.

“Hell nah! If you want me to go, I need to hit the shower…choice is yours.”

Aku rolled her eyes. “But hurry up before all the food is gone and give me a charger.”

Malik grabbed what he needed before hitting the shower to freshen up.

While she waited, she went over her schedule for the next week. She had a few clients to do consultations with and had one more shoot with Zaire coming up. Scrolling further ahead in the calendar, she noticed a job she had scheduled to style Devin. Sighing heavily, she wondered if it was best to just cancel him and refer him to another stylist or keep the job? Being around Devin was easier now that she felt she’d completely closed that chapter of her life. But then again, before last night, it had been a while since she laid eyes on him. Aku wasn’t sure if she could be around him in such an intimate setting.

Niah had expressed interest in styling clients without her there, so maybe she could pass Devin onto her assistant. If Niah did good, then she could bump her up and really extend her business. Two stylists were always better than one.

Aku decided to think on it a little longer. She didn’t want to throw her girl to the wolves, if she didn’t feel she was truly ready.

Next, she went to her socials and out of habit paused on KenBarbie’s page to catch up on the newest celebrity gossip. Before she fell deeper down the rabbit hole, Malik trekked backinto the room, shirtless with a pair of jeans hanging slightly off his slim waist.

Licking her lips, Aku wished she could taste his tattoos.

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