�Very much,� Danielle said rolling her eyes, as she put cookies on the table and Sunshine walked in cursing and Nickolas smiled at her.
�How was your shower, Dear?� Nickolas smirked.
�You�re real funny,� Sunshine said. �I still got shampoo in my hair. I continued with my shower until the water went cold and ran out and of course it has to be while I�m conditioning my hair. How the hell would you like me to get it out?�
�Guess you�ll have to stand in the rain,� Howard said.
�I have so much bad luck,� Sunshine stated. �It�s not fair.�
�It can�t be that bad,� Nickolas said. �You met us. That was good luck.� He smiled at her.
�Honestly, I think you�re bad luck,� Sunshine replied with a smile.
�Just him or all of us?� Alexander asked.
�All of you,� Sunshine answered. �How the hell am I supposed to get this out? You�re not supposed to use cold water to get out conditioner. It ruins your hair.� They all looked at her. �I�m being serious. I read it in one of those beauty magazines.�
�We�ll get ya some water and warm it for ya then,� Kevin said. �Let�s go, Nick.� Nickolas looked at Sunshine who just shrugged and he followed Kevin outside.
�Thank you,� Sunshine said sitting down.
�Well I�m going to go make our bed,� Destiny said. �You coming, Jo?�
�Sure,� Josephine said, as she, Alexander, Brian, and Destiny got up and walked out.
Venus joined Danielle at the table while Howard and Sunshine stayed sitting at the bar. Danielle looked at Venus, as she asked, �Anything new with Howie and Josie?�
�Just that they kissed the other day,� Venus replied. �And Howie can�t stop thinking about it.�
�Really?�
�Yeah; he said he�s glad it finally happened and wouldn�t mind if it happened again.�
�Anything else?�
�Josephine mentioned it once, but since then nothing. It�s all been about Alex and nothing else. How about Sunn and Nick?�
�Nick told Sunn how he feels.� Sunshine and Howard laughed. �And she got mad at him.�
�No way. When was this?�
�Just today.�
�Never in a mill did I think Sunn would yell at Nick.� Sunshine and Howard laughed again.
�I had it first!� Sunshine yelled. �Give it back!�
�What are you two doing?� Venus questioned.
�Nothing,� Howard answered.�
�Give me back the cookie and no one will get hurt,� Sunshine replied reaching for the cookie in Howard�s hand. �I had it first.� She reached for it again, but Howard stopped her, pinning her arm behind her back.
�How bad do ya want the cookie?� Howard asked, as Venus and Danielle just watched. �Would you table dance for it?�
�Let me think about that,� Sunshine said. �No. The cookie ain�t that important.�
�Are you sure?� Howard asked taking a bite of the cookie and teasing Sunshine with it. �It�s pretty good. A yummy chocolate chip cookie.�
�You�re such a jerk,� Sunshine said. �Do you always treat women like this?�
�Only you,� Howard said, as Sunshine used her free hand and grabbed the cookie just as Nickolas and Kevin walked back in.
�Are you an agent for the F.B.I., Howie?� Nickolas asked.
�Let her go,� Kevin said.
�Leave me go,� Sunshine said then whispering in Howard�s ear, �or I�ll tell everyone you were coming onto me and touching me in places that you shouldn�t be.
�Ooh feisty,� Howard said leaving her go and she just smiled. �By the way, I�m not an agent for the F.B.I. Even if I was I wouldn�t tell ya.�
�Here�s your water,� Kevin said.
�Thanks, but aren�t you going to warm it for me?� Sunshine rebutted. �I told you you�re not��
�Alright,� Kevin said. �Give us a few more minutes.�
�Thank you,� Sunshine said.
�Who ate all the cookies?� Nickolas asked, as Sunshine and Howard pointed to each other.
�I have this little piece,� Sunshine said with a mouthful of cookie and stuffing the little piece in Nickolas� mouth and smiled.
�Where are the others?� Kevin questioned.
�They went in to make the bed,� Venus said. �But I think they�re doing more than making a bed.� They all shook their heads.
