#minglingning

"Alcohol acquired," Ning Yingying shouted from the doorway to their home.

Their home. She hadn't gotten used to that concept yet. Each time she thought of how they owned this place, together, sent such a thrill through her it was hard to sit still.

No more cramming them all into one apartment. No more "come to my place, let's hang out at Ming-jie's place". No more needing a thing but it was at a different apartment.

From the bedroom, Liu Mingyan said, "Put it in the kitchen and come get ready."

"Okay, be right there, Ming-jie!"

Ning Yingying swung the bags of alcohol, dancing on her way to the kitchen. She shook her hips and bopped her head, hummed along to the giddy song in her heart while unloading the goods. With the addition of the small glasses, she arranged her bounty of baijiu into an inviting display.

Between the three of them, half the queer women in the city would be coming for their housewarming party. And if Sha Hualing has her way, none of them would leave sober.

"We'll all sleep together in a big gay pile on the floor of our spacious living room," Sha Hualing has said, flopping on the floor to demonstrate.

"Isn't that what we do in our bed every night?" Ning Yingying said, joining her. Their cuddling had been interrupted by Liu Mingyan's shadow falling on them.

"Up you two, we still have furniture to move."

Ning Yingying giggled to herself remembering how they successfully negotiated a five minute cuddle break before she hauled them bodily from the floor. No easy feat for two big girls.

But Liu Ming-jie was very strong.

A fact accentuated by the backless lilac dress she wore when Ning Yingying entered the bedroom. She had her arms crossed, evaluating Sha Hualing's outfit, her back muscles shifting temptingly as she moved.

Sha Hualing sprang into a pose. All her jewelry twinkled pleasantly, glinting off the overhead light.

"What do you think?"

"I say it's too much," Liu Mingyan said.

Sha Hualing pulled a face at her. "Not you! Yingying, you like it yeah?"

Ning Yingying did indeed like it. The 'dress'—and that was a very generous term for it—consisted of several semi-sheer red sashes crisscrossed for some semblance of decency. They hugged her round figure snugly. Under the right light, you could probably glimpse her nipples. Or more.

It went without asking that Sha Hualing wasn't wearing anything underneath.

"That dress," Ning Yingying started, hands outlining her curves in the air, "I'd be too distracted to be a good host. I'm half-tempted to message all our friends to stay home."

Sha Hualing stamped her foot. "But I want to be slutty tonight! I want to be the center of attention in our house."

"With how you are when you drink, that won't be a problem," Liu Mingyan said.

"No I'm serious. We fought so hard to get this house. We should be wild and unhinged, drink too much and get handsy with all our friends.”

Liu Mingyan cradled Sha Hualing’s chin. “You do that anyway.” “Ming-jie.” Sha Hualing whined, stressing the last syllable.

“Hush.” Liu Mingyan squished her plump cheeks and kissed her. “I understand. Wear the dress.”

“Now that that’s settled, can you two help me pick an outfit?” Ning Yingying asked sweetly, arms spread, the invitation clear.

Sha Hualing squealed at the chance to play dress up, plunging into their closet and carelessly tossing out options.

“Oh I forgot to say earlier”—Liu Mingyan said, undoing the buttons of Ning Yingying’s shirt and pointedly ignoring the mess Sha Hualing made—“welcome home.”

Ning Yingying smiled, warmth spread through her to the tips of her fingers and toes, stretching up for Liu Mingyan’s forehead kiss.

“It’s good to be home.”