�I�m sure everything�s fine, Baby,� Brian said. �They�re probably spending sometime alone�to make up for the other night.�
�Maybe you�re right. I�m still worried though.�
�Don�t be, because there�s nothing to worry about. The next time we see them everything will be normal. Ya know, with them all over each other no matter where they go.� He laughed and Danielle just smiled and shook her head.
�I have this feeling Sunn left town again.�
�If she did she�s probably with Nick. They probably went on vacation somewhere to be alone.�
�You�re not worried about this?�
�No, because they�re deeply in love. How long have they stayed apart since they�ve been together?�
�Only a couple hours.�
�Exactly. Nothing to worry about.� There was a knock at the front door and Brian got up. �I�ll be right back.�
Brian left the kitchen and Danielle just stood there. She wondered how Brian could stay calm. Something was wrong. Everything wasn�t fine last night and it still wasn�t fine. She knew that. She and Sunshine grew up together and they always knew when something was wrong with each other. They still shared that connection and something was definitely wrong with Sunshine. But then again maybe Brian was right. Sunshine and Nickolas are completely in love and getting married. She was just being paranoid. Nothing was wrong. Sunshine and Nickolas were probably making up right now.
�You�re just paranoid because of the other night, Danielle. Everything�s fine between Sunn and Nick.�
�Hey, Baby,� Brian said stepping into the kitchen with Nickolas. �Look who�s here.�
Danielle turned, saw Nickolas and asked, �Where�s Sunnie Jo?�
�The last I saw her she was at the condo,� Nickolas replied trying not to show his pain. He stuck his hands in his pockets and said, �May I talk to Brian alone?�
�Sure thing. I have to get ready for work anyway.�
�I told you everything was fine,� Brian said.
�You�re right,� Danielle said. �I�ll see ya guys later.� She gave Brian a kiss and left.
After Brian heard the front door shut, he asked, �So what�s up?� Nickolas didn�t answer and just stared into space. �Nick? Is anyone home in there?� Nickolas still didn�t answer. �Hello, Nickolas!�
�Huh?� Nickolas finally said.
�You left earth. How�s Chulak?� Nickolas looked at him and remembered that was the name of a planet on Sunshine�s favorite show; �Stargate SG-1�. �What�s wrong?
�A lot is wrong.� Nickolas sat down. �It�s over between me and Sunnie.�
�What?� It was more of an exclamation than anything and Brian sat across from Nickolas.
�I ended it last night. I broke off the engagement and I broke it off with her.�
�Why? You guys love each other so much.�
�I do love her more than anything. I just can�t be with her.�
�Nick, ever since you guys met all you ever wanted in your life was Sunn. Now you don�t want to be with her all of a sudden? May I ask why, because I don�t understand?�
�I can�t be with her when she�s spending all her time with another guy.�
�Is this about Brad?� Nickolas only looked at him. �Damn, Nick, Sunn and Brad are just friends. Nothing�s going on between them. You�re being jealous over nothing.�
�I�m not jealous of Brad Fischetti.�
�Who are you trying to kid, Nick? Sunn only wants you. I haven�t seen her so happy since she was with Brad. Sunn loves you with all her heart. You�re stupid if you let Brad come between your undying love for each other. Sunn�s dream was to marry you. It was your dream also, because you asked her.�
�It�s over, Brian.� Nickolas got up. �You can�t undo what is already done. It�s impossible.�
�You can make it right though. Make it better.� Nickolas stayed silent. �Listen, Nick, you can�t just turn your back on spending the rest of your life happy with the woman you love. It won�t be fair to yourself or Sunn.�
Nickolas just stood there and took the engagement ring from his pocket. He looked at it and said, �It�s over, Brian. She even gave me the ring back.�
�Then go put it back on her finger and admit to her you made a mistake last night.�
�I didn�t make a mistake. It�s for the best.�
�I can�t believe how stubborn you are. Did you tell Sunn why it�s over?�
�No; she would�ve talked me out of it and confuse the hell out of me more. I already had my mind made up.�
�So you don�t care what Sunn goes through?�
�I do care and always will care about Sunnie.�
�Don�t you care that she might end up spending the rest of her life alone because of you? You had to break her heart, because you�re jealous over her best friend.�
�I�m not jealous.�
�I remember when Brad was with Sunshine; you kept asking him if she was happy. I knew you wanted to be the one to make her happy. You finally get that chance and instead you make her miserable.� Nickolas stayed silent and looked at the ring; remembering the day he put it on Sunshine�s finger. �You�re hurting more that you�re letting yourself admit. You know you made a huge terrible mistake. Go fix it.�
�I came here thinking you�d understand my decision. I guess I was wrong. It�s over and it�s for the best. I�m getting my stuff out of the condo today.�
�I can�t believe you. You�re never going to find a love like yours and Sunn�s again. It comes around once in a lifetime.�
�I�ll talk to ya later.�
Nickolas started walking out and Brian said, �Hey, Nick.� Nickolas stopped walking, but didn�t look at him. �You once said that you�d rather give up your career then continue it without love in your live, because it�s worth nothing without someone special to share it with. You finally found someone special to share it with, but now you don�t want to. Are you sure this is the path you want to take your life? You love your music almost as much as you love Sunshine. Are you sure you want to live without either of them in your life?�
Brian waited for Nickolas to say something. They both just stood there for a few minutes, before Nickolas decided he was leaving. Brian watched him walk out and shook his head in disgust; wondering what was wrong with his best friend.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Baby, I�m still surprised by the pregnancy,� Alexander said sitting beside Destiny on the sofa that very same afternoon. �I never thought I�d be a daddy first.�
�I never thought I�d be a mommy first,� Destiny admitted. �I always thought Dani would be first. She�s the one always talking about kids and having her own. Me, Josie, and V never really talked about it. Sunn always said she ain�t having none.�
�All Nick would have to do is flash his baby blues and smile, that smile she thinks is so sexy, and she�d give in.�
�You�re right about that.� They laughed.
