The girls sat in a limo on their way to surprise the guys. Danielle and Sunshine knew Nickolas would be the most surprised and Sunshine couldn�t help smiling. Her friends had no idea what she had planned and Sunshine wanted it that way. Although they were curious about Sunshine�s continuous smiling, they didn�t ask questions.
Half the ride to the arena they sat in silence. When they arrived they heard music and screaming girls and knew right away they were in the middle of a show. As they went inside, they chatted with a bodyguard and found out the guys would be taking the bus back to the hotel. They stayed and watched a few minutes of the show then went out on the bus. There they stayed watching some movies and playing video games and whatever else they could find for the next 30-45 minutes.
The guys got on the bus and were totally surprised to see Venus, Destiny, and Danielle sitting up front talking. Kevin kissed Danielle right as soon as he saw her and Brian just watched. Alexander took Venus in his arms and kissed her a millions times over, as Destiny just remembered the words Josephine said.
Nickolas and Howard didn�t notice Sunshine and Josephine. Thinking they didn�t come they started getting disappointed then heard Sunshine yelling, �No I killed you! You�re dead so die!�
�I killed you first!� Josephine yelled back, as Nickolas and Howard walked to the back.
The two guys stood there and Nickolas asked, �Having fun?�
Josephine looked up from the game and losing control of her guy. A few seconds later Sunshine said, �Ha! I kicked your sorry ass and you are dead. That�s two games I won so you owe me $10, Honey. What do I owe you? Five bucks?�
�For now,� Josephine said getting up and starting to walk towards Nickolas and Howard. �How�Nick.� She stopped herself from saying Howard�s name and both Nickolas and Howard just looked at her. She gave Nickolas a kiss and said, �I missed you.� They hugged and Josephine looked at Howard and Nickolas looked at Sunshine who just smiled at him.
�Jo, you coming back to play?� Sunshine asked just to interrupt their hugging.
�Duh,� Josephine said walking back and sitting down. �I still have to kick your ass.�
�Let�s see ya try,� Sunshine smirked. �I�m a pro at Tekken. By the time the night�s over you�ll owe me a trillion dollars and be in debt for the rest of your life. Ya know I�m a pro at this game.�
�What are you playing for?� Howard asked sitting on the opposite side of Sunshine.
�Something to do,� Sunshine replied sarcastically, as Howard just looked at her. �I�m kidding.�
�Just one,� Josephine stated, as they began playing.
�Only one,� Nickolas repeated. �You should up the stakes a little, girls.�
�Sorry if all of us ain�t rich like you,� Josephine said.
�Don�t be so harsh on him, Josie,� Howard said. �He keeps forgetting the little people.�
�Shut up, D,� Nickolas said.
�Make me,� Howard replied. �I bet ya can�t.�
�Will you two grow up,� Sunshine stated. �That�s stuff we did back in second grade and aren�t we 24 and 31? That�s what I thought.�
�Perhaps you�d like to go a round also,� Howard suggested.
�It sounds tempting,� Sunshine began, �but you�ll never be able to handle me. I thought you learned that when we were together.�
�You�re disgusting,� Josephine said getting a little annoyed with Sunshine�s flirting with Howard. �And stop your flirting.�
�I don�t flirt,� Sunshine said. �I seduce.� She looked at Nickolas and he smiled.
�Whatever,� Josephine said starting to get mad.
�Even if I was flirting with Howie it wouldn�t be any of your concern,� Sunshine said. �You�re not his girlfriend.�
�You�re right, I�m not,� Josephine said throwing the controller down and walking away.
�What was that all about?� Sunshine and Nickolas inquired and looking at each other.
�I�ll go talk to her,� Howard said getting up. Nickolas and Sunshine watched Howard walk away.
Sunshine picked up the controller and handed it to Nickolas saying, �Play?�
�Sure,� Nickolas said taking the controller. �What are we playing for?�
�If you win the most games, I�ll arrange us to have dinner tomorrow night since you have off. And if I win��
�Hold on a minute. It�s past twelve so do you mean tonight tonight or tomorrow night? I can do tonight, but not tomorrow.�
�Tonight.�
�Alright. If you win the most��
�Then you have to give me that shiny pretty necklace in your pocket.� She smiled, as Nickolas looked at her. �And don�t tell me you didn�t get it for me, because I know better than that.�
�Then you have a deal.� Sunshine put out her hand and Nickolas put his in it. She went to shake, but Nickolas kissed her instead and she kissed him in return not caring who saw. They started playing and continued playing after they got to the hotel.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�So I win,� Sunshine said and Nickolas just looked at her and smiled, as she turned the game off.
�I guess you do,� Nickolas said grabbing her by the waist and throwing her on the floor of the bus. He positioned himself next to her and she just looked at him. �You might have won this game right now, but in the end I�ll be winning the ultimate prize.� He kissed her, but she stopped him.
