�What?� Sunshine asked.
�Nothing,� they all said and Josephine added, �So what do you guys want to do?�
�I don�t know what you guys are doing,� Sunshine began, �but me, I�m going to relax in a nice warm bubble bath until my toes and fingers are all wrinkly and find something intriguing to read.�
�Then you do that,� Josephine said.
�I will,� Sunshine said looking at Nickolas. �Give me time. It�s still daylight out.� She laid on the loveseat and said, �Get me a drink, Jo.�
�Do I look like your maid?� Josephine asked.
�You�re dressed like one,� Sunshine smirked. �And do you still want to live here?�
�Must you throw that in my face all the time?� Josephine questioned getting up. �Would you boys like anything?�
�Sure,� both guys replied and Howard said, �I�ll help ya.�
�Thanks,� Josephine said and they walked to the kitchen.
Sunshine smiled at Nickolas and he smiled in return and joined her on the loveseat. She just looked at him and said, �Perhaps you�d like to join me for a warm bubble bath and we can read something intriguing together.�
�That�s a very, very, very, and I do mean very, tempting offer,� Nickolas replied. �But Josephine and Howard are here.�
�They�ll never know,� Sunshine said. �We can lock them in Josephine�s room.�
�Sounds like fun,� Nickolas said also smiling and then just as quickly he got serious. �But not today.� She looked at him. �You just broke up with Brad. You need time to heal.�
�Rub it in my face why don�t ya,� Sunshine said and Nickolas just looked at her. �He doesn�t want me anymore and it�s apparent that you don�t either.�
�Sunnie,� Nickolas said and she looked at him again. �I do want you, but nows not the time.�
�Don�t even think about giving me that line, Carter.�
�Why not? You said it all the time.�
�Exactly; that�s my line to use on you so don�t even think about stealing it.� He smiled and she just looked at him.
�I�m sorry Fischetti broke up with you.�
�It was because of you, ya know.� He just looked at her. �He doesn�t want to compete with you and I told him that no one asked him too. I really cared about him, Nick, ya know. Just as much as I care about you and I just�it hurts a lot.� Nickolas wiped away the lonely tear going down her cheek and hugged her. �It really hurts.�
�I know it does.� They sat there in silence a moment then Nickolas said, �Maybe its best it turned out this way.� Sunshine looked at him. �I mean, you are going to South Dakota next week and everyone hates long distance relationships.� She nodded. �So maybe in a way it�s a good thing, ya know.� She nodded again.
�Maybe these next few months away will help.�
�Maybe.�
�Why don�t I take a rain check on your offer though?�
�Whatever.� He grinned and Josephine and Howard rejoined them.
�What are you doing with my boyfriend?� Josephine asked handing Nickolas his beer.
�We�re having sex,� Sunshine said sarcastically taking her soda from Howard. �Will you leave so we can finish?�
�You�re funny, ya slut,� Josephine replied, as her and Howard sat on the sofa.
Sunshine glared at Josephine then looked at Nickolas, �Ya know it�s not 5:00 yet, right?�
�Its 5:00 somewhere,� Nickolas replied and Sunshine shook her head.
�And you�re an alcoholic,� Sunshine said.
�Why?�
�Because you�re drinking before happy hour,� Sunshine said. �That�s a sign of alcoholism and I�ll have no part of it.� Nickolas looked at her then at the beer in his hand and stuck it down. �That�s what I thought.� The phone rang and Sunshine picked it up.
They looked at her a moment then Josephine said, �Oh, Howie, I have something to show you. I think you�ll find it really cool.�
�What is it?� Howard asked.
�You�ll have to come to my room, because it�s kind of heavy,� Josephine replied. �It�s �Beauty and the Beast�. You can come too, Nick.�
�No thank you,� Nickolas said. �It�s not my thing.�
�Ok,� Josephine said, as her and Howard got up.
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Josephine opened the door to her room and left Howard in. She walked in behind him and closed the door, as Howard asked, �Where is this thing?�
�Right here,� Josephine said putting her arms around Howard and kissing him.
Howard kissed her in return and said, �That is cool.�
�I thought you�d say that.� They smiled. �I�ve been waiting all day to do that.�
�I�m glad ya got it out of your system.�
�Same here.�
�How�d you know Nick wouldn�t come and look?�
�Sunn told me he�s not a fan of �Beauty and the Beast�.�
�Great memory.�
�Thanks.� They kissed again. �Do you think they�ll get suspicious?�
�Nah; they�ll be clueless.�
�I hope so.� They kissed again.
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Sunshine sat on the loveseat and looked at Nickolas. Being with him made her forget what happened with Bradley earlier that day. She moved closer to him and he looked at her right before she kissed him. He kissed her in return a second before she pulled away. They looked at each other and she kissed him again.
�Perhaps we could arrange something for when I get back,� Sunshine suggested, as Nickolas pushed her back and got on top of her. �What are you doing?� Nickolas smiled and kissed her. �Josie and Howie can walk out any second, ya know.�
�We�ll hear them coming,� Nickolas started, �because Josie has a big mouth.�
�I guess there�s truth to that.� They laughed and Nickolas kissed her. �So do you want to get together when I get back?�
He kissed her neck and said, �We could do that. When do you get back?�
�Well, I�ll be off for Christmas and I think filming will be done about April.�
�But I�ll be in Europe in April.�
�Then I�ll come visit you.� They kissed again. �If you don�t mind that is. I�ll be in incognito that way the guys won�t see me.�
�That�d be great.�
�Then it�s a date.�
�Definitely. How about this, I give you a sample of what to expect, when we meet in April, before you go.�
�Sounds good.� They smiled and kissed. At that moment they heard Josephine and Howard and Nickolas quickly got off Sunshine and they sat up as Howard and Josephine walked out. Sunshine then said, �Oh yes, definitely, Nicky. I�ll take you all to the premiere.�
�You are,� Josephine said surprised.
�Yeah,� Sunshine said. �It�ll be a date.�
�Cool,� Josephine said.
�Anyway,� Sunshine said. �I�m going to get that bath. If I�m not out in ten minutes, just wait longer.� They laughed. �Seriously, if I�m not out by the time you boys leave, Nick, thanks for dinner.�
�You�re welcome,� Nickolas said and Sunshine walked away.
�Do you want to play Dreamcast?� Josephine asked.
�Sure,� Howard said.
�It�ll pass the time,� Nickolas said.
�Don�t ever ask Nicky if he wants to play video games, because the answer is always yes,� Howard said.
�Whatever,� Nickolas said, as Josephine got the game out.
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Sunshine started her bath water and put some bubbles in. She walked from the bathroom and sat on her and took her shoes off. She opened the nightstand drawer and took out the letter from Nickolas. She closed the drawer and sat there looking at the envelope. She then looked at the picture of her and Bradley and remembered that days events. She took a deep breath to stop her tears and looked back at the envelope. She sighed and got up then went into the bathroom with letter in hand to read it for the twentieth time.
CHAPTER 25
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