�Guys, just drop it,� Sunshine demanded. �I told you what happened.�
�And it�s the truth?� Bradley questioned.
�Yes,� Sunshine answered. �I got my arm stuck in a chair. You can call Brian and ask him about my shoulder if ya don�t believe me.�
�If you say so.� Sunshine glared at Bradley.
�Sunn, I want to thank you for making these brownies for me,� Alexander said changing the subject. �It means a lot.�
�Anything to keep the peace,� Sunshine replied. �I want to thank you for being so helpful.�
�No problem. It�s the least I can do.�
�Jo and D couldn�t even remove their hands off each other when I asked them nicely. I had to lug everything in here with one arm. Speaking of which.� She got up and walked to another chair. She picked up the garment bag, as Alexander and Bradley watched her.
�What�s that?� Alexander asked. �Your wedding dress?�
�My Halloween costume,� Sunshine replied. �If you�ll excuse me, I need to get it in the closet.� She walked away and Alexander and Bradley just smiled.
�Any progress with Sunn and Nick?� Bradley asked.
�No,� Alexander replied. �No one knows what his problem is.�
�Does he still have a problem with me?� Alexander shrugged. �He has nothing to worry about. I�m happy with Sunny and I don�t want Sunshine. We�re in the past.�
�He�s just being pig-headed. He loves Sunn very much, but I don�t understand why he doesn�t want to be with her.�
�Maybe he thinks he doesn�t have a lot to offer her.�
�All she wants is his love and he knows that.�
�But he chooses not to understand,� Sunshine interrupted. �Because he�s a big old jerk.� She opened up a cupboard and got a container. �I wish Jo and D would take their foreplay to D�s house. This is ridiculous.�
�Why don�t you tell them to knock it or get out,� Alexander suggested. �It�s your house.�
�I ain�t opening that door and witnessing something I don�t want to.� She put brownies in the container. �I might see a little more than I should. I saw more than I should on Brian and I don�t want to see the rest of ya�ll.� Alexander snickered remembering the time at the concert when they first met and Brian�s towel fell to the floor in the dressing room right in front of Sunshine and Josephine.
�Did she ever tell you about that?� Alexander asked Bradley.
�Yeah,� Bradley replied.
�I never seen anyone look so embarrassed,� Alexander stated.
�I wasn�t embarrassed,� Sunshine said. �Just shocked.�
�I meant Josie,� Alexander said.
�Right.�
�I better get going,� Bradley said. �I have to pick up Sunny.�
�Same here,� Alexander said. �Des is probably wondering where I�m at.�
�I�ll walk ya�s down,� Sunshine said handing the container to Alexander. �I still have stuff in the Durango.�
The three of them left the condo and went silently down to the parking lot. They walked to Alexander�s car and stood there a moment in silence. Alexander then said, �I really appreciate these.�
�It was nothing,� Sunshine said.
�Feel better by Saturday.� He hugged her.
�Hopefully. Be safe.� They watched Alexander drive off and then walked to Bradley�s car. �I�ll see ya whenever.�
�Whenever,� Bradley said giving her a hug. �I hope ya feel better; physically and emotionally.�
�Yeah; be safe.�
�I will.�
Sunshine watched him leave and then walked to her Durango. She opened the back hatch, not noticing Nickolas approaching her. She started looking in the bags, but stopped when she saw a shadow. She didn�t move or say anything as fear filled her body. She began shaking and didn�t want to turn around. So many thoughts went through her mind and she stood still
She felt a hand on her left shoulder and she didn�t know what to do. She waited a second for the end to come then heard, �Sunnie.� She sighed in relief and slowly turned around and saw Nickolas� shining blue eyes.
�Fuck, Nick. I thought it was the end.�
�I�m sorry I scared you.� He took notice to the arm sling and the mark around her arm.
Sunshine was quick to say, �You didn�t do this.� They looked at each other. �I pulled a ligament this afternoon playing catch with Brian. You don�t need to panic.�
�Are you ok though?� He went to touch her arm, but she moved not letting him. �Sorry.�
�I�ll be fine.� She turned away from him and began going through the bags again.
