Sunshine sat with Brian and Danielle at Brian�s house on the back porch. None of them were really talking, but just enjoying the beautiful afternoon. Brian and Danielle knew about Nickolas� frequent and overnight visits, but said nothing. They just smiled and looked at Sunshine, as she just sat there and stared.
No one said anything for another five minutes until Danielle asked, �How�s your shoulder Sunnie Jo?�
�Getting better,� Sunshine replied. �I need to keep the sling on until I go back Friday.�
�Are you sick of it yet?� Brian asked.
�Pretty much.�
�I�m sure Nick�s helping you out a lot.� Brian didn�t even look at her and he and Danielle smiled, as Sunshine looked at them both not sure what to say. �Don�t even say you guys haven�t been spending time together. Everyone knows.�
�How�d you guys find out? Neither of us said anything to anyone.�
�Are you forgetting you live with Josephine Keera Horowitz?� Danielle questioned. �The blabbermouth of the world?� Sunshine looked at her. �She and Howie said Nick spends the night.�
�He sleeps on the sofa. We�re not back together.�
�Why not?�
�I don�t know. Our future is in Nicky�s hands and not mine. He started it so he can end it.�
�By putting the ring back on your finger,� Brian said.
�Yes; I even moved the ring Brad gave me to show Nicky I still want to marry him.�
�Did he take notice?� Danielle asked.
�He didn�t say anything. I think we worked everything out by admitting our mistakes.�
�Everything�s going to work out fine,� Brian assured her. �Because it�s obvious Nick wants too.�
�Why didn�t you go visit Nickolas?� Danielle wanted to know.
�I don�t know� Sunshine said. �I don�t want to seem pushy. I love Nick, but he needs to take the final step. He knows how I feel and I know how he feels. I ain�t going to pressure him into something he�s unsure about or doesn�t want.�
�Hey, guys,� Nickolas said interrupting a few seconds later. They all looked and he smiled when he saw Sunshine.
�Hey, Nick,� Brian said, as they did a manly handshake. �Have a seat.�
�Don�t mind if I do,� Nickolas said. He then sat next to Sunshine on the swing and Brian and Danielle smiled.
�Would you like a drink?�
�Uh�sure.�
�Would you like a refill, Sunn?� Danielle asked, as she and Brian got up.
�Why not?� Sunshine said. �I�m not scheduled to be anywhere and I�m in no hurry to get home.� She handed Danielle her glass then Brian and Danielle went into the house.
�Jo and D still all over each other?� Nickolas asked.
�Yeah; I tried telling them about it without actually telling them, but it didn�t work.�
�Maybe you should lay smack down.�
�I�m about ready to. They just don�t care what they do in front of me�
�Maybe you should walk around in a thong bikini when D�s around and they won�t be all over each other.�
�That sounds like a good idea, but then D will be all over me.�
�You have a point, because I�d be all over you too.�
�Pig.� She smacked his leg and they both laughed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Danielle and Brian watched Sunshine and Nickolas through the kitchen window and Danielle said, �I think they�re going to get back together. Look at them; they�re basically flirting.�
�It�s good if they do get back together,� Brian said. �It�s the way it was supposed to be from the beginning.�
�I hope it works out.�
�It will; trust me.�
�I always do, but we better get out there just in case they decide to drawl blood.�
�They won�t.� He kissed her. �They�re too much in love.�
�Like us.�
�Yes like us.� They kissed again then Brian looked out the window. �They�re looking.�
�So.�
�They are our guests and it would be nice of us to get out there with them.�
�I guess so.� They picked up two glasses each and went back outside. �Here ya go, Sunn.�
�Thanks,� Sunshine said taking her glass from Danielle. �You guys better be careful, because ya might end up like Des and Alex.�
�We believe in protection,� Danielle said.
�So do we,� Nickolas smirked and Sunshine just looked at him.
�How often do you use it?� Danielle questioned and Sunshine and Nickolas only looked at each other. �Not often. Did you use it when you had that little romp on the kitchen floor?�
�Well�� Sunshine said.
�No wonder you thought you were pregnant,� Danielle blurted out.
�What?� Nickolas exclaimed looking at Sunshine.
�Danielle,� Sunshine said.
