�Alright, mom,� she heard Howard say and looked at him. �I�ll be right there�yes�bye.� She watched him turn off the phone and she quickly started to walk so Howard wouldn�t see her. She was almost to the hall when she heard Howard say, �Josie.�
She stopped walking and slowly turned around. She looked at him and said, �Howie.� They continued looking at each other a moment. �I�m not a bit surprised to still see you here. After all, Sunn is the girl you�re in love with�not me.�
�Don�t blame, Sunn.�
�I�m not. It�s not her fault for you being in love with her. I was just too blind to see it. They say love is blind and boy was I ever blind. I saw right through that love you have for my best friend. Tell me, where you going to break it off with me and try to get Sunn, knowing how much she loves Nick? Or were you just going to continue playing me and go after Sunn?�
�I never played you, because my feelings for you are real. I wasn�t even planning on going after Sunshine.�
�Now�s your chance. Sunn�s single again and so are you.� She started crying.
�Sweetie.� He walked towards her, as Bradley walked from the hall.
�Please don�t come any closer.� She wiped her eyes and Bradley stopped where he was. �I gave you my heart and soul and you walked all over it. I opened up to you and left you in only to get hurt. I thought we had something special.�
�We did and do.�
�No we don�t. Not anymore. You ruined it. I left you make love to me over and over and this is how you treat me. I was stupid to even think you had feelings for me. Romantic feelings at that. Did you even love me at anytime since we met?�
�Yes I did love you and I still do.�
�But I�m not Sunn, you always left that out.�
�No you�re not, because you�re your own person. That�s what makes you special, Sweetheart. I love you, because you don�t try to be someone you�re not.�
�Just save it and tell me where Sunn is.�
�Um�she�s out on the balcony,� Bradley stated and she looked at him.
�How is she?�
�Upset and hurting.�
�I can�t believe he did this to her. Who cleaned up?�
�I did. I stayed with her last night, because I wasn�t sure if you were coming back or not. So I cleaned the mess up this morning. Plus Nick stopped by this afternoon. She�ll probably feel better now that you�re here.� Josephine nodded. �She feels bad about last night and was wondering where you were, because she wants to talk.�
�I was at Kevin�s, but if you�ll excuse me.�
�Yeah.�
Josephine walked over to the terrace doors and wiped her eyes before opening them. She looked at Sunshine, as she looked over the terrace. �Sunn.�
Sunshine stood up straight and wiped her eyes. She turned and said, �Jo.�
�How are you feeling?�
�Honestly, I don�t know. But how are you feeling? Brad filled me in on what happened last night. I�m sorry.�
�I could be better. Brad said you wanted to talk.�
�Yeah.� They looked at each other. �Where is he?�
�Still inside with Howie.�
�Oh.� She looked back out to the ocean, as Josephine stood beside her. �I wanted to apologize for the way you found out, overhearing me and D. He was going to tell you. I wanted to tell you, but Kevin insisted that it was Howie�s place to be honest.�
�It�s going to be hard for me to accept the fact that the man I�m in love with is in love with my best friend. But��
�I don�t want Howie. I want to be with Nicky.�
�I know and I�m not going to blame you. I will blame you for being so beautiful.�
�I�m not even close to beautiful.�
�Whatever. I had a long talk with Kevin and he convinced me you�re not to blame. So I�m sorry for calling you a bitch and slapping you.�
�I deserved it. Another thing, me and D never slept together. Came close once, but never did. I�m sorry for making you believe we did.�
�It�s all right. You were drunk and upset. Did anyone fill ya in on what happened after we came back?�
�Yeah; there was a lot I didn�t remember. Brad said I told you guys when Nick and I had sex and where at.�
�Yep; on the beach and on Nick�s kitchen floor.�
�Try to forget that last one.�
�Believe me I will.�
�Thank you.�
They stayed silent for a few minutes and then Josephine said, �Bard said Nick was here today.� Sunshine stayed silent. �Was it good?�
�Just the opposite.�
�What happened?�
�It�s definitely over.�
�I�m sorry.�
�He came and got his things.�
�I know how much you wanted to marry him. Ever since I can remember.�
�Since I saw his face.�
�It�s over between me and Howie too.�
�I�m sorry. It�s all my fault.�
�You were just being honest with me.�
�But I hurt you and I�m sorry.�
�For being honest. At least you had the guts to tell me so just forget about it.�
�So we�re both single again.�
�Mmmhmm.�
�Now what will we talk about?�
�I don�t know.�
�Nick never told me why he called it off.� She wiped her eyes and leaned against the banister. �He fed me some stupid line about its how he�s feeling. I know that�s a lie.�
�He wanted to marry you just as much.�
�He wants me to be happy, but how can I when he�s not with me? I�m not understanding him anymore. First it�s his jealousy with Brad, and then it�s�� She just trailed off and Josephine looked at her. �That�s it.�
�You just lost me. What�s it?�
�He called off the wedding because of Brad. Damn it.� She began crying. �But why? He has nothing to worry about.�
�You don�t know if that�s the reason.�
�What else could it be?� Josephine didn�t say anything. �Exactly.�
�Don�t go jumping to conclusions.�
�I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. He�s a prick.�
�Let�s just go inside, pig out on ice cream and watch Ryan Philippe.�
�How can you be calm when you�re boyfriends in love with me?�
�I don�t want my anger to get the best of me.�
�I�d be flipping out right now.�
�I�ll cry myself to sleep tonight thinking about it. But for now I�ll just push it aside. That�s what you should do.�
�I don�t think I can.�
�Just try for me.�
�I ain�t promising you anything.� They hugged and then went inside.
CHAPTER 15
HOME