�Will you two please be quiet?� Danielle pleaded. �It�s hard to hear the T.V. with your snorting over there. I think Sunnie Jo and Howie agree with me.�
�I don�t think they pretty much care,� Brian said, as Danielle looked. �They�re not watching it.�
Sunshine and Howard were asleep on the sofa. Howard was sitting there with his head resting in his hand and Sunshine had her head on his shoulder.
�They look so peaceful,� Danielle said getting up and grabbing a blanket. She covered the two of them up and went to turn off the television.
Danielle turned around, as Kevin walked in saying, �Sunshine, I was wondering if��
�Shh,� Danielle, Destiny, and Brian said in unison and Destiny added, �They�re sleeping.�
Kevin looked at the sofa, as Nickolas walked in and asked, �How long have they been asleep?�
�I don�t know,� Danielle said. �I think they just fell asleep.�
�If you�re going to stay up all night you�re going to fall asleep during the day,� Destiny stated.
�Kev, I think he�s moving in on your girl,� Nickolas snickered, but thinking there might be some truth to what Josephine said that morning and he felt like he was stabbed in the heart a million times.
�Will you get out of my parlor,� Kevin said pushing Nickolas to the doorway, as the others followed. �And leave Sunshine and Howie alone.�
�I�m joking,� Nickolas said. �Relax.�
�If I was worried about anyone making a pass at Sunshine it�d be you,� Kevin stated. �After that incident last night.�
�You�re not still upset about that are you? We explained what happened.�
�Should I be?� They all stopped and Nickolas turned to face Kevin.
Nickolas just looked at him a moment then said, �Ya know, actually Sunnie ain�t your girl. She�s no one�s girl.�
�Says who?�
�Says Sunnie.�
�Really?�
�Yeah.�
�Nick,� Danielle said. �Don�t.�
�Even if she was your girl,� Nickolas began, �ya shouldn�t be pissed off about last night.�
�Why not?� Kevin asked.
�Because nothing every happened between me and Sunnie,� Nickolas lied and Danielle looked at him. �God, she�s a very gorgeous attractive girl and any guy, including myself, would want to try and get her.� He sighed.
�So you admit you tried to get her.�
�No�yes�not really.�
�Not really? What does that mean?�
�Alright, I admit it; yes I did try to get her, but before you even ever asked her out.�
�Never after that?�
�No.� He hoped Kevin didn�t know he was lying.
�Right.�
�Is it a sin for me to want a nice, sweet, warm, caring, loving, compassionate woman like Sunnie? Is it so wrong for me to find a woman that makes me happy?�
�So you do want her then.�
Nickolas sighed and ran his fingers through his hair asking, �What�s the point of this anyway?�
�I�m just trying to figure out where she stands with you. I�ve noticed you�ve been very protective over her ever since you met. At first I thought nothing of it, but now I�m not so sure.� Nickolas just looked at him. �Why are you protective over her, Nickolas?�
Nickolas just looked at him in amazement. He wasn�t sure what Kevin wanted to know exactly. Everyone stood there a moment waiting for an answer and Nickolas said, �She�s a wonderful fragile girl and anyone would be very protective over her. Besides, she�s not yours to get pissed at me anyway.� With that he walked away.
Kevin knew he was hiding something else, but he didn�t go after him. Instead he went outback to be alone. He never seen Nickolas get so defensive like that over a girl before and it shocked him. Yeah, Sunshine was an amazing girl and Nickolas was right about what he said, but he couldn�t figure out why he reacted the way he did.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Howard tried getting up off the sofa without waking Sunshine, but didn�t succeed. Sunshine lifted her head and looked at him confused. She just sat there a moment then realized what happened and she sat up and stretched.
�Why�s it so quiet?� Sunshine asked a moment later. �You�d think no one was here.�
�That�s because no one is here,� Kevin said walking in. �They all left.�
�Where�d they go?� Howard asked.
