“What to do?” I sighed.
I rubbed my face as I thought about various strategies to put me ahead of the game or maybe an equal battlefield that would make this battle at least fair.
“It’s nice to see you’re still kicking,” a voice said.
I looked up, and the dark-haired woman with sapphires for eyes walked into the room. Aria Wolfe…the most powerful woman in all of Myrtle Beach. She was a billionaire, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and my girlfriend.
“To think you’d be so lost for words when you saw me,” she said as she ran her fingers through her hair before taking a seat next to me. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Nick.”
“I’m glad you came, babe,” I replied. “Seeing your face brought hope back to me.”
“I know it must have been scary, but don’t worry, I’m here to protect you,” she said. “Don’t be scared to lean on me, okay?”
She spoke to me like I was the Nick who had lost his memories. Of course, she didn’t know the difference between the two of us. To Aria, we were one and the same.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked.
“No, it's…nothing,” I replied with a thud in my chest.
Hunter was right. I had changed. If I was my past self, I would have shown off my macho side and made her swoon, but I was a different man, and I could tell that even with my recovered memories blending with my current ones, I was in love with her.
“Are you sure it’s nothing?” she asked. “You seem extremely worried. Please tell me anything, whatever’s bothering you; I may have the means to solve them.”
Do I tell her what was going on?
I wanted to fight Blake, but I had no strategy or anything.
And if Aria knew the truth…would she still be willing to help?
I also had one more problem; the Nick she knew and who I really was were different people. My feelings hadn’t changed, but maybe hers would.
“Was it that bad?” she asked.
“Was that bad?” I turned to her.
“The attack, you still seem stunned,” she replied.
“No…and yes,” I sighed. “Look, Aria, I have something to tell you.”
“I’m listening,” she leaned in closer.
“Promise me that things will remain as they are between us,” I said.
“Unless you’re about to tell me that you murdered a kid, nothing you say will actually chase me away,” she said with asmile and held my hands. “Try me either way. Murdered kid or not, I’ll ultimately be the one who decides to stay or leave.”
“Alright then,” I said before taking a deep breath. “I’m not who you think I am.”
“Uhmm…I’ll need more information then,” she chuckled.
I proceeded to tell her everything. My upbringing, family, and the moments leading up to my supposeddeath (although I did leave out the fact that I was a playboy).I told her about the words the assailant told me, how I believed that my brother was behind the first attack, and how the assailant was the same person judging by how he sounded.
Throughout my story, she paid full attention, nodding and asking questions when she understood and didn’t. It felt good to have someone to spill to. After relaying everything to her, it seemed my memory was jogged back into order because I didn’t have those feelings of hallucinations.
“So, in conclusion, I’m not really the Nick you fell in love with,” I said. “But if you give me a chance, I believe I can make you fall in love with me all over again.”
“Nick, Nick, Nick,” she sighed and shook her head negatively. “Judging by the story you’ve told me, I don’t think you killed any kid. You had what belonged to you taken away from you. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I let my boyfriend go into this battle with heartbreak?”
“I’m super lucky to have you in my life,” I said. “Thank you so much for all you do.”