Page 125 of No Place Like Home

And it was. I could attest to it.

“Me want Q,” she said next.

I wondered if she felt who he was to her. Yesterday had gone nothing like I had expected. It was scary, yet beautiful. It had been magical. I knew Quincy would be a permanent fixture in her life, regardless of where he stood with me. I wanted to have a better idea. While I thought about how to go about it, I went to the little sofa, where he had a duffel and some clothes, to look for a pair of sweatpants.

“You like Q?” I asked her, already knowing her answer.

“Mm-hmm, so much, Mama.”

Just as I found a pair of pants, something round fell out. I managed to grab it before it fell to the floor. I looked at it, and I turned it around. I was about to take the cap off because I couldn’t believe it, but Quincy yelling for me startled me. I put the object back and then put on the sweats. Holding onto Quinn, I let her lead me, because I couldn’t think.

When I came back down, Quincy was in the kitchen already setting up breakfast. I could see the bags all had the diner’s logo on them. Three cups sat on the countertop, and I could see my cold brew.

“Where’s Emma?” I was almost afraid to ask.

“She was just dropping off food,” he said nonchalantly.

I let my head drop.

“Q!” Quinny yelled excitedly. She let go of my hand and ran to him.

Quincy crouched down and received her in his arms. He hugged her tight and then carried her.

“You slept good, little mamas?”

“Simba nappy me.”

Quincy smiled at her. “Were you scared?”

She shook her little head.

“You want to help me feed him?”

“Yes!” She smiled excitedly at him.

I reached for my drink and sipped it as I watched him interact with Quinn. It was everything I had ever wanted with my own father. It was the way Jake was around Rosie.

“You’re so pretty,” he told her as he sat her on the kitchen island across from me and reached for his own drink. “You look just like your mama.”

My cheeks flamed.

We ate the food with idle chatter, aware little ears were listening to us.

We had barely finished eating when the doorbell rang. I looked at Quincy expectantly.

“Come in!” he yelled.

This time, it was Juliet who walked through his doors. Shit. Like that wasn’t embarrassing.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, pretending I hadn’t been caught bumping uglies with Quincy.

She smiled at Quincy and at me. “I’m picking up Quinn.”

I turned to look at Quincy, but his face gave nothing away.

“Why?” I raised a brow.

“We need to talk,” he said, serious.

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