Page 18 of True North

Mrs. Andrews flanked her other side and wrapped an arm around her waist, helping her into the house. Mr. Andrews grabbed their bags from Nico and carried them in.

“I’m assuming we’ll be in my old room?” Nico asked. His mother nodded and shot her father a look that told Toni their son having a guest stay in the same room as him might not be something they were happy with.

Nico didn’t seem to miss the look either and groaned, “Please don’t tell me you’re going to evoke some crazy rule that I can’t sleep in the same bed as my girlfriend,” he growled, mostly toward his father. “You know I’m an adult now, right?”

His father looked like he wanted to protest, but he was holding back his argument. Toni was grateful they didn’t get into everything while standing in the hallway. She was feeling woozy and just wanted to lie down.

“Nico, I think you should help Toni,” his mother said. “She looks a little pale.” Nico cursed and lifted her into his arms. Toni cuddled into his hold, loving how safe she felt with him. He carried her down the hall and into a big room. His parents put their stuff in and shut the door on their way back out, giving him and Toni privacy.

“Thank you,” Toni whispered against his neck.

“Baby, you don’t ever have to thank me for taking care of you,” Nico said.

“I love you,” she murmured, just as her world went dark around her.

Nico

Nico stilled, holding Toni’s limp body against his own, not quite sure if he heard her say those three words that he was so desperate to hear, or if he made them up in his mind. He pushed her to her limits, making her take such a long trip. Toni needed to rest, and he needed to get a handle on what the hell was going on. If his hunch was correct, Bierman was more involved in Toni’s first mishap than he admitted to. Nico’s only concern was keeping her safe and making sure no one would be able to get to her again. If Zac was a threat to her, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to secure Toni’s safety.

Nico spent the rest of the day working on his report and video chatting with Heather. She was holding down the fort back on the island and he was happy to hear the reporters scattered when they heard Toni was no longer on the Isle of Palms. He hoped they had snuck away unnoticed, but he was sure that sooner or later, word of their whereabouts would leak out and they would either have to head home or find a new safe place to hide away.

He quietly worked in his old room, not wanting to leave Toni’s side while she rested. He wanted to be the first person she saw when she woke up, and honestly, he wanted to have a long discussion with her about those three little words she whispered just before she passed out. But he also knew avoiding his parents, especially during dinnertime, would only lead to more hostility and he didn’t want that. Nico knew Toni was picking up on his father’s mood and that was exactly what he didn’t want.

Nico showered and dressed for dinner, leaving Toni to rest in their room. He decided a private conversation between him, and his parents might be the best way to handle his father’s hostility.

“Nico darling,” his mother stood from the table to hug him, “how is Toni?”

“She’s still resting, thank you for asking,” Nico said. He took his seat at the table, feeling his father’s heated gaze, and sighed. They were going to have to get things settled sooner or later. He just hoped to be able to eat before having to discuss problems that had been festering for years.

“Let’s just get things out in the open before she wakes up,” Nico said. He stared his father down, waiting for his anger and judgment.

“I can’t believe you would come into my home and expect that we would be all right with you sleeping with some woman. We have rules, Nico. They are in place for a reason.” Nico couldn’t help his chuckle. His father was sounding downright barbaric.

“What purpose does the rule of no sleeping with the woman I love under your roof serve?” Nico asked. His father turned three shades of red and Nico worried he was having a heart attack. His dad looked about ready to burst.

“This is my house, my rules, and I won’t explain my reasoning to you or anyone else,” his father shouted.

“Wait, you are in love with Toni?” his mother asked.

Nico chose to ignore his father’s outburst, concentrating on his mother’s question instead. “Yep,” he admitted. “I plan on asking her to marry me,” he said. His mother clapped her hands together and smiled. His father seemed less happy about his news, slamming the palms of his hands down on the table with a loud bang, causing his mother to jump.

“You expect us to be happy about your news when you are just bringing this woman here for the first time to meet us? Why haven’t we heard of her before now?” His father was full-on screaming from the other end of the table, and Nico worried the commotion would wake Toni.

“Please lower your voice,” Nico barked. “Toni is resting, and I don’t want her disturbed.”

“Too late,” Toni said, standing in the corner of the kitchen. Nico worried she had heard their whole argument, and he hated she looked so tired and pale. This argument between him and his father was the last thing Toni needed to worry about. He stood and crossed to where she stood, wrapping her protectively in his arms.

“How are you feeling, honey?” he asked.

Toni shrugged against his body. “My head hurts and I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. I guess this concussion isn’t finished with me yet.” Nico pulled her along with him to the table, helping her into her seat. He wanted her to have something to eat, and then he would see about finding her a doctor to check her out.

“Concussion?” his mother questioned.

“Yes,” Nico barked. “Toni had a little accident while swimming a couple of weeks ago. She had a run-in with a piece of driftwood and was knocked unconscious. Our friends pulled her to safety, but she had a concussion,” he said.

“And amnesia,” Toni helped. Nico felt a wave of panic, not knowing if he wanted his parents to have that bit of information. The last thing he wanted to explain was that she didn’t remember him and that he was a virtual stranger to her. It would only add fuel to his father’s argument, and he’d never hear the end of it.

“Amnesia?” his father asked.

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