�More like making whoopee,� Sunshine snickered and Nickolas laughed, as the others just looked at her. Sunshine sat back down and Nickolas sat beside her, as the others walked out of the kitchen. �So.�
�So,� Nickolas said, as they looked at each other. �What�s up with Kevin?�
�How should I know?� Sunshine asked.
�I mean, he�s, like, acting a little strange, ya know,� Nickolas said and Sunshine nodded. �It�s, like, he doesn�t want us anywhere near each other, ya know.�
Sunshine nodded again and said, �Like I told ya before, Nick, I�m no one�s girl.�
�Of course not,� Nickolas said and they just sat there for a few more minutes before the others walked back in. Sunshine and Nickolas looked at each other, as the others looked at them and Kevin checked the water.
�Your waters done,� Kevin said.
�Thanks,� Sunshine said getting up.
�I�m going to check on the others,� Danielle said.
�Didn�t ya just do that?� Sunshine asked starting to rinse the conditioner out.
�No,� Danielle said.
�I�m with you,� Nickolas said, as Venus walked back out.
�He just wants to do something mischievous,� Sunshine said.
�Do not,� Nickolas said.
�Whatever,� everyone said, as Nickolas and Danielle left.
�You can go if ya want,� Sunshine said to Kevin. �I got this under control.�
�Are you sure?� Kevin asked.
�Yeah; go,� Sunshine said. �I do this everyday.� Kevin nodded and walked out. �You can go to, Howie. Unless ya don�t want to see Josie and Alex make out.�
�They can if they want to,� Howard said.
�Did that just come from Howie Dorough?� Sunshine asked.
�I guess so.�
�Amazing.�
�I have to accept the fact that she�s with Alex and she�s happy. I want her to be happy.�
�What about that kiss?� She rinsed her hair for the last time.
�It was nice, but it�s not like we�re getting together tomorrow.�
�I understand. Can you hand me a towel?�
�Sure.� Howard looked for one, as Sunshine watched him. �I can�t find one so hold on a minute.� Sunshine watched him as he took his shirt off. She looked at Howard amazed and smiled. �It�s the best I can do.�
�Are ya sure?� He nodded and Sunshine took his shirt and they just smiled at each other. �Thanks.�
�No problem.� Nickolas, Venus, and Kevin walked back in.
�They�re all sleeping in there,� Kevin stated and looking at his Puerto Rican friend. �Didn�t you have a shirt on when we went out?�
�Sunn needed something to dry her hair,� Howard answered, as Nickolas looked at Sunshine.
�We couldn�t find any towels,� Sunshine added.
�They�re in the dryer yet,� Kevin said. �Sorry about that.�
�Well, I�m going to go get dressed,� Sunshine said grabbing a candle and leaving the kitchen.
�Are you staying again too, Howie?� Kevin asked. �The others are, because they�re sleeping.�
�If ya don�t mind,� Howard replied.
�Why should I,� Kevin said. �Unless you�re after my girlfriend.�
�What girlfriend?� Nickolas asked and Kevin looked at him.
�Not at all,� Howard said looking at him confused then looked at Nickolas who just shrugged.
�I am not sleeping in there with those four,� Danielle said stepping into the kitchen and looking at Howard strangely. �Why doesn�t he have a shirt on? Not that I�m complaining any?�
�Sunn needed something to dry her hair,� Kevin pointed out. �And Howie gave her his shirt.�
�Ain�t he so sweet,� Danielle said. �But like I said, I ain�t sleeping in there.�
�Neither am I,� Venus said.
�Then you girls can sleep upstairs,� Kevin stated. �Nick and Howie can bunk.�
�Right,� Nickolas said, as Kevin, Venus, and Howard walked out. �Dani, is there something going on with Sunnie and Howie?�
�Not at all,� Danielle replied. �Why do you ask?�
�Ever since this morning they�ve been really chummy,� Nickolas said. �Like something happened between them last night.� Danielle smiled. �What?�
�If Sunnie Jo was going to have a midnight romp with anyone it�d be with you,� Danielle stated. �Not anyone else.� Nickolas smiled. �Nothing�s going on so don�t worry about it. If there was I�d let you know, because I like ya.� Nickolas smiled and they walked out.
CHAPTER 22
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