Sunshine sat at the condo with her sister, Madeline, and Madeline�s fianc�, Nicholas. They sat in the kitchen having lunch and talking, but basically Sunshine was getting annoyed with her big sisters lectures about premarital sex. Madeline really didn�t have any room to talk since she was the one that had a baby and not Sunshine. She hated how her sister could be so hypocritical at times. She would do one thing and then when Sunshine did the same thing she lectured her about how wrong it was. Madeline always drove her nuts.
�Madeline, we had this conversation back in December,� Sunshine reminded her. �So I ain�t having it again. It�s over.� She sighed disgustedly.
�You were stupid to do it,� Madeline said. �What if it happens again?�
Sunshine looked at her not knowing how to answer that question, considering it already did happen again; and not just once or twice. She sighed then lied, �We only did it once and it ain�t going to happen again.� She got up. �Why does it matter anyway?� She rinsed off her plate and stuck it on the sink. �Nick, can I get some help here?�
�I can�t help ya with this one, Sunn,� Nicholas apologized.
�I�m just looking after my little sister,� Madeline said joining Sunshine at the sink.
�I�m 23 for crying out loud,� Sunshine said. �I ain�t so little anymore.�
�Exactly,� Madeline said. �You�re growing up way to fast.� Madeline just looked at her.
�I think you better take all that focus you have on me and put it on Dominic Joseph. He�s your main concern now and not me.� Sunshine picked up her three month old nephew and Madeline just watched her. �I�m getting lectured about premarital sex when I�m not the one with the baby.�
�Don�t turn this around on me,� Madeline warned. �I�m telling you for your own good.�
�You�re lecturing me, Madeline,� Sunshine said. �Would you be happier if I joined a convent?�
�Yes as a matter of fact I would be,� Madeline said and Sunshine rolled her eyes, as there was a knock at the door.
�Nick, I hope you know what you�re marrying,� Sunshine said walking out of the kitchen with the baby. She walked to the door and opened it. �Hey, Brad, come on in. You�re just in time actually.� He closed the door and they walked down to the parlor.
�For what?� Bradley asked.
�Saving me from my sister,� Sunshine replied, as Nicholas and Madeline walked from the kitchen. �You know Nick Lachey, right?�
�Yeah,� Bradley said, as he and Nicholas shook hands. �How�s it going?�
�Great,� Nicholas said. �And yourself?
�Pretty good,� Bradley said.
�The lovely lass beside him is his fianc�e and my older sister, Madeline,� Sunshine introduced. �Maddie, this is Brad Fischetti from LFO.�
�Hi,� Madeline said.
�And this little guy is my nephew Dominic Joseph Lachey,� Sunshine stated. �DJ, this is Aunt Sunnie�s friend, Brad.�
�Hi ya little guy,� Bradley said cooing over the baby.
�My kid is not going to be called �DJ�,� Madeline warned.
�Whatever,� Sunshine said, as Madeline took her son.
�We�re going to go,� Madeline said. �We have wedding plans to continue making so we�ll see you both later.� She put Dominic�s spring jacket on him and put him in his car seat then looked at her sister. �We will finish our discussion.� The two girls hugged and Nicholas kissed Sunshine�s cheek.
�We finished it at Christmas,� Sunshine said, as Madeline looked at her and Nicholas picked up the car seat. Sunshine watched them walk to the door and go out then looked at Bradley. �So.�
�So,� Bradley repeated.
�What brings you by?�
�Something to do.� She gave a slight nod. �It�s been awhile.�
�Yeah.�
�Plus I was wondering if you�d like to have dinner with me and the guys tonight?�
Sunshine sat down and said, �Sure.�
�That�s if you�re not busy.� He sat beside her and they looked at each other.
�I�m not.� She picked up a magazine and started paging through it. �I was going to make a big bowl of popcorn and watch a sappy love story with Nick and Jo. I�ll go with that way I don�t have to watch them being all mushy and shit with each other.�
�It shouldn�t be that bad.�
�You have no idea. I�m really not in the mood to see my �best friend� be mushy and making out with her boyfriend.�
�I understand.�
�I�m glad.� She sighed. �So who is Rich and Devon taking?�
�Dev�s taking Nikki and Rich is taking some Teryl girl he met at some club a few weeks ago.�
�Ya haven�t met her yet?�
�Nope.� She nodded and looked at him, as the door opened. They both looked as Josephine and Nickolas walked in hand in hand.
The four of them looked at each other and Josephine said, �Hey, Sunn, I got us some goodies for tonight. Hi ya, Brad, are you going to be joining us?�
�No,� Bradley said, as Josephine went in the kitchen.
�Actually,� Sunshine began, �I�ll be joining him tonight.�
The smile on Nickolas� face disappeared when Sunshine said those words. He looked at her, as she looked at Bradley and smiled. Nickolas sat beside Sunshine on the sofa and asked, �Where are you two going tonight?�
�We�re having dinner with Rich, Devin, Nikki, and Rich�s new girl, Teryl,� Bradley replied.
