Sunshine pulled into her parking spot at the condo complex and got out. She saw Josephine�s car next to hers and got her shopping bags out then went inside. She talked to a couple of the tenants then got on the elevator and went up to the eighteenth floor to her condo. She made her way inside the condo and didn�t see Josephine in the parlor and figured she was sleeping. She walked to the kitchen and put some bags on the table then walked to her room.
First she stopped at Josephine�s room and discovered she wasn�t there either. She heard her laugh and realized she was out on the balcony and probably on the phone. Sunshine finally made it to her room and changed into something more comfortable.
She walked back out to the kitchen and put the stuff away. She got a soda; something she hardly drank anymore, and sat at the table. She looked at the refrigerator and saw a picture of her and Nickolas. She began to think about him then stopped herself. She didn�t want to think about him. She hadn�t thought about him since Aaron dropped off that CD and she was proud of herself. He probably wasn�t thinking about her anyway. It seemed he didn�t care since they haven�t seen each other for two weeks. Ever since�no. She wasn�t going to think about it. She would just start crying.
She got up and started putting the little bit of groceries away she got. She found a box of Stove Top in the cupboard, grabbed it and walked over to the stove. She filled a pot with water then went back to putting the groceries away. She finished then remembered Josephine was out on the terrace. She walked from the kitchen and heard Josephine laugh, as she walked towards the terrace.
Josephine laughed again and Sunshine said, �Hey, Josie, I�m making�� She didn�t finish, as she saw Josephine�and Nickolas�kissing. She stopped and just watched for a few seconds. She quickly turned around and walked back to the kitchen, as the tears filled her eyes. Halfway to the kitchen the phone rang and Sunshine picked it up and said, �Robinson�s.� She finished her way to the kitchen, as quickly as she could.
�Hey, Sunn, it�s Kev.�
�Hey, Kev, what�s up?�
�Nothing; just wanted to let you know Venus and I got the new Jonathan Taylor Thomas movie and we�re on our way over. If it�s alright.�
�Yeah; you know I love that movie.�
�Ok.� He heard her sniffle. �Are you all right?�
With a cracky voice she said, �I�m fine. Why?�
�I heard you sniffle and your voice is cracky.�
�Just coming down with something. Nothing major. Probably just a cold since I was in NYC.�
�Is that all?�
�Yes.� Her voice was still cracky and she continued with the food. �What else could be the matter?�
�You tell me.�
She stayed silent and heard Josephine and Nickolas say goodbye to each other. She wiped her eyes and said, �Nothing�s wrong, Kev. You just worry too much.�
�If you say so. I�ll see ya in a bit.�
�Ok. Bye.� She turned the phone off and put it on the table, as Josephine walked into the kitchen.
�Hey, Sunn,� Josephine said surprised to see her.
�Hey,� Sunshine said not even looking at her, as she finished the stove top.
�How was your day?�
The phone rang again and Sunshine wasted no time in answering it. �Robinson�s.�
�It�s Brad.�
�Hey, what�s up?�
�Nothing and you?�
�Making stove top and waiting for V and Kev.�
�So you�re going to be home.�
�Yeah; we�re going to watch the new Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Why don�t you join us?�
�If ya want me to.�
�I wouldn�t be asking if I didn�t.�
�Oh. Then I�ll see ya in a bit.�
�Sounds good. Later.� She turned off the phone and laid it on the counter top. She got herself some food and a glass of milk. She sat at the table with Josephine and began eating.
Neither said a word for at least five minutes and then Josephine said, �Sunn, is everything all right? The only word you said to me was �hey�.� Sunshine stayed silent. �Did I do something?�
�No,� Sunshine was quick to say. �I just got home.�
�Are you sure I didn�t do anything?�
�Yeah; I�m just really tired. I didn�t get much sleep in New York.�
�Oh. I�m going to go over to Destiny�s then to help her pick out some baby stuff.�
�Whatever.�
�Just in case you need to find me.�
�Ok.� There was a knock. �I�ll get it.� She got up and left the kitchen. She walked through the parlor saying, �I�m sure that�s where you�ll be. You�ll probably be shacking it up with Nicky tonight you little lying backstabbing tramp.� She opened the door and saw Kevin and Venus. Kevin held up the movie and Sunshine grabbed it out of his hand. She kissed his cheek and gave him a hug saying, �I love you.�
�I know,� Kevin said.
�Come in,� Sunshine said, as they did so and she closed the door. �Let me finish eating and then we can watch it.�
�Alright,� Kevin said, as Venus picked up a picture of Sunshine and Nickolas.
�When was this picture taken, Sunn?� Venus asked showing the picture. Sunshine just looked at it not saying a word.
�Sunn,� Kevin said.
