�They�ve been in there for awhile,� Josephine said. �What do you thinks going on?�
�What if she murdered him?� Howard suggested. �And she�s trying to get rid of the body.�
�Don�t jump to any conclusions,� Kevin said. �We won�t know anything until they come out.�
�Josephine, I can�t believe you blabbed your mouth,� Nickolas stated.
�They had a right to know,� Josephine said.
�If Sunnie and Alex wanted them to know.�
�Don�t you have anything better to do?�
�No; I�d rather be here waiting to see how Sunnie is.�
�Well, she doesn�t need you, because she has me.�
�Yeah, the best friend who blabs her mouth to everyone about what happened. Some friend you are.�
�Will you two shut up,� Kevin ordered. �Your bickering ain�t helping any.�
�He started it,� Josephine said and Nickolas rolled his eyes and wondered why he ever went out with her.
�I don�t care,� Kevin replied. �Just knock it off.� There was a knock on the door and Josephine got up.
Josephine walked away and Nickolas said, �I can�t believe she told you guys.�
�Leave it go, Nickolas,� Kevin said. �We would�ve found out either way.�
�I guess I�m the only one that cares about Sunnie,� Nickolas said and Kevin just looked at him.
�Destiny, I don�t think she wants to talk to you,� Josephine said, as Destiny walked by everyone. �You did sleep with her boyfriend.� Destiny ignored her and went straight to Sunshine�s room. �There�s going to be some words.� They all waited for about five minutes and heard nothing. They stayed silent and Alexander walking into the parlor. Everyone just looked at him, as he sat down and sighed. �What happened?�
Alexander just looked at each person and asked, �What are all you guys doing here?�
�Josephine told everyone,� Nickolas replied.
�Thanks a lot,� Alexander said.
�So what happened?� Venus questioned.
�Did you break up?� Danielle asked.
�We had a long talk,� Alexander replied. �And we didn�t break up. We probably will though.�
�I can�t believe you slept with your girlfriend�s best friend,� Brian stated. �I think you need confession.�
�You�re such a�� Danielle said, but didn�t finish.
�Sunn�s such a sweet girl,� Bradley said. �She doesn�t deserve to be hurt.�
Nickolas just looked at Bradley and said, �Sunnie�s very special and Alex you shouldn�t have done what you did.�
�I feel bad already,� Alexander said. �You don�t need to make me feel worse.�
�I�m fighting the urge right now to beat the shit out of you,� Nickolas said and they all just looked at him. �I wouldn�t blame her if she did break up with you.� He got up.
�I apologized,� Alexander said.
�And that�s supposed to make it all better?� Nickolas wanted to know.
�What more do you want?� Alexander asked, but Nickolas didn�t say anything, but went out on the balcony.
Kevin joined him, as Richard asked, �Does he have a thing for her?�
�It�s more than a thing,� Brian replied. �It�s love. I�m surprised you don�t know, because everyone does.�
�Rich, Brad, and Devin weren�t at Alex�s party when Nick blurted out �Sunnie I love you� in front of everyone,� Howard stated.
�Always miss the good stuff,� Devin said.
�This time you didn�t,� Venus replied, as she noticed Sunshine and Destiny. �Is everything cool?�
Sunshine and Destiny just looked at each other and Sunshine said, �Sort of.�
�That�s good,� Danielle said, as Nickolas and Kevin walked back inside.
�What are you guys doing here?� Sunshine questioned.
�Josie called and told us what happened,� Howard answered.
�Thanks for being so trustworthy,� Sunshine replied going to the kitchen. �There�s another reason to throw your ass the fuck out.�
�Are you mad at me?� Josephine asked.
�Yes,� Sunshine said. �Don�t let it happen again or you�ll definitely be out.�
�I won�t I promise,� Josephine said.
