They sat at the patio table and Brian asked, �What�s the problem this time?� Nickolas just looked at him. �You only come to me anymore when you have a problem.�
�When I think things could finally be better,� Nickolas began, �they go and get worse.�
�What happened?� Danielle asked.
�Your beautiful cousin happened,� Nickolas replied and Danielle just looked at him. �Josephine.�
�Oh,� Danielle said. �What�d she do?�
�Made things worse between me and Sunnie.�
�How�d she do that?� Brian wanted to know.
�As you know, Sunnie and Jo got back from New York last night so today I decided to go over to the condo to talk to Sunnie and get back together with her.� Brian and Danielle just listened. �I got there and Sunn wasn�t home. Jo��
�Where was she?�
�Jo said she was at her boyfriend's; who happens to be Brad.�
�Sunn ain�t dating Brad,� Danielle stated. �Or anyone for that matter. Brad has a girlfriend.�
�My cousin,� Brian added.
�I realized that after seeing him at the beach kissing some girl,� Nickolas replied. �I felt so stupid.�
�Please continue.�
�Anyway, Jo talked me into staying until Sunnie got home so I could talk to her. We sat on the sofa and she started massaging my shoulders, because I was nervous and tense of seeing Sunnie again. We were��
�Love,� Danielle interrupted. �It�s so wonderful.�
�As I was saying, we were sitting there talking and she put her hand down the front of my shirt. I called her on it and she said she was just thinking of Howie. So I left it go, but she did it again. I called her on it again and she pushed me onto the sofa telling me not to fight it.� Neither knew what to say and Nickolas continued, �I told her to get off and she said she knew I wanted her just as much as she wanted me.�
�What�d you do?� Brian questioned interested.
�What could I do? She was straddling me. I didn�t want to grab a hold of her, because I was angry and didn�t want to hurt her. She started unbuttoning my shirt and I kept asking her nicely to stop and get off. She wouldn�t, she took off her shirt, the door opened and she kissed me.�
�Was that when Sunn walked in?�
�Her and Howie. When Sunn saw it was me she just broke into tears and turned to Howie. I tried explaining it wasn�t what she thought, but she wouldn�t listen.�
�I�m sorry, Nick,� Danielle said. �You know Sunn�s stubborn.�
�She thought I called it off so me and Jo could be together and not because of Brad.�
�She knows?�
�She must�ve figured it out on her own, because you�re the only ones that know.� He looked at them closely. �Unless you guys said something.�
�I didn�t,� Danielle said.
�Neither did I,� Brian added.
�I think I convinced her it�s not because I want to be with Jo,� Nickolas said.
�Anything else happen?� Danielle asked.
�Sunnie asked Jo why she would hurt her more, knowing how much Sunnie loves me and Jo said because the man she loves is in love with her best friend.�
�This is intense,� Brian said.
�Jo accused Sunnie of stealing Howie away from her, twice, so why not make her pay by stealing the man she loves away from her.�
�Sunn doesn�t want Howie,� Danielle said. �That first time Jo didn�t want Howie, she wanted Alex. So Howie went for Sunn and it so happened Sunn went for Howie�sort of.�
�Another thing, Sunnie kicked Josephine out. So Jo�s homeless.�
�She probably went straight to Kevin�s. She won�t be homeless.�
�I don�t know what to tell you, Nick,� Brian said. �Except to keep after her. She�ll then realize you do love her and let you back inside.�
�Non-sexually and sexually,� Danielle smirked, as Nickolas just looked at her unamused. �Don�t tell me you�re not thinking about getting back into her pants. You�re a guy.�
�Getting back into Sunnie�s pants, as you so bluntly put it,� Nickolas began, �is the farthest thing from my mind. I�m only worried about getting her back in my life. I could careless if we never have sex again. Our relationship is not based on sex. It�s based on love.�
�I�m sorry. Calm down.�
�How can I calm down when I�m not with Sunnie?� He got up. �When she�s with me and in my life again I�ll calm down.�
�Nickolas, you need to calm down now,� Kevin said and they looked. �Before you give yourself a heart attack.� He was joined by Venus and Josephine. �Do you want Sunn sitting at your bedside thinking she�s lost you forever?�
�Of course not. I just need the chance to explain everything to her. I only need one day with her and to talk. If she still feels the same way then fine. At least I got my one day. I�d be miserable, but at least I�d get the chance to explain.�
�She�d never leave you, Nick,� Josephine said. �She loves you. That�s all she�s been talking about for the past two weeks. It�s my fault, because I did this. And I�m sorry. I had no reason to cause more problems between you and Sunn.�
�I�m glad you can admit your mistake.�
�Nick,� Kevin said. �She said she�s sorry. What more do you want?�
�Sunnie. Do you need me to spell it out for you? S-U-N-N-I-E. It�s not hard.� They all just looked at him. �I�m out of here.� He walked away and everyone just watched him.
�I never knew it was possible to love someone as much as he loves Sunn,� Venus stated.
�Apparently it is,� Danielle said then looking at Josephine. �Are you satisfied now? Nick is completely miserable again. He was getting high hopes of getting back with Sunnie Jo and you ruined it.�
�I know I was wrong,� Josephine admitted. �And this has nothing to do with you. It�s between me, Howie, Nick, and Sunn.�
�Ladies, please stop,� Kevin requested. �You�re not helping matters by fighting. Josephine, you apologized and feel terrible. We understand and, Danielle, you need to lighten up some. Jumping down her throat is only going to make matters worse.�
�You�re right,� Danielle said. �I�m sorry. I�m just so sick of all this fighting.�
�Since when did you become the peacemaker?� Venus asked looking at Kevin.
�Since Howie ain�t here to do his job,� Kevin replied.
�Let�s just not worry about it right now,� Brian stated. �That includes you too, Jo. You�ll just make yourself sick.� She just looked at him, as Alexander and Destiny approached.
�Hey guys,� Destiny said.
�We just saw Nicky,� Alexander stated. �He gave us the 4-1-1. The Reader�s Digest version anyway. Jo, that��
�Leave her go, Alex,� Kevin warned. �She feels bad enough.�
�Can we just enjoy ourselves this evening,� Danielle suggested.
�Of course we can, Baby,� Brian said. �Right guys.� They all just nodded and looked at each other.
CHAPTER 17
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