Page 141 of Falling Into Gravity

Aku looked at her. “Yea…but more than that—I’m happy.”

Noodle’s eyes watered fast. “Don’t do that. You not about to make me cry in the happy den.”

“I’m serious.” Aku laughed through her own tears. “I feel peace. It’s scary, but it feel right. He don’t even know yet.”

“He doesn’t?”

Aku shook her head. “He laid up in my room snoring through the whole thing. I been walking around with saltines and ginger chews in my purse like an old person.”

Noodle burst into giggles, wiping her cheeks. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you love it.”

“I do.”

They both wiped happy tears from their faces, grinning like fools.

Aku leaned back on her elbows. “You remember our pregnancy pact?”

Noodle raised her brows. “Why would I forget that? You only made me and Ahvi be a part of it.”

“Okay, well -Tag, you’re it, ‘cause I don’t think Ahvi is ready yet and I don’t blame her. Her life is moving so fast it only makes sense for her to want to settle in that before she has another baby. But by the time I’m on my second one, that hoe better be ready.”

“How you gonna tell her when she’s ready?” Noodle shook her head at how bossy and dramatic Aku could be. “I stopped taking my birth control last week…”

Aku sat up straight. “Noodle!” she slapped her arm.

“What?! Me and Bu are married now. I been thinking about it. We not trying, but we also not…not trying.”

“Wow. We really about to be them girls.”

“Wearethem girls.” Noodle wagged her tongue.

They both laughed again, leaning into each other.

“Our babies gon’ be best friends,” Aku whispered.

“Better be.”

“They gon’ be matching on purpose, too.”

“With coordinated playdate outfits,” Noodle added.

“You sound obsessed.”

“Only a little.”

Another quiet moment passed. The waves rocked gently beneath them. From down below, music still carried up, but in the happy den - the world was still.

Noodle turned her head. “But really…you’re happy?”

Aku didn’t answer right away. She stared at the sheet above them, blinking slowly. Then she nodded, eyes glossy. “I’m real happy.”

That was enough.

Noodle reached over and squeezed her hand, and Aku squeezed back. No big moment. No grand speeches. Just two best friends in their own little corner of peace, dreaming up the next chapter…together.

Later, they all sat around the table set up on the deck. The private chef plated steak and lobster while everybody got seconds on the buttered garlic bread that Noodle swore was better than sex.

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