�Did you call Madeline today?� Josephine asked, as her and Sunshine sat at the condo and played cards. �It is her birthday.�
�Yeah,� Sunshine said. �I called her, but no one was home. I sang to her over the answering machine though. I know she�ll call me back for that.� They laughed.
�Her wedding is soon approaching too,� Josephine said.
�Yeah,� Sunshine said. �People actually wanted me to do interviews and shit that weekend. I told Caitlin though that I wanted that whole weekend off.� There was a knock. �I got it.� She put her cards down and walked to the door. She opened it and saw Nickolas standing there. �Hey, Nick, what brings you by? Not that I�m complaining.�
Nickolas just smiled at her and said, �Josephine needs to talk to me.�
�Oh, then come on in,� Sunshine said stepping to the side. �I thought you were here to see me.� He smiled. �That�s wishful thinking though.�
�Must I remind you that you�re with Alex?� Nickolas replied.
�We�re just friends,� Sunshine smirked, as they joined Josephine and under her breath Sunshine said, �Didn�t stop you.� He looked at her.
�Hey, Nick,� Josephine said. �Glad you came.�
�What�s up?� Nickolas asked.
�If you�ll excuse me,� Sunshine said. �I�m going to try and call my sister again.� She left the two and walked back the hall.
�Sit,� Josephine ordered and Nickolas did so. �This won�t take long, I promise.�
�What�s on your mind?� Nickolas inquired.
�Us.� Nickolas just looked at her. �I don�t think we should see each other anymore.�
Oh thank you, God, Nickolas thought. I was just saved from being the bad guy here. �Right to the point. Why not?�
�Because it�s not going to work. I was fooling myself when I thought I could make you fall in love with me. It�s clear that you�re in love with Sunn and I could never take her place no matter how hard I try.�
�I�m sorry.�
�Don�t be. It�s not your fault. I was hoping I could get you away from Sunn and get your mind on someone else, but who was I kidding, right?�
�If it makes you feel better it worked for awhile.�
�I�m glad, but don�t blame yourself, because it�s my fault considering I knew you loved Sunn from the very beginning. So basically I�m to blame.�
�No you�re not. I�m as much to blame as you are.�
�I don�t want you to be sad over this, because I�m not going to be.�
�I guess I don�t have a say so in us breaking up. It�s clear you already made up your mind.
�Yes I did and I need to get ready for work.� She got up and walked away.
Nickolas sat there a moment thinking then got up just as Sunshine walked out. He didn�t see her, as he started towards the door and Sunshine said, �Nicky.� He turned around and saw her standing there by the sofa. �What�s wrong?�
Nickolas continued looking at her and said, �Jo just broke up with me. Not that it�d matter any to you.�
�Why wouldn�t it matter to me? I care about you very much.�
�Sometimes I wonder about that, Sunnie.� He opened the door.
�Nicky, what�s that supposed to mean?� He didn�t answer her, but walked out closing the door behind him. Sunshine just stood there dumbfounded and wondering what she did to Nickolas this time.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, Sunn,� Bradley said after swimming over to the edge of the pool where Sunshine was standing.
�Hey,� Sunshine said grinning. �I see you�re having a party and didn�t invite me.�
�Well it was a last minute plan. The guys came over with their girlfriends and some friends so�yeah.�
�Yeah.�
�You�re welcome to stay.�
�I know.�
�Hey, Sunn,� Richard said walking by.
�Hey.� Bradley climbed out of the pool and grabbed a towel.
�So what�s bothering ya this time?� Bradley asked.
�Nothing; why do you ask?�
�You have that look.�
�That look?� He nodded. �Fuck you.� He laughed. �I�ve just been really tired lately.�
�It couldn�t possibly have anything to do with all the work you�ve been doing the past couple months.�
�Bite me, Fischetti.�
�You can slow down, ya know.� She shrugged and he led her over to the table. �Would ya like a drink?�
�Sure.� He nodded and opened a bottle of beer. He got a plastic cup and poured some beer in and handed it to her. �Ya know I�m not a big fan of this stuff.� He smiled.
�It�s Corona.�
�So that makes it all better?�
�Yeah.� They laughed.
�Plus I�m driving.�
�Half a cup won�t hurt.�
�Right.� She sighed and took a sip.
�You had nothing better to do so you decided to stop by.�
�Something like that. Everyone�s got something to do except me.�
�You poor thing.�
�I know.� She smiled and so did he.
�Yo, Fischetti, who�s the babe?� one of his friends asked.
�Mike, this is Sunshine Robinson,� Bradley introduced. �Sunn, this is Mike Cronin.�
�Nice to meet you,� Sunshine said, as they shook hands. �Cronin?�
�Yeah; I�m Rich�s brother,� Mike said.
�Cool,� Sunshine said. �Very awesome.�
�You drinking?� Mike asked and Sunshine held up her cup. �Right.�
�Beat ya to it, man,� Bradley said.
�As always,� Mike said. �Excuse me though.�
�He seems nice,� Sunshine said.
�He is,� Bradley assured her. �He�s Rich�s brother so�� She smiled. �Something is bothering you.� She looked at him and sighed. �I know you, Sunnie.�
�I know.� She looked around a moment then back at Bradley.
�C�mon.� He took her hand and pulled her up, leading her inside. He led her to the den and shut the doors. �What�s going on?�
She waited another moment then said, �I�m late.� He looked at her and she waited.
�Late as in�� He didn�t finish and she just nodded. �How long?�
�I figure about four months.�
�Wow�um��
�You have nothing to worry about Brad. If I am pregnant it�s Nick�s.� She sighed. �I took a couple of those home pregnancy tests, but they were negative.�
�What�d the doctor say?�
�I haven�t gone to the doctor.�
�Why not?�
�I�m afraid of what he might tell me. I ain�t ready to have a kid.�
�How many tests did you do?�
�I�ve been doing one every week since May.�
�And they all said negative?� She nodded. �So then ya can�t be pregnant.� She sighed and sat down. �We can go to the doctor together.�
�So he can tell me something I don�t want to hear?�
�So you�re not going to go and make sure?�
�I don�t know.�
�So what are you going to do?�
�I don�t know.�
�Does Nick know?�
�No, why should it matter with the way he�s been treating me lately.� She chuckled disgustedly. �I can hear the explanation now, �Nick and I were fucking while he was with Josephine and I ended up pregnant with his kid�.� She shook her head. �Shit I was so stupid. Hell, I am stupid.�
�No you�re not.�
�Yes I am. I was supposed to remain a virgin until my wedding night and I screwed that up.� He just looked at her. �I can�t change it though. What�s done is done.�
�You shouldn�t be so hard on yourself.� She looked at him and he sat next to her. �You�re a great girl, Sunn, no matter what you may think. Ya make me smile.� She grinned and he smiled. �I�ll always be here so don�t forget that.�
�I won�t.� She hugged him. �Thanks, B.�
�Anytime, Baby Doll.� She looked at him a second then covered his lips in a kiss. He kissed her in return and she leaned back; taking him with her.
CHAPTER 19
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