Everyone was back in Orlando and Sunshine decided to pay Brian a little visit. Sunshine kept thinking about a conversation she had with Brian and needed to talk to him. She didn�t call to let him know, but just showed up. He was surprised when she mentioned the conversation.
�Sunn, I don�t know what to tell you.�
�Just answer me one thing, are you in love with Venus?�
�Do you want to marry Nick?� They looked at each other.
�Yes I want to marry Nick, but it has nothing to do with this.� Brian just looked at her. �Brian, I�m just hoping you�re not using Venus, because you�re not sure about Danielle.�
�I�m not using V. I enjoy V�s company. I always have. If I didn�t care about her and what we shared I wouldn�t have suggested that we try again.�
�Brian, I�m not trying to make you sound like a bad guy, but I don�t think you really want to be with V, no matter what you shared, but you want to be with Dani.�
Brian stayed silent a second then said, �So did you and Nick set a wedding date yet?�
Sunshine just looked at him a little annoyed then said, �In 301 days.�
�Excuse me? 301 days?�
�February 14. Well I�m trying to convince Nicky, but he insists on a summer wedding on the beach.�
�It�d be nice.�
�Yeah; I even suggested about getting married in Jamaica or the Bahamas or even his place. Something like that and we�d still be on the beach.�
�What�d he say?�
�I don�t know. You know Nick, he never gives straight answers.�
�Why ain�t you with him today?�
�His parents are visiting and I suggested that they spend the day together. Since he hasn�t seen them for awhile, ya know, but what about you? What are you going to do?�
�I don�t know. I don�t want to hurt V and I don�t even know if Dani likes me. So really I don�t win either way.�
�Brian, I will tell you this. A big part of Dan is in love with you.�
�Doesn�t tell me what to do.�
�A wise man once told me something that made very much sense.� Brian looked at her. �He once told me �if you want something very badly you won�t stand around and watch it slip away�. I�m hoping he�ll take his own advice to heart like I did.� Brian continued looking at her. �Listen I�m going to go, because Kev wants to talk to me about Nick. I�ll see ya later.� Sunshine kissed Brian�s cheek then left.
Brian sat there thinking about what Sunshine said. He thought that she might be right about taking his own advice. He thought about it a moment more then went to Venus�.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�I�m glad you came by, Howie,� Kevin said, as they stepped into the kitchen.
�What�s up?� Howard asked.
�You tell me?�
�I don�t know what ya mean.�
�Don�t play games with me, because it ain�t going to work. I�ve noticed the way you�ve been looking at Sunn.�
�What do you mean?�
�Since we went to Paris you�ve been looking at Sunn more than your girlfriend. And when her and Nick announced they were engaged I knew something was wrong and I want to know what it is. Don�t say it�s nothing, because I know it�s something.�
Howard looked at him a moment then said, �There is something.� Kevin looked at him. �I thought it�d go away in a week, but I was wrong.�
�What is it?�
�I never got over Sunn.� Kevin looked at him shocked. �I thought I was, but last November, when we all found out about Alex and Des, I realized how strong my feelings for Sunn are. I was going to tell her, but she was with Alex and I thought she�d be mad at me for waiting like two years to tell her how I really felt.�
�I�m not sure I really understand. I thought you were in love with Josephine.�
�I am.� He sighed. �Really I don�t know. I actually thought that by going out with her I�d forget all about my feelings for Sunn. It worked, but it didn�t last long. When we were in Paris I couldn�t help but think of what it would�ve been like to spend that time with Sunn.� Kevin just looked at him and Howard continued, �I left the thought go after awhile, but couldn�t really keep my eyes off Sunn. Josie got my mind off her, but Valentine�s Day brought it all back when Josie asked me who I loved more; her or Sunn. Of course I said her, because I couldn�t very well tell her I�m in love with her best friend.� Kevin shook his head. �After that I started thinking about the Valentine�s Sunn and I didn�t share, because I was in Germany and she was in Pennsylvania. Maybe if we got to spend that time together we�d still be together.�
