Nickolas took a ride around Orlando and ended up at Brian�s. Ok, he had every intention of going there in the first place. Brian was his best friend after all. He wanted to talk to Brian about the situation with Sunshine and Howard. He woke up that morning feeling the same way he did when Sunshine told him; hurt, angry, upset, humiliated, disgusted, betrayed�. He felt worse than he did the night before actually. He needed someone to talk to and knew his best friend would always be there for him.
Nickolas knocked on the front door and waited a moment before Brian opened the door saying, �Hey, Nick.�
�Hey, Rok,� Nickolas said. �Do you have like an hour to spare?�
�Sure, come in.� He left Nickolas in then closed the door. �What�s up? It looks like something�s bothering you.�
�Yeah.� They walked to the parlor where Danielle was waiting. �You and Sunnie can always tell when something�s bothering me. Hey, Dani.�
�Hi, Nick,� Danielle said, as Brian sat beside her and Nickolas sat across from them.
�So what has you so blah?� Brian asked.
�It involves Sunnie and Howie,� Nickolas replied.
�What�d they do?� Danielle questioned.
�Let me tell you the story,� Nickolas said. He took a deep breath then told them the whole story from where he and Sunnie both showed up at Kevin�s to where they heard Howard admit his love for Sunshine to Kevin. He also told them the conversation Sunshine and Howard had the day before.
�Wow,� Brian said. �Intense stuff.�
�That�s not all,� Nickolas said. Danielle and Brian just looked at him. �Sunnie and Howie kissed yesterday too.�
�You�re kidding,� Danielle said.
�I wish I was, but Sunnie told me herself and she�d never lie to me,� Nickolas said. �She was really upset and crying and a total mess.�
�Of course she�d be a mess,� Danielle said. �She�s in love with you and she kissed another man. She most likely thinks she betrayed you in some way.�
�She said it was just for, like, a second,� Nickolas said. �But�� He sighed.
�What�d you do?� Brian asked.
�Nothing,� Nickolas answered. �I didn�t know what to do or say and I still don�t. I hardly got any sleep over this. I�m hurting and upset and that�s why I�m here.�
�You want to know what to do,� Brian said. �Am I right?�
�Yeah,� Nickolas said. �I want to know why she kissed him.� He looked at Danielle. �Dani, you�d probably know. You went out with him. What kissing charms does Howie have that I don�t?�
�Those lips,� Danielle said smiling and Nickolas just looked at her not at all amused. �What kind of kiss was it?�
�I don�t know. She just said it lasted a second and she pushed him away and slapped him across the face.�
�Then I�m going to stick with the lips. Plus Howie�s a sweet guy and for Sunshine to push him away must�ve taken all the love she has for you.� Nickolas looked at her. �Nickolas, do you love her?�
�If I didn�t, I wouldn�t be so upset and hurting right now.� He got up and started pacing around the room. �I would be not caring and going on with my everyday life.�
�Just give me a straight answer.�
�Yes I do love Sunnie. I love her with all my heart and soul and she knows that.� He walked over to the window and looked out.
�And she loves you,� Brian stated. �So what are you doing here right now and not with her getting pass this kiss with her and Howie?�
�I don�t know,� Nickolas replied. �I�m not really sure why I�m so upset, because it didn�t mean anything to her.�
�Probably because she kissed one of your best friends,� Danielle said.
Nickolas continued looking out the window and Brian said, �Nick, don�t let one little kiss ruin your future with Sunn. If you love her enough you�ll get through this kiss.� Nickolas stayed silent. �Let me give you some of my own advice, Nick.�
�What would that be?� Nickolas questioned looking at his friend.
�If you want something very badly, you won�t stand around and watch it slip away,� Brian replied. �Trust me, Nick, it works.� He and Danielle looked at each other then kissed.
Nickolas stood there looking out the window and thinking for the next few minutes. He then turned to Brian and Danielle and said, �Thanks for your time, patience, listening, and advice, but I have to g. I�m sorry I interrupted you two.�
�No problem,� Brian and Danielle said simultaneously.
�If you�ll excuse me,� Nickolas said. �I have a wedding to plan.�
�Go get her, Tiger,� Danielle said smiling.
Nickolas smiled in return then walked out of the room. Danielle and Brian looked at each other and kissed. Brian then said, �I knew everything would work out.�
�So did I. I�m happy for them.�
Brian smiled. �But do you remember where we were before Nick showed up?�
�Perhaps you could refresh my memory. It�d help a lot.�
�Gladly.� He kissed her. �Now do you remember?�
�I think I do.� They kissed again.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sunshine had just finished putting the dishes in the dishwasher when there was a knock at the door. She waited a moment before going to answer it and there was another knock. She decided to answer it while hoping it was Nickolas and not Howard. She left the kitchen and went to the door, as there was third knock. She got to the door and looked through the peephole. She smiled and opened the door.