�You guys made a huge mistake,� Kevin said and they all looked at him, as Sunshine walked from the kitchen. �Just because you were drunk didn�t give you the right to sleep with each other. You both hurt one person you say you care about and it wasn�t right. You most likely knew what you were doing, because Alex, you never did it before when you were drunk.�
Everyone just continued looking at Kevin and Sunshine said, �Kevin, that�s enough. I talked to them both and got the truth. You guys don�t need to know what happened. You can either stop harassing them or leave my condo. I�m hoping you�ll make the right decision.�
�I�m just looking out for you,� Kevin said.
�Thanks for caring,� Sunshine said, as Nickolas stood beside her. �But I can take care of myself.�
�I�m sorry,� Kevin said.
�Thank you,� Sunshine replied and everyone just stayed where they were. No one spoke or moved, but just looked at each other.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nickolas approached Sunshine�s room and saw the door open slightly. He knew she was in there since she was no where else in the condo. He went to knock, but stopped when he heard Bradley�s voice, �So what�d the doctor say?� Doctor?
�Stress,� Sunshine said. �Nothing serious.� Thank God. �He says it�s from all the work I�ve been doing and not really giving myself a break, ya know, so my body can�t catch up.�
�Ya have to slow down, Sunn.� Yeah, listen to the man, Sunnie.
�Yeah I know. The doc said the same thing. He suggested I see a shrink, because he believes there�s a reason I�m drowning myself in work and stressing myself out.� Is there? �But I refused the shrink so he suggested vacation.� Sounds nice. A trip for two to Paris, France for some R and R. Nickolas smiled and took something from his pocket. He looked at it and went to walk away, but stopped when he heard, �In a way I was kind of hoping it was more than stress.�
�How so?�
�Having a baby, Bradley.� Nickolas was more interested now and got a little closer, but careful not to make himself known.
�To hang onto, Nick?� What the fuck? She doesn�t need to have a baby to hang onto me. She has to know that.
�No, B, for the experience of motherhood. Seeing Madeline with Dominic is amazing. Makes me want to go through that experience myself. Plus it would�ve been Nick�s.� Whoa!
�You�re still young, Sunnie.� Shut up, Fischetti, or I�ll kick your ass. �You have a while yet.�
�I know. I have five years.� For what?
�Excuse me?�
�To get married and have a kid or two. If I don�t achieve either one by the time I�m 30 then it�s not going to happen.�
�Are you serious?�
�Yeah.� Better get my ass moving then. Nickolas looked at the object in his hand again and smiled. �It�s dangerous to have a baby after 35 so I�m playing it safe.�
�Right.� Valentine�s will be here before we know it, Sweets. �Then let�s get married.� Excuse me? Over my dead body. Hell not even then. Nickolas heard Sunshine laugh.
�Nice try, Fischetti.� Phew! Close one. I thought I was going to have to kick some serious ass. �I�d love to, but no.�
�Because of Nick?� Nickolas waited for Sunshine to answer, but she didn�t. He figured she shrugged, shook her head, or nodded yes. He hoped it was the latter. �Are you going to tell him?�
�Tell him what?�
�About your pregnancy scare.�
�I don�t know�no.�
�Sunshine��
�What? I�m not pregnant so he doesn�t need to know.
�Aren�t you being unfair?�
�No.� Yes you are, Sweets. �If I was I�d tell him, but I�m not.�
�You�re so stubborn.�
�I know.� She sounds so proud about it too. That�s one of the many reasons I love her.
�I love you, Sunn, and if your dreams of being with Nick don�t work out you know where to find me.� Yeah, yeah. �I mean it too.�
�Yeah.� They will work out so get lost. �You don�t mind being second best?�
�It�s better than nothing.� Yeah he�s got a problem with it. I mean who wouldn�t? It�s Sunnie. The hottest woman in the universe. She is fun, smart, talented, beautiful inside and out, passionate, romantic, gorgeous, caring, loving�ok Fischetti had enough time with her.
Nickolas took a deep breath and knocked on the door. �Sunnie, you in there?� Play it cool, Carter.
�Yeah, come in,� Sunshine said and he pushed the door open.