Kevin just shrugged and said, �After the little argument Nickolas and I had they all took off.�
�What happened?� Sunshine asked interested. �What was it about?�
�You,� Kevin replied sitting beside her on the sofa.
�You�re kidding right?� Sunshine questioned hoping for a yes, but by Kevin�s expression she wasn�t getting one.
�No,� Kevin said. �It was about you.�
Sunshine just looked at him then at Howard, as she got up and said, �I can�t believe you two would have the nerve to fight about me. I thought you had respect for me, but I guess I was way wrong. Guys never have respect for women.�
�Sunn, I just asked him what his feelings were for you,� Kevin stated. �It�s not like we were arguing over who you want more.�
�That�s not the point,� Sunshine said turning to face him. �What�d he say?� She was hoping Kevin didn�t notice how much she wanted to know what Nickolas said.
�I�m going to go,� Howard said getting up. �I�ll be back later.�
Howard left the room and Kevin said, �He never gave me a straight answer. He said that you�re very gorgeous, and I agree, and that any guy would try to get you. He also said you�re a wonderful fragile girl and any guy would be protective towards you.� He walked over to the window where Sunshine was standing.
�That�s all he said?� Sunshine asked. �He never said if he likes me?�
�No. Why? Are you interested in him?�
Sunshine looked at him then lied, �No. I�m really not interested in anyone right now. The only guy I have eyes for right now is Tom Cruise.� Kevin smiled and went to kiss her, but she gave him her cheek. Kevin started wondering about what Nickolas said, as he walked in.
�Am I interrupting?� Nickolas asked.
�Of course not,� Sunshine quickly said happy to see him.
�What do ya need?� Kevin asked.
�I was thinking,� Nickolas began, �I�m sorry about earlier and I think you need to know how I feel about Sunnie. Since you�re into her and all.�
Sunshine looked at Nickolas curious then said, �Maybe I should go and let this be between the two of you.�
�No you can stay,� Nickolas said just as the phone rang.
�Hold that thought,� Kevin said walking to the phone. �Hello.� Sunshine and Nickolas just looked at each other before Kevin interrupted. �I need to take this call. I�ll be right back.�
�We�ll be here,� Sunshine said and Kevin left the room. Sunshine looked at Nickolas and asked, �What do you plan on telling him?�
�Exactly how I feel about you,� Nickolas replied.
�And how�s that?� Sunshine questioned, as Nickolas joined her at the window where she was still standing. �It better not be how much you like me, Nick.�
�Why not? He has a right to know how his best friend feels about his so-called girlfriend and how she feels about him.�
�You tell him, Nick, he�ll be devastated and I�ll never forgive you for hurting him. I haven�t told him because I don�t want to hurt him. If it was meant for him to know he would�ve found out by now. He�s not supposed to know so just leave it go.�
�But I can�t. I put off telling him a million times. It�s hard for me to leave it go.�
�Make it a million and one.� She walked away from him. �Why�s it so hard for you to leave it go?� They looked at each other.
�Because I finally found someone that makes my life worth living.� She looked at him shocked. �It kills me when I see you two together and pretending to be an item and you in his arms.� He didn�t care what he was saying. All he cared about was that it was the truth and it should be known. �All I think about is you. Day and night. When I write my music it�s all about you.�
�Stop it! Just stop it! When will you realize I am not a prize to be won by anyone?� With that she stormed out of the room right pass Kevin. Nickolas and Kevin just stood there, as they heard the front door slam shut.
�What�s wrong with her?� Kevin questioned.
�I�m not sure,� Nickolas lied. �We were talking and she stormed off.�
�Can what you have to tell me wait?�
�Sure.� He took to heart what Sunshine said and sighed. �Are you going to find her?�
�Yeah; I�ll be back.� Nickolas just nodded and Kevin left the room. Nickolas stood there alone shaking his head at the missed opportunity he had to tell Kevin the truth.
CHAPTER 20
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