Everyone, except Sunshine, sat at Howard�s. He got them all together for dinner before the guys left for their American tour. After they finished they went to the parlor to watch some movies. They all sat down and Alexander asked, �Hey, where�s Sunn? I haven�t seen her for a few days.�
�She left,� Josephine said and Nickolas looked at her. �Caitlin called and she had to leave earlier. It was a last minute thing so she didn�t have time to say bye to anyone.�
�When will she be back?� Kevin asked.
�She�ll be home for Christmas then leave after the New Year and won�t be back until April,� Josephine explained.
�Oh,� they all said.
�I�m supposed to tell ya�ll bye,� Josephine said and they laughed.
Nickolas stood there looking out the window, as the others picked out a movie. He looked at them and then left the room. Kevin saw him leave and when he heard the door shut, he got up and went outside. Kevin found Nickolas standing on the front porch looking at nothing.
Kevin stood beside his young friend and said, �Alright, Nickolas, what�s wrong?�
Nickolas looked at him and said, �She did it again, Kev, left without saying a word. She said if she left earlier than she was supposed to she�d come and say bye. But she didn�t. I thought we were finally working things out between us, but I guessed wrong�as usual. What am I doing wrong? Am I trying to hard to get her back?�
�I don�t know what to tell ya, Nick,� Kevin replied. �It�s probably not you. She�s probably just afraid you two will end up sleeping together again and she doesn�t want that.�
�She told you?�
�Dani and I.�
�So much for keeping it secret.� Kevin looked at him. �I just don�t understand her. The other day we were making plans to get together before she left and then she leaves without telling me. I don�t know what�s going on with her, Kevin. Half the time I don�t even know where I stand in her life.�
�I told you before, Nick, give her space and she�ll most likely come back.�
�I give her that space and started seeing other girls like she asked, but she�ll start flirting with me and coming on to me and the moment I start it she pushes me away.�
�Nick, it�s obvious she�s playing hard to get.�
�That makes me feel so much better.� He rolled his eyes. �But why is she?�
�I don�t know. It�s clear she knows what she wants, but probably ain�t sure if it�s the right thing. Sunshine could just be testing herself�and you to make sure you really want to be with her.�
�I do.� The door opened and they looked to see Destiny.
�Movie�s starting,� Destiny said.
�We�ll be right there,� Kevin said, as Destiny closed the door. �Nick, you�re just going to have to wait to hear what she says and wait to see what she does. Really, you and Sunshine shouldn�t be sneaking around, because you�re with Josephine. It�s not fair to her.�
�Actually I don�t think Jo really cares what I do,� Nickolas stated. �Her mind seems to be far away from me and on something or someone else.� Nickolas walked away and went inside.
Kevin just stood there a moment shaking his head. He looked in the window and saw Josephine and Howard messing around. As he walked back inside he started to think that maybe there is truth behind what Nickolas said.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Destiny and Kevin were standing outside the apartment, Destiny and Venus shared, kissing. Kevin dropped Destiny off after Howard�s and walked her to the door to make sure she got there safe. Kevin wanted to leave, but Destiny kissed him before he walked away.
�Why don�t you come inside,� Destiny suggested.
�I can�t,� Kevin said. �I have to get up early tomorrow.�
�Then you can get up early beside me.�
�It�s very tempting, but I can�t. And we�re not ready for a relationship like that yet.�
�Why are you always right?� Kevin just shrugged and kissed her.
�Don�t you have work tomorrow anyway?�
�Yeah, being a legal secretary is a very demanding job.�
�Probably not as demanding as mine.�
�You try sorting out all kinds of criminal cases and put them in the places they belong and hope it�s right and then we can talk.�
�I�ll stick with the singing.�
�Ok.�
�You just go inside and have sweet dreams.�
�Of me driving around in my yellow bug I�ll own this weekend.� Kevin smiled. �Ok, so I do need this job. It pays good so yeah.�
�Goodnight then.� He kissed her.
�Are you sure you don�t want to come in for a night cap?�
�I�m sure.� They gave each other a kiss goodnight and the door opened.
�Do you mind not kissing in front of my apartment?� Alexander asked and they looked.
�I�m so sorry, Sir,� Kevin said, as they laughed.
�I have to go, Baby,� Alexander said. �I need to get up early.�
�So do I,� Venus said. �Instead of assistant secretary I am just secretary this week.�
�Promotion?� they all asked.
�No,� Venus said. �Claudia went on vacation.�
�Oh,� they all said.
�Goodnight,� Venus said kissing Alexander.
�Bye, Kevin,� Destiny said giving him another kiss then going inside just as Venus and Alexander stopped kissing.
�Bye,� Kevin said.
�Bye,� both girls said and they watched the two guys walk down the hall to the elevator and out of sight.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nickolas and Josephine walked around Wal-Mart so Nickolas could get some things he needed. Josephine asked him to stay at the condo with her since Sunshine was out of town. He reluctantly agreed and instead of going down to Tampa to get the things he needed he decided to stop at Wal-Mart and pick it up. They walked through the men�s department looking at the clothes and they spied Bradley doing the same thing. He looked up and spied them also and Josephine glared at him. He just looked at her and then walked over to them.
�Carter,� Bradley said.
�Fischetti,� Nickolas said.
�Hey, Josie,� Bradley said.
�You�re a dick,� Josephine blurted out and they looked at her, as did the other customers and staff.
�Excuse me?� Bradley said.
�You broke Sunnie�s heart,� Josephine reminded him. �And made her leave town again.� The two guys looked at each other then back at Josephine.
�I thought her agent called her?� Nickolas asked.
�No,� Josephine replied. �That was just an excuse so no one knew the real reason.� She looked at Bradley and said, �She left early so she didn�t have to see you and have her heart broken again.�
�Um�� both guys said and looked at each other.
�Isn�t Sunshine entitled to happiness?� Josephine wanted to know. �Did ya just want to get her in the sack and when ya realized that wasn�t going to happen you decided to get rid of her?�
�Um, no,� Bradley replied.
�Right,� Josephine said. �Excuse me.� The two guys looked at her, as she walked away.
�What was that all about?� Bradley asked.
�Ya got me,� Nickolas answered.
�So Sunn�s out of town?� Bradley said.
�I guess so,� Nickolas said. �She didn�t say anything to me about leaving. I thought she was leaving Friday.� He shrugged and went back to looking at the clothes. �The last time I talked to her was Wednesday. I seen her after that, but we didn�t speak. My guess is she blames me for you breaking up with her.�
�So she leaves town?�
�I don�t know why she left. Josephine told all of us it�s because Caitlin called her for the movie. Then she tells you it�s because you broke her heart. I�m not Sunnie�s boyfriend and she made sure of that. If you�re so worried about her then call her and don�t come asking me all sorts of questions, because I don�t know. Sunnie doesn�t tell me anything anymore so yeah.�
They stood there in silence a moment or two then Bradley said, �Ya know, Nick, are friendship hasn�t been the same since Sunshine came into our lives.�
�Well we both want her and know she can�t have us both so what do you expect?� They looked at each other. �We were all fine until she started going out with you. So yeah that�s going to put a strain on things, ya know. And if she chooses either one of us it�s going to be a hell of a lot worse. Excuse me; I have a girlfriend to find.� He walked away and Bradley just stood there.
CHAPTER 26
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