�Neither did Nickolas,� Kevin said. �Apparently he knows what he�s doing, because he just smiled.� They looked at Nickolas and watched him look at Sunshine. �You got it all wrong, Honey. Nick was all over Sunn and Sunn just enjoyed it a lot.�
�He shouldn�t be playing her like that. Especially knowing the way she�s feeling. He�s going to confuse the hell out of her and it won�t be fair.�
�I agree, but it�s not of our business.� They looked at each other and Kevin kissed her. �Didn�t someone play him awhile ago? For at least three years?�
�That�s besides the point. They weren�t engaged though and she didn�t tear him into millions of pieces. That�s what he�s doing to her.�
�I understand, Venus, but we can�t let it bother us though.�
�Why not?�
�Because we got our own future to worry about. Or did you forget about that?�
�No I didn�t, I�m definitely thinking about our future.�
�I�m glad.� They kissed.
�Watch what you�re doing,� Destiny interrupted. �Or you�ll end up like me.�
�We believe in protection,� Venus smirked.
�So you are having sex,� Destiny said smiling.
�Or protections abstinence,� Kevin said.
�Whatever,� Destiny said walking away and smiling.
�Kids,� Kevin said. �Never have any.�
�I�ll try not to,� Venus said, as they laughed.
�Howie, don�t touch me again!� Sunshine yelled from the porch.
�Does somebody have a sunburn?� Howard said mockingly as he touched Sunshine�s shoulder. She brought her arm back and hit him in the face. �Oh!�
�Howie, I�m so sorry,� Sunshine said, as Howard covered his face with his hands. �I didn�t mean it.� Everyone gathered around as Sunshine went to move his hands from his face. �Let me see.�
�I think you broke my nose.�
�I�m sorry. Let me see.�
�Way to go, Sunn,� Josephine said pushing her away from Howard and everyone looked at Josephine, but Sunshine glared at her and walked away.
�Sunn!� Kevin called after her before she went inside. Sunshine didn�t answer or stop, but went straight inside.
�Howie, are you ok, Honey?� Josephine asked moving his hands from his face to reveal a bloody nose. �You poor thing. Sit down and let me take care of you.� She walked him over to the table and got a napkin. �Here; put your head back and hold that on.� Howard did as she said, as everyone walked away. �I�m sorry for Sunn dong that. It was very rude.�
�It�s my fault,� Howard said. �I was agitating her. I deserved it.�
�Not if she broke your nose. I�ll go break hers.�
�I�m fine, Josie, but thanks for worrying.�
�Are you sure?�
�Yes; it�s not broke.� He straightened his head. �Just sore and swollen, but I�ll be fine.�
�Let�s get you some ice.� Josephine took his hand and led him inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nickolas, Danielle, and Brian watched them go inside and Nickolas said, �I hope Sunnie�s all right. She didn�t mean to hit D.�
�Then go check on her,� Brian said.
�No; she made herself perfectly clear with her feelings.�
�What are you talking about now?� Danielle questioned.
�Sunnie and the way she feels about Brad. She admitted she�d like to go back to what they had. She left me know that today.�
�She only said it, because she thinks that�s what you want to hear,� Brian said. �I can�t believe how clueless you are anymore.�
�Are you jealous?� Danielle asked.
Nickolas just looked at them for a moment, and then said, �No I�m not jealous. It was my decision to end it.�
�Because of Brad,� Brian said. �Who she is not sleeping with.�
�How do you know?�
�He has a girlfriend for the fiftieth time,� Danielle said. �Since February if not earlier.�
�I know he has a girlfriend.�
�Her name happens to be Sunny, Nickolas, with a �Y�,� Brian pointed out. �A lot of people call her Sunn, with one �N�.� Nickolas just looked at them. �The reason I know this is because she�s my cousin.�
�I feel like an ass.�
�Then go explain to Sunshine,� Danielle said.
�She�ll never understand.� He got up and walked away.
�That jealous idiot.� Brian nodded. �He�s unexplainable right now.�
�I agree,� Brian said. �Did I tell you the Preacher called him about the wedding?�
�No you didn�t. What�d Nick say?�
�That the wedding�s still scheduled as planned.�
�Seriously.�
�Yeah; I take it he still wants to marry her.�
�This is great, but I�m not going to say anything. It�s up to Nick.�
�Let�s just keep our fingers crossed.�
�Definitely.� She put her arms around him. �This is so great.� They kissed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sunshine rejoined the group and sat on the porch where she thought it was safest. She sat in a chair, drawing in her sketchpad. It was the same sketchpad that had all her wedding ideas. She stopped drawing and looked up at Nickolas; he sat with Alexander and Destiny. He looked up at her and she quickly looked away, beginning to draw again.
After a couple minutes, she said, �Des, do you have any colors?�
�Yeah, they should be in the den,� Destiny said.
�Thanks,� Sunshine said getting up.
