Page 106 of Falling Into Gravity

Noodle waved her off, face red - about to crack up. “Of course Bu knows…and it ain’t like that, but Little Lunar is my labelmate and we have so much love between us. Plus, I like to tease the internet from time to time when they come up with these Jacory and Nar fan fiction romances.”

“I have seen those,” Niah interjected. “It’s always so cute but if they only knew…”

Aku nodded. “They don’t understand how love works. You and Little Lunar love each other but found your soul mates in other people. Personally, I don’t think the two of y’all were ever meant to be more than work husband and wife,” she shrugged.

“If they only knew the way my heart smiles with Bethune and how he caters to me, allows me to be clingy…he’s so perfect for me.” Her eyes teared up thinking about how much she loved her husband. He saved her when no one else heard her drowning. No one would ever be able to compare to him.

Aku cooed. “Aww, Noodle, Doodle… I love how love looks on you.”

Noodle pinched Aku’s cheek. “It looks even better on you.”

They hug for a few seconds before they got back to work.

Noodle adjusts the pearl cuffs on her wrist. “Speaking of, me and Lunar got offered our own streaming app—some exclusive behind-the-scenes content, live drops, studio sessions, all that. It’s supposed to be big – Black-owned, independent, real niche.”

“That’s fire,” Aku said, her eyes lighting up.

Noodle grinned. “I was thinking…if we do it, we might need somebody to build the backend from scratch. From the soil…inthe family.” Her brows rose, the anticipation of it all flushing her skin. Then she slid a look toward Aku.

“Malik.” Noodle gave a cheeky smile.

Aku blinked, not sure if what she was hearing was what she was hearing. She knew Bu wasn’t a fan which meant, Lunar and Pimp wouldn’t fall in line until then. So, she never thought Noodle would want to give Malik an opportunity like this.

“You trust him with your heart,” Noodle said, standing and adjusting her diamond anklet. “Why not our business?”

“You sure?”

“I love whoever you love. Point blank. Period. I been like that since we had matching backpacks. Not even Bu can make me switch up on my bestie/niece.”

“Even if he a little dusty?”

Noodle rolled her eyes. “So was Bu. You just gotta love ‘em through the rinse cycle.”

Aku laughed so hard she nearly fell off the couch.

Her phone vibrated on the desk.

She picked it up on speaker. “Hey, Daddy.”

“I don’t like that nigga.” French’s smooth, deep southern voice blasted through the speaker.

“Daddy—what?”

Noodle snickered.

“I don’t like him. I been prayin’ on it, and I talked to the Lord about it. He said, ‘French, your instincts are never wrong.’”

Aku sighed, falling back into the couch. “You don’t evenknowhim.”

“I know enough. I seen enough...He ain’t ready for you.”

Noodle and Niah were giggling across the room.

Aku groaned. “Goodbye, Daddy.”

“I’m serious. I’ll fly out tonight and pull him to the side like a real nigga and tell him, he ain’t enough for you.” French was serious. He’d felt a way ever since his baby girl rushed on a plane to be there for a nigga who didn’t know when it was time to leave the streets alone. He knew he was a hypocrite but he’d take the award when it came to his kids.

She hung up before he could continue, shaking her head. “Y’all see what I gotta deal with?” she said, laughing, cheeks pink even though his words didn’t make her feel good. No girl wanted to disappoint their father—especially not one who meant the world to you.

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