Sunshine walked into Bradley�s house and called for him. She didn�t get an answer and started searching the house for him. She didn�t find him anywhere and thought it was strange since he asked her to stop by. She walked down the stairs and decided to check outside. She opened the back door and saw him down by the pool. She smiled and walked down to join him. He looked at her and she kissed him then sat next to him.
�How�d ya know where I was?� Bradley asked.
�Well I searched your whole house and didn�t find ya so I figured you were out here,� Sunshine replied and Bradley nodded. �Is everything all right?�
�Why do ya ask?�
�You look sad.�
He sighed and said, �Everything about us, Sunnie.� She looked at him shocked. �I feel like I�ve been playing a part in your movie for the past few months.�
�I don�t understand.� He got up. �There�s no movie, Brad, just a confused girl who doesn�t know what she wants at the moment except her acting career.�
�That�s it, Sunn.� He turned and looked at her. �You already know what you want and it�s not me�its Nick.�
�No.� She got up. �I want to be with you.�
�That�s what you say, but it�s not how you feel.�
�How do you know?�
�Let�s sit down.� He took her hand and they sat back down. �The other week when you got drunk you were all over Nick.� Sunshine looked at him ashamed. �When Nick put you to bed that night, I overheard you say something to him. You probably don�t remember what it was.� Sunshine shook her head. �You told him that you loved him.�
Sunshine lowered her head and said, �I had no idea, Brad.�
�I know and I�ve been doing a lot of thinking.�
�What�s that?� She had to ask although she kind of knew what he was going to say.
�That perhaps we should go our separate ways.�
�Are you serious?�
�Yes.�
�But why?�
�Because I can�t compete with Nick.�
�No one�s asking you to. If I wanted to be with Nick I�d be with him right now, but I�m not. I chose to be with you. I love being with you and I love you.� They looked at each other surprised. Sunshine wasn�t going to take it back though. She meant it and he had to know that.
�You don�t love me the way you love Nick.� She just looked at him. �I love you too, but we both know it�s not going to work right now.�
�Brad, don�t��
�I made up my mind, Sunnie.�
�You don�t have to do this.�
�I think it�s for the best.� She shook her head. �I can�t be with a girl who has another man on her mind all the time when she�s with me.�
�I haven�t thought about Nick since that night we slept together when we�re together.�
�But you still think about him otherwise.� She didn�t say anything. �Trust me, Sunn; you�ll thank me later on.� She shook her head.
�I don�t understand why you�re doing this.�
�I�m freeing you to be with Nick.�
�But he�s with someone else.� They looked at each other a few minutes not saying anything and Sunshine got up. �Thanks for breaking my heart, Bradley. I really appreciate it.� She walked away.
�Sunshine!� She kept walking and Bradley watched her walk out of view.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sunshine didn�t feel like going back to the condo right away so she just walked around downtown Orlando. She just walked and heard a horn beep. She looked and saw Nickolas� truck pull into a parking spot. She didn�t stop, but continued to walk. She didn�t even stop when her name was being called.
�Sunn, wait up!� Josephine yelled. �What�s the rush?� Josephine finally caught up with her and spun her around. �What�s the rush?�
�Nothing,� Sunshine lied. �I just have a lot to do before I leave.�
�You leave next week,� Nickolas pointed out. �Can�t you take a few minutes and talk to us?�
�Um�� was all Sunshine got out.
�Why don�t you come across the street with us and get something to eat,� Josephine suggested.
�I�m not in the mood,� Sunshine said. �Maybe some other time. I just want to get all my stuff done. So I�ll see ya later.� She started to walk away, but Josephine pulled her back. �What?�
�What�s wrong?� Nickolas asked.
�Why is something always wrong with me?� Sunshine asked. �Just because I�m in a hurry doesn�t mean something�s wrong.�
�Something�s wrong with you today,� Josephine said.
�Didn�t it go well with Brad?� Nickolas asked.
�How the hell do you know I was at Brad�s?� Sunshine questioned.
�Jo said he called and that you were going over,� Nickolas answered and Sunshine glared at Josephine.
�I don�t want to talk about it,� Sunshine said. �It�s complicated.� She started walking again and they followed her.
�What happened?� Josephine asked, but Sunshine kept walking. �Sunshine Josephine Robinson�Fischetti.� Sunshine stopped walking, as Nickolas looked at Josephine and Josephine stood in front of her friend. �What�s going on?�
Sunshine looked at them then said, �He broke up with me. Excuse me.� She walked around Josephine and Josephine went after her.
�Sunn,� Josephine said stopping her and hugging her. �I�m sorry. I�m here if ya need a friend.�
�Right,� Sunshine said. You�re the last person I�d go to for a shoulder to cry on, ya backstabbing vial betrayer. Sunshine looked at Nickolas, as he just shrugged. �Ok, Josie, leave me go.� She pulled away from her.
�Will you join us?� Josephine practically begged. �You shouldn�t be alone right now.�
�I don�t know,� Sunshine said. �I mean, don�t you want to be alone with your boyfriend? You don�t realize what you have until it�s gone.� Nickolas looked at her not knowing if she was talking about the two of them or her and Bradley. �Trust me, I know from personal experience.�
�I already know what I have,� Josephine said grabbing Sunshine�s hand. �So let�s go.� She dragged Sunshine across the street with Nickolas in tow. They went into the restaurant and the hostess found them a table. She got their drink orders and then about two minutes later a waitress walked over. They gave them their order and she walked away, as they sat there looking at each other. �So why�d you and Brad break up? I thought you were so cute together.�
�I told ya it�s complicated,� Sunshine said. �And I don�t want to talk about it.�
�Why not?� Josephine asked. �I�m here for you.�
�I�m glad,� Sunshine said rolling her eyes. Ya backstabbing vial betrayer. Sunshine looked at Nickolas who was sitting across from the two girls. They looked at each other a moment then she looked away. They sat there about fifteen minutes with Josephine and Nickolas talking and Sunshine saw Howard walk through the door and she waved him over.
�What are you doing?� Nickolas asked.
�It�s D,� Sunshine said, as Howard walked over. �Join us.�
�Um�ok,� Howard said surprised by Sunshine�s invite and he sat beside Nickolas. �I wasn�t expecting to see you here.�
�I didn�t feel like making anything to eat so I talked Nick into bringing me here,� Josephine said.
�And we ran into Sunnie,� Nickolas added. �Josephine begged her into joining us.�
�It wasn�t pretty,� Sunshine said. �She was on her knees and tugging at my clothes. I decided to come along before she ripped my clothes off.�
�Sunn, quit bullshitting,� Josephine stated, as Sunshine just smiled.
�For some reason I can picture Josephine doing that,� Howard said, as Josephine kicked him under the table. Howard just smiled and they sat there a few more minutes before the waitress brought their food. She took Howard�s order and then walked away. They sat there eating in silence and the waitress brought Howard�s food and he began eating.
�Sunn, are you all right?� Josephine asked looking at her friend.
�Yeah,� Sunshine said.
�Are ya sure?� Josephine wanted to know.
�Yeah,� Sunshine repeated.
�What�s wrong with her?� Howard asked.
�Brad just dumped her,� Josephine replied.
�Thanks, Jo,� Sunshine said sarcastically. �Why don�t you just broadcast it on CNN for the whole world to know?� She shook her head. �If I wanted Howie to know I would�ve told him.�
�Sorry, dude,� Josephine apologized.
�Yeah,� Sunshine said, as Nickolas looked at her and no one said anything and they finished eating.
CHAPTER 24
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