�How�s it going?�
�It could be better.�
�Is everything ok?�
�You tell me.�
�Sunnie, I��
�Listen, Nick, I really don�t want to get into this whole situation right now.� She stopped what she was doing, but didn�t turn around. �I�m already in a bad mood.�
�Is it alright if I ask why?�
�Josephine and Howard.� She turned and looked at him. �They couldn�t even help me when I got home. They sat on the couch watching me with their hands all over each other.�
�I�m sorry.�
�Don�t apologize for them.� They stood there and looked at each other. Sunshine then turned around and started getting the stuff out of the Durango. When she was done, she just stared at the hatch and then at the bags in her hands.
�Let me.� Sunshine just watched him then smiled. Nickolas closed the hatch then noticed her full hands. �Let me help.� He took the bags out of her hands before she said anything and left her with the two lightest ones. They looked at each other and smiled. �Shopping again?�
�I had to get food and picked up a few things for me and a couple Christmas gifts.�
�Halloween ain�t even over.�
�So; it�s better to get it now then to wait until the last minute when they don�t have it anymore.�
�You have a good point.� They began walking into the building. They stopped and waited for the elevator.
�Thanks.�
�For what?�
�Helping me out.�
�It�s nothing. You know I�ll always help you out.� Sunshine just looked at him. �You�re welcome though.� They got on the elevator and went up to Sunshine�s condo in silence. They walked to the door and Nickolas opened it. Sunshine only smiled and went inside with Nickolas behind her. They started walking to the kitchen, as Josephine and Howard walked from the hall. Sunshine just shook her head and continued to the kitchen. No one said anything until Sunshine and Nickolas were in the kitchen. �What was that all about?�
�They haven�t left each others side since I got home.� She then basically yelled, �I don�t want Howie!� Nickolas only smirked. �What brings you by?� She began getting the stuff from the bags and putting it away.
�I was hoping we could talk.�
�About what?�
�The other day.� Sunshine stopped what she was doing. �I want to straighten everything out.�
�So do I.� They looked at each other. �I�m sorry for what I said.�
�Not as sorry as I am. I had no right saying what I said. I didn�t mean to make it sound like you were an easy little twit, because you�re not. And I know you never slept with Brad.� She looked at him and he walked over to her and stood in front of her. �I was being a muscle-bound jealous hothead.� She only smiled. �I did kiss Jo out on the terrace. All our problems came from me, because I was jealous and put Fischetti between us.�
�You had nothing to be jealous about, Nick.�
�I thought I was losing you. I called off the wedding, because I thought it would be easier for us both. I didn�t want to have the fear of losing you and I didn�t want you to put up with my constant jealousy.�
�You weren�t losing me. I lied to ya though about being with Brad.� Nickolas only looked at her. �I wasn�t with Brad all those times; probably 5% and the other 95% I was taking vocal lessons to perfect my voice. I wanted to surprise you.�
�You were��
Sunshine smiled. �That�s how I got that part in the ABC movie.�
�I don�t know what to say. I always thought you had a great voice.�
�But I wanted to be better. I�m sorry I lied to ya.�
�Don�t worry about it.� She lowered her head, but Nickolas lifted it back up. �I�m sorry for grabbing a hold of you. That�s when I realized how wrong I was. I had no right to do it. I hate myself completely and from the bottom of my heart I am definitely sorry. I love you so much.�
�Whenever you say those three little words it makes me so happy.�
�Well I mean them.� She walked away from him and started putting the stuff away again. �Sweets, what�s wrong?�
�Nothing; I�m just thinking.�
�About what?�
�Everything.� She stopped and sat at the table. Nickolas sat beside her and took her hand. �I just want us to get pass all this. All that�s happened.�
�We will, I promise. We can start now if ya want.�
�I�d like that.� They turned and looked at each other. They sat there looking at each other for the longest time then Sunshine said, �Did you eat yet?�
�No I haven�t.�
�I can order us a pizza if ya want to stay. We can watch a movie or something.�
�That�d be nice, Sweets.� She went to get up, but Nickolas stopped her. �I really am truly sorry, Sunnie.�
�I know.�
�I love you.� Sunshine only smiled, gave him a quick kiss, and then a hug. He hugged her in return and they just stayed like that. Nickolas felt Sunshine�s tears on his neck and just caressed her back saying, �Don�t cry, Sweets, everything�s going to be fine.�
�I love you so much, Nicky.� Nickolas got tears in his own eyes, as they just continued hugging.
CHAPTER 40
HOME