Kevin sat at his kitchen table ready to look at the newspaper when he heard the doorbell. He slowly got up and went to answer it. He looked through the peephole and then opened the door to Alexander. He left him in and closed the door then they walked to the kitchen.
Alexander poured himself some coffee, as Kevin asked, �What brings you by?�
�Well I was wondering if you seen Josephine,� Alexander replied and Kevin just looked at him. �We broke up last night and I want to make sure she�s all right.�
�She stopped by last night looking for Sunshine,� Kevin stated and they were interrupted.
�Kevin, I can�t find your shampoo,� Josephine said stepping into the kitchen. When she looked again she saw Alexander standing there. Alexander stopped from taking a sip of his coffee and looked at what Josephine was wearing. All she had on was one of Kevin�s shirts and her underwear�s. Alexander looked at Kevin and Josephine said, �Alex, it�s not what you think?�
�Then what is it?� Alexander asked.
�I came here last night looking for Sunn,� Josephine said. �But she wasn�t home and Kev was.�
�We just talked, Alex,� Kevin added. �And she stayed in the guest room.�
�How the hell do I know you�re not lying?� Alexander asked. �You couldn�t have Sunn so why not go after Josie. Where is Sunn by the way?�
�She never came back last night,� Kevin said. �She�s not my girlfriend so I don�t need to know where she�s at. We�re not lying either.�
Alexander looked at them a moment then turned and left the kitchen. Josephine and Kevin just stood there, as if paralyzed. A few seconds later they heard the front door slam shut and a car pull out of the drive.
�That went really well,� Josephine said sitting down. �Now he�ll never take me back.�
�It�s not your fault� Kevin said sitting across from her. �You had not idea he was coming. If he cares about you enough he�ll realize nothing happened.�
�You�re really sweet, Kevin.�
�Thanks.� They just looked at each other a few moments and Kevin said, �The shampoo is in the cabinet by the sink.�
�What?�
�The shampoo; it�s in the cabinet by the sink.�
�Oh right.� She got up. �Thanks.� She left the room with Kevin watching her. After she was gone Kevin just sat there thinking.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Howie,� Sunshine said stepping into the parlor where Howard was sitting on the sofa looking at some papers.
�Good afternoon,� Howard said looking up at her, as she stepped in front of him.
�What time is it?� Sunshine questioned sitting down beside him.
�After one.� He turned back to his papers.
�Why�d you leave me sleep for so long?�
�I thought you could use the sleep.�
�Thanks, you�re really sweet.� She yawned. �How�d I get in your bed?�
�You fell asleep on the couch then I carried you upstairs.�
�Where�d you sleep?�
�Don�t worry I slept in one of the guest rooms.� He prayed she didn�t know he was lying and didn�t know that he slept right beside her the whole night.
For the next few minutes they both just sat there in silence. Howard continued looking at his papers and Sunshine sat there thinking about Nickolas. After Howard was done he set the papers on the coffee table and at the same time he and Sunshine looked at each other.
�Howie, I want to thank you for listening to me last night.�
�No problem. I�m glad you came to me.�
�I should get back to Kevin�s. That way I can shower and change my clothes.�
�Kevin might be a little worried too.�
�He probably thinks I�m still with Nick. So he�s probably not that worried.� She sighed. �I wish I was still with Nick.� Howard just looked at her. �By the way, I used your toothbrush. Hope ya don�t mind. I rinsed it off with really hot water so ya won�t get my germs.�
�Not at all.�
�You�re really sweet.� She leaned forward, as did Howard.
�You already said that.�
�I know.� They leaned towards each other. �I never really paid attention to how sweet you are until last night. Actually I really didn�t pay any attention to you at all.�
�I paid attention to you all the time.� They got closer.
�Is that why you don�t care that Jo�s with Alex?� Howard just nodded, as Sunshine kissed him. The kiss surprised them both and was interrupted by the telephone.
�Excuse me.�
�I better get going anyway.� They both got up. �I�ll see ya later.�
�Bye.� Sunshine left the room and Howard smiled. So his plan was going a little faster than he predicted. He could live with this. After about seven rings from the telephone he picked it up.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As Sunshine walked into the kitchen she saw Josephine and Kevin sitting there eating. They just looked at her, as she asked, �What the hell are you looking at?�
�We take it last night went rather well with Nick,� Josephine replied.
�Honestly it didn�t go with Nick last night,� Sunshine stated.
�Then where were you all night?� Kevin questioned a bit concerned.
�If ya must know I spent the night at D�s,� Sunshine answered. �But nothing happened.�
�What happened between you and Nick?� Josephine asked all excited.
Sunshine got really silent and closed her eyes. She stood there for a moment then left the kitchen teary eyed. Kevin and Josephine just looked at each other not saying a word.
CHAPTER 34
HOME