Nico

Nico watched the pain and anguish on Toni's beautiful face as he told her about her father. He hated that he had to give her such awful news, and the way she stood in front of him, sobbing, but refusing to let him touch her, gutted him. He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her how much he loved her and that everything was going to be all right, but Toni wouldn't allow it. She had put up her walls and she wasn't about to let him tear them down again.

"I'd like to call Zac," Toni said. She wasn't really asking, more like stating a fact, and Nico knew if she wanted something, she usually found a way to get it. His girl was as strong-willed and stubborn as they came, one of the things he loved most about her.

"All right," he whispered. "Do you have a number for this Zac?" Nico didn't try to hide his distaste for the fact she was calling an old boyfriend. He hated that she so vividly remembered a man from her past but had no memory of their last year together.

"Please don't be angry with me, Nico." Toni crossed the room to stare out the window at the beach. She always loved the view from their bedroom window, and he often found her there, just staring out at the ocean. "I need to piece this puzzle together for myself. I don't mean to hurt you, but I can't remember much. I just need to figure things out." Nico nodded, not trusting his voice. A part of him wanted to break down with her, but he wouldn't be shedding tears for James Bernston. He knew he needed to be strong if he wanted to help Toni find her answers. He just hoped she would allow him to be a part of her quest.

"I'm missing so many pieces. I don't remember how I originally ended up here a year ago. I fought with my father the morning of my accident and that's all I remember. I'm missing huge chunks of my life and I need to fill in the blanks. Will you help me do that, Nico?" He was grateful for the fact she was asking for his help. He wanted to do that for her, be that person for her, but he worried she'd still walk away from him when she had her answers.

He needed to remember that the more time he spent with her, the better his chances were that Toni would remember him. Nico crossed the room and handed her the cell phone that had been hers for the past year. A picture of the two of them on the beach popped up on her screen when she turned it on. Toni studied it and smiled.

"That was about a month ago, we went on a picnic," Nico offered. Toni found her saved pictures and started flipping through them as if taking a stroll down memory lane. He almost found it too painful to look at the pictures of the two of them so happy and in love, but he hoped they would help Toni remember something of her time with him. They sat together on the bed, and he explained each memory to her, holding his breath after each one, on the slight chance she might remember something, but she didn't. She flipped through to the end of the picture roll, which was where their story began. The very first picture she took on her new phone a year ago was one of just him sitting at his desk in his office.

"You're so handsome," she whispered. "I remember taking this. I thought you were joking when you told me you are a scientist. You don't exactly fit the mold." Nico laughed and wrapped his arms around her body, needing the contact. He didn't want to seem too enthusiastic about the fact she remembered something from their past, but he had an overwhelming sense of excitement. It was the same way when Toni whispered his name while waking up earlier. Her mind was trying to remember him, and that gave him hope.

"You used to tease me that I was your hunky scientist." He kissed her cheek and she smiled.

"Well, I was right, you are the hunkiest scientist I've ever met," Toni admitted.

"Do you want privacy to make your call to Zac?" Nico asked, not hiding his disdain about her calling him.

"No, please stay. I could use the support. The last time I spoke to Zac, I told him I wouldn't marry him." Nico felt a pang of jealousy that he wasn't used to. Toni had a whole life without him, and he worried she'd want to return to it and would forget all about him.

He watched as she dialed Zac's number from memory and put the call on speaker. It rang three times before a man's gruff voice answered.

"Who the fuck is calling me this early in the morning? Someone better be dead," the voice barked. Toni gasped and Nico put his hand on her bare thigh, silently giving her his support.

"Um yes," she squeaked. "This is Toni Bernston and I'm trying to reach Zac Bierman." Nico hated how nervous she sounded. His Toni was always so confident and the way her voice quaked made him want to take the phone from her and take charge. He knew this was something she needed to do for herself.

"What the fuck," the voice on the other end asked, seeming annoyed. "I don't have time for fucking games. Toni is dead, so whomever this is needs to leave me the fuck alone." Zac ended the call and Toni looked at Nico as if silently asking what to do next.

"May I?" He held out his hand, hoping Toni would take him up on his offer. She reluctantly handed him the cell phone and he hit redial. Zac answered on the first ring as if he was expecting a callback.

"Listen—" Zac barked. Nico wasn't about to give him the option of hanging up again.

"No, you listen," Nico cut in. "You won't talk to Toni like that ever again," he growled. Every protective instinct was roaring to life inside of him and the last thing he would allow is for some rich asshole to talk to his woman that way.

"Who the hell is this?" Zac growled back. Nico really didn't want to get into a pissing match, but he also knew he wouldn't back down from Toni's asshole ex.

"My name is Nico Andrews and I'm here with Toni Bernston. It is really her, she's not dead as you put it. She has been living here with me for a little over a year now. Up until yesterday, she's suffered from amnesia and has since regained her memories. We saw her father passed recently, and Toni is wondering if you could give her some information since you were the one to identify his body." Nico paused, making sure Zac hadn't hung up. The silence on the other end of the line wasn't promising until he heard a sigh.

"I'm not going to discuss anything with you over the phone. If Toni really is alive, I'll need to see her for myself. I'd like to meet with her," Zac offered. There was no fucking way Nico was going to let Toni go off and meet with Zac on her own.

"We'd be happy to meet," Nico replied.

"I'd like a private meeting with Toni if it's truly her since this is a private family matter," Zac barked.

"Toni would be happy to meet with you to get some answers, but there is no way she'll do that alone. And as far as this being a family matter," Nico paused, looking Toni up and down. He was sure she wasn't going to like what he said next, but he didn't give a shit. "As I understand it, you aren't Toni's family. She did turn down your marriage proposal, correct?" Toni gasped at Nico's question and shot him a dirty look. She reached for the phone, but Nico stood from the bed and held it over her head. There was no way he would let her talk to Zac, not before he agreed to a face-to-face meeting with the both of them. He didn't want Toni cutting some crazy, half-baked deal with Zac to meet him on her own.

"Fine," Zac growled. "I'll meet with the both of you. Today, at her father's old office. I now run the development firm in his stead. I'm assuming she knows the place?" Nico looked down to find Toni nodding her agreement.

"She does," he confirmed. "We'll be there at noon," Nico said and ended the call.

"Thanks," Toni barked sarcastically. Nico chuckled, knowing she didn't mean to thank him. What she wanted was to tell him to fuck off, but she was always too polite for that.

"You're welcome, honey." He shot her his biggest smile and winked down at her. Toni shook her head, picking up the clothes she'd found that belonged to her, and headed to their master bathroom.

"I'm taking a shower and will be ready to go in a half hour," she said. He watched as she disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door. Nico hated that she was literally shutting him out—she never closed the doors between them. When Toni slid the lock into place, his heart stuttered. She wasn't going to trust him to give her space and privacy and that thought hurt him. Toni sent him a clear message; she was locking him out of the bathroom and out of her life. He just hoped like hell he could find the key because losing her wasn't an option.