They pulled up to Stepping Stone Falls, and a knot formed in her stomach. She hadn’t been to the nature reserve since her father had been killed. She used to love to see the water cascade down the waterfalls, as she sat on her father’s shoulders. It was our thing, she thought, sadly, as she closed her eyes. I used to be able to see his face. I can barely remember his smile anymore. She had gone somber; and now, she just wanted to go home.

The interior lights came on and she watched Messiah exit the car. He dipped his head down and said, “I’ll be right back. Stay in the car.” She looked in the side mirror and noticed another car pulling up behind them.

Her eyes were glued to that mirror, as she watched Messiah greet another man. She knew the deal and tore her eyes from the scene because his business was his business. She respected his privacy. When he got back in the car, he tossed a black, duffel bag in her lap.

“Count up for me?” he asked.

She nodded and unzipped the bag to see that it was full of different denominations of bills inside. She focused in, as she organized and counted the money.

“Fifty bands,” she signed. He was lost, and she smiled, picking up her phone to text the message to him.

He looked at his phone and then mimicked her hand movements. “This is how you say 50,000?” he asked.

She nodded.

“How did you lose your hearing?” He asked. “You ain’t got to answer, but I always wondered.”

He always wondered? Does that mean he thinks about me? She thought.

I was born deaf. My sister was born perfect and I was born like this. I used to hate it. Now, I’m kind of grateful that I can drown out the noise. The world is filled with too much bullshit.

He read the text and nodded. “Real shit. Sometimes, I wish I could block out the world too. That’s what Ethic is trying to do. Keep the bad shit from you. Why you out here chasing trouble?”

“You’re trouble?” she signed.

He mimicked her body language. Moving his hands in the same way. “Trouble,” she mouthed.

“Yeah, I’m trouble,” he confirmed. She was addicted to the way his full lips moved when he spoke. She felt her body react, as a pulse started in her panties and traveled through her body, making her shudder.

“I don’t think so,” she signed.

He shook his head, as he gave a rare smile, understanding that one. He quickly corrected himself and the smile disappeared. She had already witnessed it, though, committing it to memory, instantly.