�That�s alright,� Nickolas said. �I had a few things I had to do anyway.�
�So what�s up?�
�Well I was hoping we could talk.�
�About what?�
�The breakup.� Sunshine didn�t say anything, but Nickolas knew she was still there from the sounds of her breathing.
�What about it?�
�I want to know the real reason why.�
�Nick, it�s�I�� She sighed and neither said anything for a few minutes and then Sunshine said, �I was afraid we�d end up sleeping together.�
�That it?�
�Yes.�
�Why didn�t you say anything?�
�I was afraid to. Using your lateness as an excuse was easier than the truth. I had no problem with you being late. I thought it was cute that you were worried about your appearance when we got together.�
�You should�ve said something.�
�I know and I hate that I didn�t.�
�I would never make you do something you didn�t want to do. You know that.�
�I know.� She sighed again. �That night on the beach was so amazing, but when things started getting really hot and heavy it just scared me so much. I didn�t know what to do. I didn�t know how to handle it. And I didn�t want to hurt you.�
�You wouldn�t have. I would�ve understood. I understood that night in New York you weren�t ready for sex and still understand, ya know. I care about you too much to pressure you into anything. You have to understand that.�
�I do understand that you care about me and I care about you just as much.� They stayed silent a few moments and Sunshine put her new �Lion King� memorabilia on the shelf with the other stuff. She set the candles around also and put one by the picture of her and Nickolas. �I do want to be with you, Baby.�
�But��
�I don�t know. I love being with you, but everything just seems so complicated right now. I know I made a mistake and I want to make it up somehow, but I have no idea how.�
�Then let�s get back together.�
�Nicky��
�Sunnie, come on. We both want the same thing.�
�I know that.�
�So why delay it then?�
�I don�t know. It�s just��
�Is it because of Howard?�
�No; of course not. Howie has nothing on you and he can never compete.�
�So ditch him.�
�It�s not that easy.�
�Why not? I�ll do it for ya right now. He�s in the room across the hall. I�ll go over and tell him you want me back and to hit the road.� She chuckled.
�You�re crazy.�
�For you.� They stayed silent a few moments again and Sunshine opened a box of the Swedish fish and stuck some in her mouth. �What are you doing?�
With a mouthful Sunshine said, �Eating.�
�Eating what?�
�Swedish fish.�
�Let me guess; the red kind.�
�Yeah.� She swallowed what was in her mouth. �V got them for me, because she pissed me off. It was an apology gift.�
�What�d she do?�
�Well, she, Des and Josie were harassing me about the mistake I made with you and it just pissed me off. I didn�t talk to them for a few days.�
�So they gave you gifts.�
�Yep.�
�Like what?�
�Des got me some �Lion King� stuff, Josie gave me this beautiful picture of us ladies in a beautiful frame, and V got me some Swedish fish, some strawberry candles, and this nice green cotton sweater. It�s really comfy and warm.� She sighed. �But you�re warmer.�
�Warmer than Howie?�
�Well I haven�t been in Howie�s arms the way I�ve been in yours.�
�Ya really don�t have to find out ya know.�
�Nick.�
�Sunnie.�
�Can you just bare with me for right now? I just need ya to understand for me.�
�Well I don�t and I probably won�t, but I�ll say I do just for you.�
�Thank you.�
�I�m doing this for you and no one else.�
�I know.�
�I better get some sleep. We have a show tomorrow.�
�Alright.�
�I�ll see ya whenever.�
�Whenever. Bye.�
�Bye.� She waited for him to hang up and then hung up herself, as she laid back on the bed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The girls sat in Sunshine�s kitchen talking and the phone rang. Sunshine picked it up and about a minute later she hung up. The girls looked at her a second and she took a sip of her soda.
�That was quick,� Danielle said.
�It was Alex,� Sunshine joked. �But he didn�t want to talk, because you�re here. He�s going to call back later.�
�Very funny,� Danielle replied.
�So what did you and Nick talk about?� Josephine asked, as Sunshine just looked at her.
�Josephine, what did we talk about earlier?� Danielle reminded her.
�Sorry, dude,� Josephine said.
�That�s alright,� Sunshine said. �I wouldn�t mind sharing, but I can�t because it�s between Nickolas and me.�
�That�s fine with us,� Venus said speaking for everyone, as they nodded.
�So when are you leaving?� Destiny asked.
�Not until April,� Sunshine replied. �Did you get Brian a birthday card?�
�Yeah I did,� Destiny said. �But he won�t get it until April.�
�That�s what you think,� Danielle said. �Alex gave me an address of where they�ll be on the twentieth and we can send it out tomorrow for him to get it by Wednesday. It�s called overnight delivery.�
�Really?� Destiny asked.
�Yeah,� Danielle said, as the phone rang and Sunshine answered it. �Either you can give it to me or I can give you the addy.�
�I�ll give it to you, because I�ll forget about it,� Destiny said.
�Des, phone,� Sunshine said. �I think its Maxwell House.� Destiny took the phone from Sunshine and started talking, as Sunshine said, �I need to shower and go to bed. I have work in the morning.�
�That�s right,� Josephine said. �I have work in the morning too.�
�We get to work together,� Sunshine said. �Yea!�
�Yea!� Josephine agreed and they laughed.
�I start work tomorrow,� Venus said. �I have to go. I�ll catch ya later.�
�Later,� the girls said, as Venus got up and left. The others just sat there for another half hour talking then left and Sunshine went and got her shower.
CHAPTER 38
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