�You can�t determine how long a relationship will last by just one missed holiday. It�s determined by the love between the couple, not the time they spent together.�
�Perhaps if I realized how I felt I�d be the one marrying Sunn�not Nick.�
�Howie, no matter how much love, caring, and what not you gave to Sunshine and what she gave to you, there is one thing you�ll never be able to have.� Howard just looked at him. �And that�s her heart. She gave her heart to Nickolas a very long time ago.�
�Sunn and I shared something very special when we were together. I can�t help but wonder if I gave up on us too soon.�
Kevin looked at Howard then looked pass him to the kitchen doorway. Howard turned around and saw Sunshine and Nickolas standing there. Neither of them knew what to say for the first few minutes. Nickolas was ready to go after Howard, but stopped himself when Sunshine stepped in front of Howard. Nickolas and Kevin watched, as Sunshine looked at Howard and slapped him across the face. She didn�t say anything after that, but just walked out. Nickolas glared at Howard then went out after Sunshine. Howard looked at Kevin who just lowered his head. Neither said a word, because they didn�t know what to say.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Why the hell did Howie say that?� Sunshine questioned very angry, as she paced the parlor. Nickolas sat on the sofa and just watched her. �Is he trying to deliberately ruin my future with you?�
�I�m mad at him as much as you are, but standing here wondering isn�t getting us anywhere.�
�He admitted to Kevin that he still loves me. Am I supposed to be thankful for that?� Nickolas got up and walked over to her. �Does he want me to say I�m in love with him?�
�It makes me wonder if you are.�
�Well, I�m not. I�m in love with you and we will get married no matter who tries to stop us. My love for Howie is strictly platonic. If it�s even that anymore. How could you even think I was in love with Howie?�
�The thought crossed my mind when I heard Howie admit to Kevin that he still loved you. I couldn�t help but wonder if you�re in love with him.�
�Nicky, I�m not in love with D. I�m in love with you. I�ll always be in love with you.�
�I know.� He kissed her. �And I�ll always love you too.�
�But why can�t Howie see that?�
�I don�t know.� They hugged. �I don�t know what he thinks he�s doing. He just better not be thinking of a way to get you back, because I won�t have it. It took me three years and four months to finally get my very well deserved second chance with you. I�d rather die before I let someone take you away from me. Or before I give you up. So Howie can stop right now with what he�s doing.�
�I�m not going anywhere, Snuggle Bums.� He shook his head smiling and she kissed him. They sat on the sofa and Nickolas wrapped his arms around her.
�That�s what I like to hear.�
�You�re going to have to put up with me for the rest of our lives.�
�That�ll be fine with me.�
�Nicky, what if Howie does want me back and tries to break us up? What will you do?�
�What will you do? Will you give into his temptations? Or turn him away?�
�To be honest, Baby, I can�t tell you what I�ll do until that time comes, if it does. I�ll tell you this though; the only temptations I�ll be giving into right now are my fianc�s.� They kissed. �But what will you do?�
�Fight for the woman I love of course.�
�Devoted. I like it.�
�I�m glad.� He kissed her forehead and got up.
�Where are you going?�
�To make supper for my parents.� Sunshine took his hand.
�Where are they?�
�Went to visit some friends.�
�When will they be back?�
�Not until six or seven. Why?�
�It�s only going on three. We still have time to do whatever so sit with me.� Nickolas sat beside her. �Why don�t you ever make me supper?�
�I didn�t know you wanted me to. I thought you enjoyed making me food.�
�It got boring after awhile, but I enjoy being with you everyday.�
�And I enjoy waking you up every morning.� He smiled and kissed her. �So what do you have in mind for the next couple hours?�
�Something we haven�t done since Paris.�
�Sounds fun.� They both smiled and kissed.
CHAPTER 35
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