�Yeah right,� Josephine said looking out at them. �They�re probably having a romantic dinner for two at Brad�s house.�
�Whatever,� Sunshine said. �So what if we are. It�s no one�s business.� She looked back at Bradley. �What time should I be ready?�
�I�ll pick ya up at six,� Bradley replied. �I have to go though.�
�Already,� Sunshine said disappointed.
�I have some things I need to do yet,� Bradley stated.
�Alright,� Sunshine said.
�I�ll see ya at six,� Bradley said kissing Sunshine�s cheek and Nickolas watched.
�Bye,� Sunshine said, as Bradley got up and she watched him walk to the door and go out. �Brad�s such a sweetie.�
�Yeah, if ya like the big buff guys,� Nickolas said, as Sunshine looked at him.
�What�s that supposed to mean?� Sunshine questioned. �Maybe I happen to like big buff guys with nice bods and that�s why I�m giving you the runaround.�
�That�s not what you were thinking in Europe,� Nickolas stated and Sunshine looked at him. �You�re really going to go back out with him?�
�Am I detecting jealousy in the room?� Sunshine asked, as Josephine walked in.
�So you�re not going to be joining us,� Josephine said. �I was hoping on us getting fat together.�
�Sorry,� Sunshine said, as the phone rang and she answered it.
�It�ll just be you and me my dear boyfriend,� Josephine said kissing him. �I think I can live with that.�
�Ya think,� Nickolas said. �Perhaps I can change your mind to I can.�
Nickolas kissed Josephine again, to make Sunshine jealous, but not succeeding, as she said, �Jo, phone.�
�Who is it?� Josephine asked.
�Aunt Constance,� Sunshine replied handing her the phone then walking to the kitchen.
�Hold that thought,� Josephine said to Nickolas and she put the phone to her ear.
Nickolas watched Sunshine in the kitchen. He waited a couple seconds then went over and sat down at the opening. He watched her, as she cleaned off the table and then said, �I�m not jealous of Brad or any other big buff guy that�s interested in you.�
Without looking at him, Sunshine said, �Could�ve fooled me.�
�What guy wouldn�t be interested in my girl?� Nickolas said. �You�re very sexy.�
�Excuse me? Your girl?� She stood in front of him at the opening. �I�m no one�s girl, Nick. Aren�t you forgetting you�re with Josie?�
�Well�no. I thought you would always be my girl.�
�Nicky, I haven�t been your girl since��
�January 2002,� Josephine finished and interrupting.
�Exactly,� Sunshine agreed.
�Don�t get any ideas in your head to dump me to go out with her,� Josephine warned jokingly, as Sunshine glared at her.
�I�m not,� Nickolas said, as they kissed and Sunshine rolled her eyes and went back to what she was doing.
�I�m joking anyway,� Josephine said. �You guys share a lot and I�d be wrong if I tried to stop you from getting back together.� She smiled. �Listen, I have to go to Dani�s for a minute so I�ll be back in a flash.� She kissed Nickolas then walked away.
After they heard the door shut, Sunshine said, �I haven�t been your girl since that week and a half we spent in Europe. What changed since then?�
�Nothing,� Nickolas replied. �Why?�
�You never kiss me anymore when we�re alone. Hell you hardly even touch me.�
�That�s because we�re hardly ever alone.�
�We were alone last night and you didn�t do anything. You wouldn�t even let me kiss you. You made up some stupid excuse and left. Are you getting back at me for the way I treated you in the past?�
�No. Are you getting mad at me?�
�No, but why won�t you do anything? Did I do something wrong? Is it because I proposed?�
�Of course not.� They looked at each other and Nickolas smiled. Sunshine just shook her head and started loading the dishwasher. Nickolas watched her in silence for about ten minutes. She got two sodas from the refrigerator and walked back over to Nickolas. She gave a soda to Nickolas, but said nothing and played with the ring on her finger. Nickolas looked at her and said, �It�s just that when we were over in Europe, and I was with you that last night, when I went to the hotel to meet Jo, she kissed me and tasted strawberries on my lips.� Sunshine just looked at him. �She knew right away I was kissing you, because she said, �your lips taste like Sunn�s strawberry lip stuff�.�
�She said that?�
�Yeah; so that�s why I�m not kissing you.�
�Oh.� She was a little confused though and not really understanding. �Did you tell her the truth?�
�I did admit to kissing you and she took it as a kiss between friends.� They stayed silent for another ten minutes.
�So you�re just being cautious. I understand�I think.�
�But you�re not mad?�
�No.�
�Jealous?�
�No.�
�Thinking of a way to get rid of Jo?�
�No.�
�Then how about I kiss you?�
�No.�
�Why not?�
�Because then my mind will be on you all night and not on my date.�
�Not even one little kiss?�
�No.� He smiled. �I know your little kisses, Carter.� He continued smiling.
�A little peck?�
�No.�
�A kiss on the cheek?�
�No.�
�How about a quick roll in the sack?�
�No.�
�Not even for old times?�
�No!�
�You�re killing me here, Sunnie.�
�Good.� The door opened and Josephine walked in. �If you�ll excuse me, I have a date to get ready for.�
Josephine kissed Nickolas� cheek, as Sunshine walked out of the kitchen. Sunshine shook her head in disgust and Nickolas and Josephine looked at each other then kissed.
CHAPTER 11
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