Nikki
“Five…four…three…two….one!!!!”
Niecy and I stood on either side of Quincy as he cut the shiny red ribbon, marking the official opening of Q's Auto Body Shop in Atlanta.
The crowd of close friends and family clapped and cheered as we all soaked in the moment.
Q had been working tirelessly these last couple of months to get everything in order for this day.
All of us had been inseparable since reconnecting again, but we were starting to feel like flight attendants with how often we were on a plane.
I was grateful to have them for some consecutive weeks due to the grand opening.
Raina and Gina came to show support, as well as Malcolm and Lisa.
Amber and Josh even flew down for the big day.
We were all heading inside to the employee area where we'd be celebrating while Q and his team handled the first wave of customers.
"Let me sit my ass down. These swollen ankles are killing me!
" Lisa said as she wobbled over to the nearest chair.
She looked so adorable with her six-month pregnant belly.
I was so glad Lisa and Niecy had hit it off.
We spent a lot of weekends over at her new house catering to her since Malcolm had been busy with the shop and the genius collaboration he and Quincy were working on.
While we were all hanging out smoking one day, they came up with the idea to offer a free eighth to the first twenty customers for Q's grand opening and selling prerolls at a discounted rate in the retail section of the shop.
In turn, buying certain products in the dispensary would get you a discount on custom detailing and rims at Q's shop.
Niggas in the A were eating up that deal, with a huge turnout of old-school cars lined up to get their weed and rides upgraded.
"You need anything, mama?" Malcolm asked, helping her get comfortable.
"You wanna carry this baby for a second. That would be great," she expressed. He laughed and kissed her cheek.
"I'll be up front helping out Q if you need me."
"Can one of y'all grab me a cupcake? I've been dying for something sweet. You know Malcolm has me cutting back on refined sugar, and I'm losing my mind," she said after he walked away.
"Not him denying a pregnant woman dessert. I'ma need to have a talk with him," I joked.
"It's okay. Auntie will get her niece a cupcake," Niecy said in a baby voice, rubbing her belly.
The little girl she was carrying was already spoiled rotten, and I knew Malcolm was in for a rude awakening with how easily he was about to fold for her. I couldn't wait to see him be a girl dad and get taken advantage of.
By the time lunch came around, Lisa didn't even want any of the pizza we ordered for everyone because she had gotten full on cupcakes and had curled up on the lounge chair for a nap.
Niecy and I had been going back and forth all morning, from helping Q and Malcolm to hanging out with everyone in the back.
We were currently devouring slices of pizza when Q walked in with a huge smile on his face.
"How are my babies doing back here?" he asked, grabbing us both into a tight hug.
I could never get tired of the comfort I'd get from being in his arms, the ones big enough to cradle both Niecy and me at the same time.
It was a safe haven I'd become addicted to, this feeling of being completely enveloped and held by the two people who had my heart.
"Nothing. Just eating and talking," I said, pecking his cheek.
"We were just telling them we think y'all cracked the code. Raising a family will be ten times easier with the three of you," Amber said.
We all blushed as we looked at each other.
We had just talked about what having a family would look like with the three of us.
None of us were in a hurry to add a little one to the equation, all of us wanting to enjoy just us for as long as possible, but it was determined I'd be the one to carry the child since Niecy had already frozen her eggs due to her not wanting to carry a child because of her endometriosis and having already had a miscarriage.
Whenever that day came, we'd all play a role in the creation of our baby's life.
"I think you're right, Am—we definitely cracked the code to something," Q said, leaning down to kiss us.
"Can I steal these ladies away for an hour? Malcolm's going to hold down the fort for a minute."
"Where are we going?" Niecy asked, confused.
"You'll see." A mischievous grin spread across his face.
Thirty minutes later, we were pulling up to a beautiful estate in Buckhead. Quincy cut the engine and turned around to look at Niecy and me, who had made a habit of always sitting in the backseat together as passenger princesses.
"So I just got the phone call this morning, and I couldn't wait until the end of the day to share it with y'all.
But I bought us a house. I'm tired of constantly being on a plane.
I need to be here more often anyway to make sure things are running smoothly.
All the locations in Detroit are pretty much on autopilot now, and I have people I trust to oversee things up there.
And Niecy, your new agent is here. Nikki, you're here. It just makes sense."
"Q!" we both exclaimed at the same time.
With blurry eyes, we let Quincy lead us inside our new home. Niecy and I couldn't stop crying, but mine turned into full-blown sobs as we walked into the foyer that had been decorated with bouquets of roses.
"Before I show you the house, there's one more thing.
Nikki, Niecy and I have spent a lot of time talking about how lucky we are to have you in our lives, and I made her a promise that I was going to do everything in my power to make you feel just as much a part of our marriage as possible.
I know legally we can't marry you, but we want you to have this. "
He retrieved a box from his back pocket and opened it, revealing a shiny gold diamond ring, and slipped it on my finger.
"Can we spend the rest of our lives with you?" Quincy asked, his thumb wiping some of my tears away, his touch tender.
"Absolutely," I responded, falling into his chest with Niecy snuggled in next to me.
"I love you guys so much," I said.
"We love you too," Niecy said, rubbing my back.
"Alright, y'all about to make a nigga cry. Go explore your new house," he said, spanking us both.
The three of us made our way from room to room while Niecy and I planned how to decorate each space.
Every so often I'd look back at Quincy, who stayed quiet, letting us do what women do, to see so much love in his eyes as he watched us.
Complete. That was what I felt looking back and forth between them.
Complete and thankful that two hearts were selfless enough to make room for a third.
THE END