The Boys sat at the airport and waited for their jet to be ready so they could go to L.A. to put the last touches on their album. Despite all that was going on it was still going to be released as scheduled and the Boys couldn�t be more proud of themselves. They were proud of Nickolas for not letting his personal matter get in the way of his work like he usually did. Not that they would have blamed him any if it did. It affected them just as much as it affected their friend.
Nickolas stood at the window looking out as he thought about what Sunshine wanted him to do. He had to decide. He had to make the choice for their future. But how? The moment he met her all he ever wanted was her and a family; together. He didn�t want just one, but both. But unfortunately he couldn�t have both. Well he could, but Sunshine would just be a cripple and he knew that she would not want to live her life like that. She wouldn�t want to live if she couldn�t make love to him and chase their children around or even chase him around. He only knew this because they had talked about it before. She had told him that to her �living as a cripple isn�t living at all if you can�t dance�.
But he wanted a child with her. He was being blessed with two, but at what cost. If Sunshine didn�t die he wouldn�t care if she was in a wheelchair the rest of her life. At least he would still have her and their children. He could live with that. She might not believe that he could do it, but he could. He loved her enough to stay beside her no matter what happened to her. But living as a cripple isn�t what she wanted her life to be. She wanted to dance. He had no idea what to do.
He looked at his Boys who were sitting down and discussing the album; not paying any attention to Nickolas. They probably didn�t even notice that he wasn�t sitting with them and he didn�t really care. He continued looking at them as they talked.
�That one tune Nicky wrote is really good,� Howard said.
�Which one?� Brian asked. �He wrote, like, over a hundred in our time off.�
�That rock one we recorded,� Howard said. �The love song. I can�t think of the name.� They looked at him and he started humming the tune.
�I know what one you�re talking about,� Alexander said and began singing, �I�m thinking about your smile�the sweet gentle way ya kiss me�� The other guys joined him. �I�m thinking about the way ya hold me in your arms�the way ya make me feel inside�Baby, I�m thinking about you�I�m thinking about us�I�m thinking about it all�24 hours 7 days a week.� Nickolas continued looking at them and shook his head, as people started clapping.
�Thank you,� Brian said as they laughed.
�That songs great,� Alexander said.
�It�s alright,� Kevin said.
�He means that if it was that smooth R and B stuff it�d be perfect,� Brian translated and they all laughed as Kevin just looked at his cousin.
�I think it should be on the album,� Howard said. �Nick sure knows how to write a song.�
�Yeah he does,� Kevin said. �Where is he anyway?� They looked around and spied him at the window; looking out again. �Why is he over there?� They shrugged and Brian got up.
�Excuse me,� Brian said and he walked over to Nickolas. �Hey, Prick.� Nickolas looked at him. �What�s up?� Nickolas shrugged. �What�s on your mind?�
�Nothing,� Nickolas lied. �I�m just worried about Sunnie. She left for Texas last night and I�what if she ends up in the hospital again? I ain�t going to be there for her.�
�I understand, Nick, but she can�t rely on you when something goes wrong in her life. I know you feel it�s your duty to be there all the time, but you have to let her get through things on her own.� Nickolas didn�t say anything. �When Sunn�s with you she forgets all her problems. When something happens you�re always there to pick up the pieces right away and not let her worry about it, but it eats at her inside. She thinks she has no problems when she�s with you.�
�I hate when she�s hurting and just want her happy.�
�Of course you do, but you need to know when not to jump in right away and sit back while she sorts it out. You can talk to her about it, but you can�t solve it for her. You just have to listen.�
�But I want to take her problems away.�
�But you can�t, because she�ll get use to you being there all the time and not handle it on her own.� Nickolas left out a disgusted sigh. �Maybe this time you�re spending apart will show you both how strong Sunn actually is and doesn�t need you there all the time.�
�I just don�t want her to be alone.�
�She ain�t alone, Nick, because she has her friends, family, and a very wonderful loving devoted husband.� Nickolas grinned. �If she needs you you�re just a phone call away.�
�Brian, Nick, let�s go,� Kevin said and they looked. �The jets ready.�
�We�re coming,� Brian said. �Come on, man. You can call Sunn from the plane.�
�Yeah,� Nickolas said and they walked over to the guys.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�It�s going to be quiet without Sunshine and the guys,� Venus said.
�No it ain�t,� Destiny, Josephine, and Danielle said and Venus just looked at them.
�Oh sorry,� Venus apologized.
�You�re forgiven since ya don�t know how it is yet,� Destiny said.
�Once you do you won�t be saying that,� Josephine added. �You�ll be wishing for the silence.�
�I probably will be,� Venus said. �But I�m glad I�m going to have a baby. I think it�s bringing me and Kev closer together.� They just looked at her. �I�m being serious. He seems more loving towards me lately.�
�To be honest, I think it�s pushing me and Alex apart a little,� Destiny admitted.
�That�s how I feel about me and Brian,� Danielle agreed.
�Last night me and Alex got into a huge fight about there being no butter in the house,� Destiny stated. �He said its part of my job as his wife to make sure that stuff like that is in the house. I had to remind him that I get up at six while he sleeps until noon, get ready for work, get the kids ready and take them to daycare by eight and then drive an hour to work. I�m at work until five then I pick the kids up at daycare at six or whenever I get there. I then stop at the store to pick up the twins needs and get about nine. I don�t know what he does all day. I pay the daycare to keep the kids until I get there. It�s ridiculous.�
�Wow!� the girls said.�
�I made him sleep on the sofa last night.�
�Good for you,� Danielle said.
�Caroline and Tyler are bringing me and Howie closer,� Josephine said. �It�s great.�
�I bet,� Destiny said. �I don�t know if Alex thinks that just because he�s a �big superstar� he doesn�t have to do normal shit like changing diapers and going grocery shopping or whatever. But he does and he�s going to start. He impregnated me with twins so he�s going to start doing his share in this family. If he doesn�t like it then he knows where the door is.�
�You�re going to kick him out of his house?� Venus said.
�If that�s what it takes.�
�You�re horrible, girl,� Danielle said. �But it sounds like a plan.� They laughed.
�Oh, guess who I saw at the condo today,� Venus said. �I stopped by to see Sunn, but she left for Texas last night.�
�You saw Elvis,� Destiny joked and they laughed again.
�Nope. Sapphire.�
�What is that slut up to now?� Danielle wanted to know.
�Still trying to get Nickolas back. I wouldn�t be surprised if she follows Nick to L.A. since Sunn�s in Texas.�
�V, don�t�� Destiny started then pointed. They looked and saw Sapphire.
�So Nick�s precious little wifey�s in Texas while he�s in L.A., huh?� Sapphire said. �That�s good news for me, but why is Sunn in Texas?�
�Filming her new movie,� Danielle stated.
�I�m sure she is,� Sapphire said. �But at least Nick ain�t with her.� She smiled. �I think I just might head out to L.A.�
�Just keep your distance,� Destiny warned. �And have your roots done for crying out loud. Let�s go, girls.� The girls got up and picked up their children. �You go near Nick I hope Sunn rips your heart out through your mouth and shoves it up your ass.�
�What heart?� Josephine asked. �All that�s there is a black piece of coal.� They started walking away.
�Hope to see you around,� Sapphire called after them.
�Oh we�ll be around,� Danielle said and they walked out of the restaurant.
CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 17
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