�What does she mean?� Nickolas questioned.
�You didn�t tell him?� Danielle asked.
�No,� Sunshine replied.
�What is she talking about?� Nickolas wanted to know.
�Why didn�t you?� Danielle questioned.
�I didn�t think it was important,� Sunshine answered.
�You didn�t think it was necessary to tell me you might be pregnant,� Nickolas stated. �I would have loved to of known.�
�Are you pregnant?� Brian asked.
�No I�m not,� Sunshine replied. �I went to the doc and got checked out. He said it was normal.�
�Will someone answer me, please?� Nickolas demanded basically shouting and they all looked at him. Sunshine looked at Nickolas smiling. �Will you please fill me in?�
�I thought I was pregnant,� Sunshine replied. �No biggy.�
�No biggy? So I didn�t have a right to know?�
�You were mad at me at the time. Even if I was you wouldn�t have believed it was yours.�
�Here we go again,� Danielle said.
�Why wouldn�t I?� Nickolas asked.
�Because you were accusing me of sleeping with Bradley,� Sunshine answered. �That really hurt by the way.�
�I said I was sorry and I know you never slept with�him.�
�I know. I�m not trying to pick a fight, just stating the facts, Honey.� She smiled.
�I wish you told me.�
�Sorry. Next time I will.� Nickolas only smiled, as Brian and Danielle walked off the porch. �What are you smiling at?�
�That night at the condo�we didn�t use protection.�
�Don�t worry, Nick.� She patted his leg. �I went and got the morning after shot.� Nickolas looked at her. �I don�t want any kids right now. I�m going to be twenty-five and not thirty-five.�
�Is it effective?�
�Yeah.�
�Good.� Sunshine just made a face. �I love your lean and sculpted body. Speaking of which.� He took something from his back pocket and handed it to Sunshine. Sunshine looked at him then at the Victoria�s Secret catalog with her on the front. �Aaron wants your autograph.�
�You�re leaving you brother have half-naked pictures of me?�
�It was either that or let him have the real you.� He smiled. �So sign away.�
�I have nothing to write with.� Nickolas handed her a black sharpie and she smiled.
�I come prepared.�
She took both marker and catalog, as Nickolas smiled. �I can�t believe you.� She just looked and then took off the arm sling. Nickolas watched her sign the magazine and smiled. �There ya go.� He smiled and got something out of his other pocket and handed it to her.
�May I have your autograph please?� He smiled a side smile and Sunshine just looked at him. �Pretty please?�
�You can have more than my autograph.� They both smiled and Sunshine used her left hand to take the magazine from Nickolas. Nickolas stopped her, by taking her hand in his. They looked at each other and then looked down at their hands. �Do you know how good this feels?� Nickolas only smiled and looked at her right hand to see Bradley�s ring.
�It feels really good.� He looked at her left hand and then at her. He intertwined their fingers and Sunshine only smiled. They looked in each other�s eyes and moved closer. �Are you going to sign my Vicky�s?�
�Yeah�eventually.� They went to kiss, but interrupted.
�Sunn, catch!� Brian said throwing the baseball. Nickolas was quick to bring his hand up to catch the ball before it hit Sunshine in the face.
�Thanks,� Sunshine said smiling.
�You�re welcome,� Nickolas said returning the smile.
�Do you want to play?� Brian asked.
�Get lost,� Sunshine said then began to sign the catalog.
�Whatcha doing?� Danielle asked.
�I�m getting her autograph,� Nickolas stated with a smile and Sunshine held up the catalog.
�Will you sign mine?� Brian asked. �It�s in the living room.�
�I guess,� Sunshine said, as Nickolas looked to see what she was writing. �Knock it.�
�What?� Nickolas asked.
�Wait until I�m done,� Sunshine replied.
She wrote off and on for another minute and when she was done, she handed the catalog to Nickolas and went inside with Nickolas watching her. Nickolas then looked at the catalog and read what she wrote: Nickolas, I love every moment we share together. I love every kiss you place on my lips. I love every feeling I get when you touch me. I love the memories we share. I love the love-making we share. But most importantly I love you more than anything in the universe. I will always love you. Love for eternity, Your Sweets. When Nickolas finished, he just sat there and smiled.
CHAPTER 41
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