Page 16 of Falling Into Gravity

“You still going back and forth with Devin?”

“Hell, no!”

“Good,” Qamar kissed her forehead.

Siasia kissed her teeth. “Y’all gotta let her grow up and move on her own.”

“Shit, we do. But when we realized Noodle wasn’t all that good and we missed the signs, it made me want to step shit up with the rest of the girls in the fam.”

Siasia nodded, carrying a quiet ache of knowing her little sister’s sadness had gone unnoticed.

Siasia hated that Noodle had suffered in silence, never leaning on her to help make things right, Now, her baby girl wasn’t a baby anymore—she was Bu’s wife and gracing stages with that beautiful voice, turning pain into melody.

“I’m good, though Qamar,” Aku assured her Uncle, knowing he’d do anything to make sure she was. Once there had been a silent competition between her and Qamar when it came to her daddy. Qamar held French’s heart in a different way but rightfully so. Now, she loved Qamar like a brother, even though he was her uncle.

“Yo, y’all tryna smoke? Aku, I know you got something in that luxury ass purse.”

“I don’t carry no weed in my Balenciaga, boy,” she laughed. “But I got this app. Plugged In got me.” She pulled out her phone to log into the app. It would be her first time using it.

“You be moving bougie now,” he teased.

“I’m moving efficient,” she corrected, opening her phone and hitting Malik through the app.

1985 Maxwell Dr. Can you slide?

Key: What you need?

Aku asked Qamar how much he wanted, and he asked for two blunts which were enough to keep him satisfied until he was back in Emerald City.

StylistBae: Two pre rolls.

Key: I don’t really move for no lil shit like that. Especially not in no rich ass neighborhood.

Aku laughed while rolling her eyes.

StylistBae: Boy, stop playing. Do me a solid.

Key: What’s in it for me?

StylistBae: What you want?”

Key: I’ll let you know when I get there. 15 out.

When Aku looked up from her phone, Qamar and Siasia both had goofy grins on their faces.

“Umm, Devin?”

“Girl, no! I am off that man, He don’t want all the things I’m covered in.”

“Then who is it?” Qamar asked.

“Do you want some weed or not?” was all Aku said, before Siasia began getting the kids situated and cranking the music up.

Malik pulled up to the quiet neighborhood, with his hoodie on, car humming low. He sent a text to let her know he was outside. Brushing his hand over his gun, his eyes were alert. He always had to be on point because enemies were liable to show up anywhere. Safe was a myth in his world—especially when he had something to lose.

Aku twisted her body over to his car. “On time, or it’s free…you late.” She laughed, making him do the same.

“Watch out cuh,” he smirked, his words catching the small breeze. “What’s the occasion?”

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