�Don�t move, Baby Girl,� Alexander said. �I�m going in so I�ll get them.�
�Thanks, Alex,� Sunshine said sitting back down with Nickolas watching her. She continued drawing for the next few minutes until Alexander threw a pack of colored pencils at her. She glared at him then opened them up. She began to color, as Nickolas pulled up a chair and sat across from her.
�Whatcha drawing?� Nickolas asked.
Sunshine looked at him and said, �Nothing important.� She continued coloring.
�I�m sorry about earlier; ya know, stuffing the macaroni in your mouth.�
�Don�t worry about it.� She didn�t look at him.
�Are ya sure?�
�Yeah; I�m sorry for the brownie.�
�Don�t worry. You make excellent brownies anyway.�
�Thanks.� She switched colors and still didn�t look at him.
�May I look at your drawings?�
�No.�
�May I ask why?�
�Because you can�t and I don�t want you to.�
�Ok.�
�Hey, Sunn,� Kevin interrupted. �Catch.�
Sunshine caught the bottle of lotion he threw and asked, �What am I supposed to do with this?�
�It will help with the sunburn,� Kevin said. �And it�ll give ya a nice tan.�
�Oh.� She looked at the bottle. She opened the bottle and put some in her hand. Nickolas watched her rub it on her arms and then pick the bottle up. She looked at the bottle a moment then looked at Nickolas. He looked at her and she said, �Will you��
Nickolas smiled and said, �Sure.� She handed him the bottle and put her stuff on the porch floor. Nickolas just watched her as she put her arms on his legs and leaned forward, resting her head on her arms. Nickolas just sat there, looking at her and not knowing what to do. He stroked her hair and enjoyed the moment between them.
Sunshine raised her head and said, �Whatcha waiting for? Eternity?�
�Why not?� Sunshine smiled and then lowered her head. This time she put her hands on his waist and just rested her head on his knees.
Nickolas put lotion on her back and she said, �That�s cold.� He moved her long brown hair and went to rub in the lotion, as she squeezed his sides. �Ow!�
�Sorry.� He began rubbing her back gently.
�Not so rough.�
�Sorry. I didn�t mean it.� He softened his touch more and Sunshine loosened her grip. He felt her start to relax under his touch and he smiled. �How does that feel?�
�Go lower.�
With a deep voice, Nickolas asked, �How does that feel, Baby?�
Sunshine laughed. �That was cute, Nick.�
�Thanks.�
�That feels really good.� She rubbed his sides and without thinking said, �Something my body�s been missing.�
�Same here.� Sunshine lifted her head and they smiled. Nickolas stopped rubbing her back and looked deep into her eyes.
�Don�t stop.�
�Don�t stop what? Loving you? I�d never be able to.� Sunshine sat up straight and keeping her eyes on him. He used both his hands and pushed her hair back. He quickly looked her over and leaned forward.
�Don�t�� Nickolas only smiled and leaned even closer to her, as she did the same.
Their lips were seconds away and Venus interrupted with, �Hey, guys look!� Sunshine and Nickolas looked to see Josephine and Howard kissing.
Sunshine looked at Nickolas who was looking at her. He smiled and moved in for a kiss, but Sunshine turned her head. She removed Nickolas� hands from her neck and got up. Nickolas looked at her dumbfounded and asked, �What�s wrong?�
�Nothing,� Sunshine lied walking over to the banister.
Nickolas walked over to her and said, �Yes there is. What is it?� Sunshine stayed silent. �Is it Howie?� Sunshine gave him a strange look. �Ok it�s not Howie. Is it me?� Sunshine still didn�t speak or look at him. �What�d I do?�
�Nothing. I just�� She stayed silent.
�What is it, Sweets?� He put his hand on the middle of her back and rubbed it gently. �Please tell me.�
�I just don�t want to start thinking that something�s going to happen between us and get all excited then get my heartbroken again.� Nickolas looked at her and stayed silent. �I don�t think I can go through that again.� Nickolas took a deep breath, ready to speak, but she stopped him. �Forget it, because I know you don�t want me anymore. If you did we�d be together right now.�
�Sunnie.� She walked away. Nickolas watched her walk over to Kevin and Venus. �Idiot. You had a chance to say something and you didn�t. You�re so stupid.� He sat back down, leaned forward, and rested his head in his palms. �Every chance you get ya screw it up.� He looked at the porch floor and saw Sunshine�s sketchpad. It was left open to a wedding gown and Nickolas just looked at it. He picked it up just as Josephine walked over.
�Nickolas, you�re not supposed to be looking at that!� Josephine yelled grabbing the sketchpad out of his hands. Sunshine looked up as Nickolas stood up. He looked at her and she lowered her head. �What were you thinking?�
�It was lying there open.� Sunshine joined them.
�I tell you not to do one little thing and you do it anyway,� Sunshine said taking the stuff from Josephine. �Thanks for listening.�
�Sunnie, I�m sorry.� She walked away from him again. �Sunnie!� She just ignored him.
�Way to go,� Josephine said walking away herself.
�You stupid fuck,� Nickolas said to himself. He sat back down and for the next half hour or more he sat alone thinking.
CHAPTER 29
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