�In happier times,� Sunshine replied taking the picture from Venus and putting it back. �Before Nick turned me into a lying bitchy slut.�
�Hey, Sunn,� Josephine interrupted. �I�m going.�
�Yeah,� Sunshine said, as Josephine went out the door and Sunshine glared after her. �Enjoy Nicky you conniving, backstabbing, selfish, lying, trampy slut.� She walked to the kitchen with Venus and Kevin looking at her. She sat at the table and wiped her eyes. A minute later, she was joined by Venus and Kevin.
She didn�t look at them and Kevin asked, �Something happen?�
�Nothing I can�t handle on my own,� Sunshine replied continuing to eat. �I don�t need anyone�s help.�
�What�s the problem?� Venus questioned.
�The problem I�ve been having for the past two months,� Sunshine answered.
�Nickolas,� Kevin said.
�Bingo,� Sunshine said taking a drink and the phone rang. Sunshine got the phone, turned it on, and said, �Robinson�s.�
�Sunnie, its Nick.�
�Oh, it�s Nickolas,� Sunshine said to Kevin and Venus and then to Nickolas said, �Josephine ain�t here. She said she was going to Des�, but I�m sure she�ll be at your place pretty soon. She��
�What are you talking about?�
�Don�t interrupt me. You know exactly what I�m talking about. She can have you, because I don�t want your lying disgusting flabby no good for nothing white American ass.� She went to hang up then said, �Another thing, I never in my life had sex with Brad Fischetti. Why I didn�t God only knows, because sex with you was never enjoyable. I got no satisfaction. I faked it the whole time.� She turned the phone off and slammed it on the table. �I lost my appetite.� She sat back and bit her bottom lip to stop her tears.
�What�s wrong?� Venus asked.
�Nothing,� Sunshine replied getting up. �If he believes I don�t want him then I�ll make him think I don�t and say what he wants to hear. It�s that simple.�
�Just like that,� Kevin said.
�Why not? It was simple for him to not want to be with me.� She cleaned off her plate and there was a knock.
�I�ll get it,� Venus volunteered and left the kitchen.
Sunshine just stood there at the sink and Kevin joined her. She looked at him, gave him a hug, and started to cry. Kevin returned the hug and asked, �What happened?�
�Just when I think it�s going to be ok,� Sunshine began through tears, �and it�s going to be all right he hurts me again.�
�What�d he do?�
�He kissed Josephine. I saw them kissing.�
�When?�
�Today; when I got home.�
�Do they know you saw it?�
�No; they didn�t know I was here. Nicky didn�t even see me.� She continued crying.
�It�ll be all right.�
�I don�t know what to do anymore. I love him, but he keeps hurting me.�
�Talk to him.�
�He won�t listen, because he�s pigheaded and arrogant.�
�Is that anyway to talk about the man you love?�
�Yes.�
�Is that why you were all choked up when I called?�
�Yep; it was like two seconds before you called.� She left him go, as Venus and Bradley walked in. She put her hands on her eyes and just stood there, crying silently.
�Everything all right?� Bradley asked concerned.
�Oh!� Sunshine moaned. �Just peachy.� She got a tissue and wiped her nose. �I promised myself I wasn�t going to cry over him and look at me. What am I doing? Crying. How pathetic can I get?�
�You�re not pathetic,� Bradley said standing beside her.
�He�s right, Sunn,� Kevin agreed. �You�re on truly amazing terrific young woman. Nickolas just doesn�t know what he gave up.�
�When he realizes it,� Venus began walking over, �he�ll be back and begging you to leave him in again.�
�Can we not talk about this,� Sunshine requested and getting something out of her bag. �Let�s just watch the movie and have a good night.�
She went to open the bottle and Kevin stopped her. �What�s that?�
�It�s just aspirin, Kev. I have a headache.� She showed him the bottle.
�All right.�
Sunshine walked over to the sink and got a glass of water, as Bradley looked at her. He watched her get pills from the bottle, as she looked at him. He knew it wasn�t aspirin that she had in the bottle. He knew what was in there. The aspirin bottle was Sunshine�s way of hiding the truth. Bradley was the only one that knew. No one else knew what was going on. They didn�t even have a clue.
�Let�s go,� Sunshine said putting the bottle back in her bag.
�If you insist,� Kevin said. �Venus and I will get the food and drinks while you and Brad get the movie started.� Sunshine didn�t say anything, as she walked from the kitchen. �Try to get her mind preoccupied.�
�I�ll try,� Bradley said walking out after Sunshine. He watched her sit in the corner of the sofa and look at a picture. He walked over and sat next to her, but she didn�t look at him. �Why don�t you tell everyone what�s going on? Especially Carter.�
Sunshine shook her head and said, �I can�t.�
�Why not?�
�Because they�ll never understand.�
�Nick will.�
�How can he?�
�You�re not the only one hurting, Sunnie.� She wiped her eyes and continued looking at the picture. �It�ll get better if you talk to him.�
�He doesn�t want to.�
�Then make him listen.� Sunshine finally looked at him and he took her in a hug.
CHAPTER 25
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