Page 85 of Falling Into Gravity

The aquarium smelledlike ocean water. Malik immediately clocked the security cameras and exits like any hood nigga with a past would. Old habits didn’t die. He wasn’t used to places like this. Peaceful, family-friendly, dimly lit. Nobody yelling, no threats, just oversized fish swimming in circles behind thick-ass glass and people taking pictures.

He looked over at Aku, walking a few steps ahead of him, her heels clicking soft against the floor. That bronze top shimmered under the lights, her long legs striding like she owned the whole place. Her hair bounced slightly with every step, and those freckles across her nose looked like the stars aligned just for her.

She turned around to check if he was still following and smiled. “You okay back there? You walking like you on patrol.”

“I am,” he muttered. “Never know when a fish might swing on somebody.”

She cackled. “You dumb.”

“Just sayin’. I don’t trust that stingray over there. He lookin’ at me funny.”

Aku grabbed his hand and pulled him beside her. “Com’ere, security guard. We gon’ be alright.”

They moved slowly through the exhibits. Big glass tunnels stretched above and around them, fish gliding over their heads like slow-motion dreams. The light from the tanks bounced off the water and cast ripples on Malik’s skin, making his tattoos look like they were swimming too.

“What if fish had phones?” Aku asked suddenly.

Malik blinked. “Huh?”

“Think about it. If fish had phones and they could post on Fishstagram?—”

“Fishstagram?Cuh…”

“—yes, stay with me. They’d be on there like,Just swam past my ex’s tank. I’m healing tho.” She bit her lip, holding in laughter. “New bubble, who dis?”

Malik shook his head, but his smile betrayed him. “You a damn fool.”

She leaned on him as they watched a school of jellyfish drift across a glowing tank. It was damn near silent around them, but their laughter filled the space like music.

“You really be thinkin’ like this on your own?” he asked, still chuckling.

“Yup,” she said proudly. “I think that’s why my brain is so beautiful.”

“I like your brain.” His voice dropped, soft and serious. “I like all of you, really.”

She went quiet, turning to look at him.

Malik stepped closer, his hand sliding down her lower back as he leaned in. “Been tryna play it cool but…you different, Aku. Like, for real. You make shit feel easy.”

Her stomach flipped. “That’s wild,” she whispered. “Cause you make me feel…safe.”

They stood there like that for a moment, close but not too close, lips just a breath apart. Behind them, fish glided on like the world didn’t just shift a little.

“You gon’ kiss me or just stare all night?” Aku teased.

“I’m takin’ my time,” Malik said, words curling in that Cali accent. “Don’t rush the good shit.”

She leaned up anyway, her hand on his neck. He met her halfway, their mouths pressing together. No tongue, just heat. The kind of kiss that lingered. The kind that whisperedI’m not going nowhere.

When they finally pulled apart, she smiled against his lips. “This better than them dates you been on with them hood rat girls?”

He laughed. “What you know about my hood rat past?”

“You give hood rat energy, just in a grown man package.”

He smirked. “You give spoiled brat energy, but I like it…I wanna spoil you.”

They kept walking, hand in hand now, toward the last exhibit.

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