�Brad!� She quickly hugged him. �I�ve missed you.�
�Same here.� He hugged her in return and they went inside.
They walked to the parlor and Sunshine asked, �How was touring?�
�Long and tiring, but fun as always. How was Paris?� Sunshine just smiled. �Must�ve been worth it.�
�It was, because I got to spend Valentine�s with Nick in the City of Love.�
�How�d that happen when you�re with Alex?�
�Man you were gone a while.� They laughed. �I�m not with Alex anymore. We broke up the beginning of February and Nick and I finally got together. And Alex is with Des now.� Bradley nodded. �Then this is the best part; on Valentine�s Nick took me to this really romantic spot and asked me to marry him.� Bradley just looked at her and she showed him the ring. He just looked at it not saying anything. �Ain�t it pur-ty?� She smiled and looked at the ring herself.
Bradley didn�t know what to say at first then said, �It must�ve took you by surprise.�
�Yeah; of course I said yes.� She looked at the ring again and neither of them said anything for a long time.
What could Bradley say? The woman he was in love with just got engaged to someone else. Not just someone else. One of his best friends. It was awkward for him now. He goes there to tell her how he really feels and she lays this on him. He was happy for her though. He wasn�t going to deny that, but his heart just broke in half. He always wanted her to be happy and if this makes her happy then he wasn�t going to ruin that�even it was with Nickolas.
�I�m happy for ya, Baby Doll.� She looked at him and smiled.
�Thank you.� She hugged him.
�But there�s something wrong.�
�You hit that right on the little bird�s tail.�
�Do you want to talk about it?�
�Do you want to know?�
�If you�re willing to tell.�
�Then if you�re willing to listen.�
�My ears are open and I have no place to be.� Sunshine just looked at him. �Wait a minute; don�t you want to marry Nick?�
�Definitely, but the thing is I don�t think Nick wants to marry me after what happened yesterday.�
�What happened?�
�Brad, you became, like, my best friend these past few years. I know I can tell you anything and you won�t tell a single soul, but this you must promise you won�t say anything.�
�Sunn, you�re my best friend. I would never do anything to change that so I promise you that I won�t say anything. So what is it?�
Sunshine took a deep breath then told Bradley everything that happened. After she was done, Bradley just sat there thinking and Sunshine said, �Now do you understand why Nick wouldn�t want to marry me?�
�It was just one little kiss. Nick most likely understands that.�
�What if he don�t?�
�He will. Trust me. Do you have enough faith that you�re love for each other will win in the end?�
�I have a lot of faith in that. Falling in love with Nick and getting engaged to him were two of the best things that happened in my life. I�ll be damned if I let one stupid little second kiss change all that.�
�That�s that kind of attitude I like from you.� There was a knock.
�Hold on a minute.� She got up and Bradley watched her walk to the door. She opened the door, but didn�t see anyone. Instead, she saw a bouquet of red roses. �What�� The flowers came down to reveal a face and Sunshine said, �Nick, what�� Nickolas covered her lips with his own not letting her finish.
After the kiss, they smiled and Nickolas said, �I realized I was wrong about walking out last night and letting a stupid little second kiss get between us.�
�Really? You�re not mad?�
�Of course not, Sweets. The only way I�d be mad is if you slept with him.�
�I didn�t.�
�That�s great.� He looked and saw Bradley. �Hey, Brad.�
�Hey, Nick,� Bradley said.
�Sunnie, ya know what.� She looked at him. �We�re having a wedding in 292 days and I don�t want to stand out here while we make the plans for it.�
�I will leave you two alone,� Bradley said joining them. �And congrates to you both.� He hugged Sunshine then left.
�These are for you,� Nickolas said handing Sunshine the roses then kissed her.
�Get in here ya big lug,� Sunshine said pulling him inside. He shut the door and they walked to the parlor. �So you really want to get married on Valentine�s Day next year?�
�Yes; it�s what you want.� He smiled and kissed her. �So we have lots of stuff to plan, ya know, all that wedding stuff.� They sat on the sofa. �I was thinking that we could have the wedding in Jamaica or the Bahamas like you suggested and the other one could be were we go on our honeymoon. Unless you want to go to Paris.�
�Right now wherever is fine, because I�m just happy we�re still together.�
�Me too.� He kissed her and held her tighter in his arms.
CHAPTER 38
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