�Hey,� Nickolas said.
�Hey,� Sunshine said smiling at him. Good sign now tell Fischetti to get lost so I can rip your clothes off and make love to you all night, Nickolas thought. �Is there something you needed?�
�Um, I just wanted to see if you were all right,� Nickolas stated. �You disappeared.�
�I�m fine,� Sunshine assured him. �They�re Josephine�s guests and not mine.�
�Right,� Nickolas said and Sunshine continued smiling.
�I�ll leave you two alone,� Bradley said getting off the bed and walking out.
�Will you close the door?� Sunshine requested and Nickolas obeyed. �I have a question.�
�Ok,� Nickolas said joining her on the bed.
�Hypothetically speaking, what would you do if you found out your girlfriend was pregnant?�
�Um�� Ok is she pregnant?
�Well?�
�I would take full responsibility and make sure they�re taken care of and provided for. Why?�
�No reason. I was just curious.� She laid on her side and looked at him.
�Right.�
�So.�
�So.� They looked at each other. �Are you sure you�re all right?� She nodded and there was a knock at the door.
�It�s open.� The door opened and Alexander walked in. �Hey.�
�Hey,� Alexander said. �We�re going to the movies. Are you guys in?�
�I actually have some things I shouldn�t put off any longer,� Nickolas said. �I�ll sit this one out.�
�What movie?� Sunshine asked.
��Obsession�� Alexander replied smiling.
�Didn�t ya just see that the other day?� Nickolas asked and Alexander smiled.
�Like you haven�t seen it a million times already,� Alexander stated and Nickolas looked at them smiling.
�I�ll pass,� Sunshine said. �I�m not in the mood to watch myself.�
�Alright,� Alexander said. �We�ll see ya�s later then.�
�Yeah,� Sunshine and Nickolas said in unison and Alexander walked out. Sunshine and Nickolas looked at each other and Nickolas said, �How about that? He didn�t even offer to stay with his girlfriend.� Sunshine just shrugged and they sat in silence for about ten minutes. �I better go.�
�Yeah,� Sunshine said, as Nickolas got up.
�I�ll see ya,� Nickolas said walking out. That�s playing it cool, Carter. Then again when you�re around her she makes ya nervous. Hell just thinking about her makes ya nervous. You�re nervous when ya kiss. You�re nervous when you make love to her. You�re just plain nervous period. Just like you�re nervous now. Why does she have to be so good?
Nickolas didn�t make it through the parlor when he heard, �Nicky.� He quickly turned around at the sound of her voice and saw Sunshine by the hall. �Don�t go.�
�Uh��
�Please?�
�I have things to do.� Nice one. Hope she buys it.
�Quit making excuses, Carter, just because I make you nervous.� How�d she know? �I want you to stay. Please?� She smiled and he had to smile in return.
He hated when she did that; beg and smile. �Alright.� Got him every time.
�Thank you.�
�You�re welcome.� She walked over and stood in front of him, as they just looked at each other. Kiss her. Kiss her. Kiss her. Kiss her. Kiss her. Don�t be nervous. �I love you.� She knows that, Carter. Sunshine smiled. Kiss her. Kiss her. Kiss her. Who cares about Alex? He slept with Destiny last night so one kiss won�t hurt. He took her face in his hands and placed his lips on hers. Just one little kiss, Carter. He felt Sunshine�s hands on his face, as she kissed him in return. One little kiss. She pressed herself against him, as her arms went around his neck. One kiss. Little kiss. Sunshine�s tongue went across his lips; begging to be left in. Don�t do it, Carter. You do it ya won�t be able to stop. He didn�t listen and opened his mouth anyway. Like you want to stop. No. Of course you don�t.
�Make love to me, Nick.�
No. No. No. No. No. No. �Yes.� No. She jumped up and wrapped her legs around him. No. He carried her back to her room and laid her on the bed. He got on top of her and she quickly kissed him again. Ok. One very long kiss. No objections.
CHAPTER 24
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