�Is that what happened to you? I flashed my sexy smile.�
�No, we just didn�t use protection.�
�Oh.�
�But you are sexy.�
�I know I�m irresistible.� They kissed.
�I know it�s early, but I was thinking about our baby�s name.�
�Go ahead.�
�If we have a girl, Paradise Michele.� Alexander nodded. �If it�s a boy, Austin Ray or Alexander James.�
�Sounds good, but we�ll see. What if we have twins or even triplets?�
�I ain�t giving birth to twins let alone triplets.�
�It could happen.�
�And you�d love it.�
�Very much. Want to go try for triplets?�
�No, because I have a doctors appointment.�
�And you didn�t tell me. I�m going with you.�
�I don�t care.�
�What time is it?�
�In like half an hour so we better go.�
�Yes, we don�t want to be late. We have to get your prenatal vitamins, list of stuff that�s good and bad for the baby��
�Alex, I got all that.� She smiled.
�Are you taking care of yourself?�
�Yes I am. Let�s just go so I�m not late.�
�Yes lets. Got to make sure you�re in good condition.�
�I can just picture the next seven months.� She got up and started walking to the door. �No hamburgers or pizza. I�ll be eating fruits and veggies the whole time.�
�Anything to keep the baby in good health.� He got up and followed Destiny out the door.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Venus walked into Kevin�s house and went straight to the parlor. She didn�t see him and went to the kitchen. She didn�t see him in there either and looked out back. He wasn�t out there and she searched the whole downstairs. She didn�t find him in any of the rooms and went upstairs. She went straight to his bedroom and saw him coming out of the closet.
�There you are,� Venus said walking over to him and not noticing Josephine asleep on the bed.
�Shh!� Kevin said then whispering, �Josephine�s asleep.�
Venus looked at the bed and saw Josephine. �What is she doing here?�
�I�ll tell ya then. But what are you doing here? You�re supposed to be working.�
�I got the rest of the day off.� She kissed him and Josephine moved.
�Let�s go downstairs.� Kevin led Venus out of the room and he closed the door. They walked downstairs and to the kitchen in silence. Kevin opened the refrigerator and asked, �Would you like a drink?�
�Sure.� Kevin got the ice tea out and two glasses. �So why�s Jo here?�
�You didn�t hear yet? I thought everyone would know by now.�
�Know what?�
�That Sunshine and Nickolas aren�t getting married.�
�You�re kidding?�
�I wish I were, but it�s true. It�s over between them and it�s over between Jo and Howie. That�s why Jo�s here.� Venus didn�t know what to say, as Kevin poured their drinks. Kevin walked over and said, �Speechless.�
�Yeah.� He handed her the glass and they went out to the back porch and down to the pool. �When did this happen?� They sat at the shaded patio table.
�Yesterday.�
�Why?� Kevin told Venus everything that was told to him by Josephine. He didn�t leave anything out and she just listened carefully. After he was done they both just sat there in silence. After a couple minutes, Venus finally said, �I can�t believe it.�
�Neither can I. Josephine wanted to blame, Sunshine for D being in love with her, but I talked her out of it. Sunn�s not to blame for Howie still being in love with her. Some people just realize their true feelings when it�s too late.�
�I don�t know what to say besides this is all Nick�s fault. He should have just stabbed Sunn in the heart.�
�Now, V, you can�t be so harsh. I�m sure he had his reasons.�
�He killed her last night, Kev. After they got together, Sunn said she�d die if he ever broke it off, because that�s how much she loves him.� Kevin only looked at her. �And Howie? Well he should�ve never went out with Josie. He�s just as bad as Nick. They both hurt the one person that loves them so much. They should both be hung and shot in the heart.�
�Ain�t that a cruel punishment?�
�No; they deserve what they get.�
�And that�s how you definitely feel.�
�At the moment, yes. Nick wanted nothing more than to be with Sunn. He gets her and ends up breaking her heart. Howie just confuses me anymore. He wants Jo. He wants Sunn. He wants Jo. He wants Sunn. I just wish he would make up his damn mind, because he can�t have them both.�
�You feel very strongly about this.� Venus just nodded. �I agree with you on some things, but not everything. They both did wrong and it�s up to them to fix it, not you. So hanging them and shooting them in the heart is out of the question. You�re only hurt Jo and Sunn worse.�
�Maybe that is a little over the top. It just makes me mad. Seeing what happens with everyone else makes me question my relationships.�
�You have nothing to worry about with me. We are just perfect.�
�I�m glad.� They kissed. �Really glad.�
�I�m glad.� They kissed again.
CHAPTER 13
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