�I�m no ones prize, Carter.�
�I know. I just��
�I wish you people would stop thinking of me that way. I hate it.�
�Sorry.�
�Between you and Brad I don�t know who�s worse.�
�Brad.� Sunshine shook her head and grinned, as Nickolas smiled. �Having your love would be the greatest prize someone could ever have.� Sunshine just looked at him. Two men had her love although one of them didn�t know it. It was easy to tell Bradley how she felt, but with Nickolas it was difficult for her. She didn�t know why though. She wanted to tell him, but she couldn�t. She knew he felt the same, but a little part of her was afraid he didn�t and she didn�t want to get hurt. Sunshine looked at him and he said, �I love you, Sunnie.� She just smiled and left him kiss her a moment. �I was hoping for a response.�
�I can�t, Nick, I�m sorry.� She pushed him off her and got up, but he grabbed her.
�Wait, where ya going?� She looked at him and he pulled her down onto his lap.
�You have a girlfriend, Nick.�
�That didn�t seem to bother you that night at the condo.�
�And I made a mistake that night. I betrayed one of my best friends by sleeping with her boyfriend.�
�So you regret sleeping with me?�
She rubbed her hands over her face moaning, �Ugh!� She got up and Nickolas looked at her.
�So we�re back to me not understanding you and making things so complicated.�
�You�re the one making things complicated.�
�How?� He got up. �How am I making things complicated?�
�You�re with Josephine for crying out loud. You want to be with me intimately and what not yet you�re still with your girlfriend.�
�I wanted to be with you before I got with Jo, but you went ahead and got with Fischetti.�
�That was before I knew what I wanted.�
�So you�re saying you know what you want now.�
�Yes�no�I don�t know.�
�Which is it, Sweets?�
�I don�t know. I want my heart to decide, but it won�t. I�m stuck in the middle, but you being with Josie hurts so much.�
�Now you know how I felt.� They looked at each other for the longest time and the tears filled Sunshine�s eyes. She had no idea what to do. Here was this man she was in love with, but she couldn�t be with him like she wanted to. He was with her best girl friend and she hated it. From what she was gathering he wasn�t planning on breaking up with her anytime soon which just pissed Sunshine off more. He wouldn�t break up with her, but he wanted to screw around Josephine�s back with Sunshine and Sunshine didn�t want to live like that. At least with Bradley she knew exactly how he felt and what he wanted. Nickolas was just making things complicated for her even more and she just wanted to beat him for it. �Sunnie�� He went to embrace her, but she pushed him away.
�Don�t alright.� She wiped her eyes. �I don�t need this...you�us��
He looked at her closely and said, �I�m sorry.�
�Forget it. I don�t know where I stand with you anymore and its��
�Sunnie, I love you and you know that. Nothing is going to ever change that. No one is going to ever change that. I don�t care what anyone says or does, because the way I feel about you is never going to change. My love for you is for eternity. I gave you my heart the second I saw you and I don�t want it back. It�s yours too keep.�
�And if I don�t feel the same?�
�I don�t care. I still wouldn�t want it back.�
�Right.�
�I know you feel the same.� She looked at him surprised. �If you didn�t you wouldn�t have slept with me. You reciprocate those feelings I have for you.�
�Is that enough? Knowing?�
�I�d love to hear you admit it, but I guess knowing is enough. I�d never pressure you into doing anything or saying anything you weren�t ready for. Right now I�m glad to have you in my life, ya know, and I wouldn�t trade it for the world. If I die right now just knowing then that�ll be enough for me. It�s better knowing you feel the same than not knowing at all.� She wiped her eyes again and just looked at him. �If you tell me now or ten years in the future of how you feel my feelings aren�t going to change any. I�ll still love you 1000 years from now. And if you don�t feel the same then at least I got to experience what true love is. I love you enough to let you go. If you want me to let you go just say the words; I�ll do it for you.�
�It�ll be that easy.�
�I never said it was going to be easy. It won�t be easy, but I�ll do it just for you if that�s what you want.�
�I don�t want you to let me go.� She started crying all over again and Nickolas took her in his arms. �I want you to love me. It�s all I ever wanted.�
�I�m never going to stop, Sweets.� She looked at him and took her fingers over his lips. He just looked at her and she brought his head down so she could reach his lips. She placed her lips on his and kissed him passionately. He kissed her in return and lifted her off her feet. They kissed a few moments until they heard a noise. They looked and saw the driver. �Um�Don.� He put Sunshine back on her feet.
�Don�t mind me,� Don said. �Just getting my book.� Sunshine and Nickolas looked at him. �I�m just the driver so it�s none of my business who you kiss. You�re kids so carry on.� He walked back off the bus and Nickolas and Sunshine looked at each other and started laughing.
�Maybe we should move this someplace else,� Nickolas suggested.
�Maybe,� Sunshine agreed, as Nickolas picked up her bags and then led her off the bus.
CHAPTER 6
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