Page 8 of Falling Into Gravity

Malik’s throat tightened. He didn’t respond. Couldn’t respond too afraid his sorrow would spill out.

Neither one of them saidwhatnight…didn’t have to.

The silence between them was heavy, but it wasn’t awkward. It was familiar, like grief had learned how to sit still.

“You made somethin’ of yourself though,” Reese said after a while. “That app - the way you move. You ain’t just another nigga tryna get by.”

Malik looked up, eyes sharp now. “You too. You still here - still showin’ up for your daughter. That mean more than people think.”

Reese smirked. “We really made it out, huh?”

Malik gave a short laugh. “Still feel like we halfway in sometimes.”

He stood, dapped Reese again, this time with more weight behind it. The transaction was smooth and would’ve been missed from the untrained eye.

“Be safe, my boy,” Reese said, walking him to the door.

“You too…always.”

Malik slid back into the Chevy. The engine purred. He checked the mirror once before pulling off—eyes sharp, but that weight in his chest had shifted.

He turned up the music and drove back toward Crescent Park, Nipsey still preaching through the speakers.

“I went through every emotion… tryna make a way.”

chapter 3

. . .

“When you coming back?”Aku yawned, stretching out like a lazy cat while the phone rested on her chest.

“You must thought I was lying when I said I wanted a month-long honeymoon?” Noodle laughed, her voice light like the Amalfi Coast’s breeze she was probably laid up under.

Aku rolled her eyes. “I didn’t think you was lying…. Just thought you would at least be bored by week two.”

Noodle giggled, her joy pouring through the phone like sunshine. “You know I never get tired of my Bu… my husband,” she dragged the word, adding her southern twang.

“Ugh. Whatever.” Aku kissed her teeth. “Call Ahvi’s hoe ass on three-way.”

She didn’t even have to ask twice. Seconds later, the line clicked and Ahvi’s voice blared through the phone.

“Jacory, what you calling me for when you should be gettin’ bent over?” Ahvi’s voice cracked through the phone like she was yelling from across the room.

“Why you so loud?” Aku winced, sitting up in bed and squinting as the sun hit her face through the curtains.

“She loud ‘cause she in that kitchen bossing them people around,” Noodle joked.

“Girl, please… my employees are the best. Everyone is doing their job except for Kamari,” Ahvi huffed. Her restaurant, Sunsets and Moonlights was doing better than she could’ve ever imagined. It kept her busy and kept her independence intact. Everything Little Lunar told her a life with him would look like—he delivered.

“When you coming out here to cook for me?” Aku asked.

“You just want me to cook for you? You ain’t trying to see me?” Ahvi asked slightly offended.

Noodle cackled. “That’s her way of asking for your time and attention. Aku like to pretend to be unbothered but really thrives on love.”

Aku pursed her lips like they could see her but didn’t say anything. Noodle knew her better than she knew herself and had indeed clocked her.

Ahvi cleared her throat. She wanted to tell her girls she was engaged but didn’t want to be insensitive knowing Aku wanted that too. So, instead she asked, “Noodle when you coming back so I can plan a trip out there. We need a replay of the bachelorette party.”

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