Matthew's POV
I cannot think of a happier moment than now since Michael's death. I finally feel so safe and stable. I am a lost traveler that has found a map on the side of the road. Tess's head lays on my bare chest, and for a moment I'm worried that she'll hear my irregular heartbeat. I hate the pacemaker. I don't want to be a piece of a machine. I don't want to be weak.
I want to tell Tess, I really do, but at the same time, I don't. I want her to know, but I just can't break the news to her. Especially now that she's in love with me and so happy. If she knows that I'm on the brink of death, she might leave me because it might be too hard for her. I don't want her to leave. I can't allow that possibility. I hate being in pain, but I hate causing pain even more. I don't want to be that piece of shrapnel in people's lives.
"Matt, are you okay?" Tess asks, looking up at me, her hand still on my stomach.
I smile and kiss the top of her head. "I love you. A lot."
She smiles. "I love you too." I will never get tired of those words leaving her mouth. Her eyes sparkle like diamonds in an endless cavern.
Suddenly, I remember something. I reach into the pocket of my pants and take out her necklace, with her ring still on the chain. "I take it that you might want these back."
Her smile reaches her eyes. "I most certainly do." I help her into a sitting position, and she pulls me up with her.
"Turn around," I say. She lifts her long, black, wavy hair off her back, and I put the necklace around her, where it belongs. I kiss the side of her neck, and she turns to kiss me but I pull back.
She smirks and lets her hair drop. "Damn tease."
I laugh. That's the first curse word I've ever heard her say since she lost her memory. Then I kneel on the bed and she purses her lips. "What in the world—?"
"Princess Teresa, I have loved you since the day I bumped into you. When I lost you, I felt like I was the missing man. When I was in France, the land around me was just an empty highway, waiting for its vehicles. I was so empty without you, but now I am fulfilled. I will die a happy man, knowing you love me." And I really could. I just don't want to die. "Teresa Francesca Renaldi de'Medici, will you marry me?"
Her eyes seem out of focus and I know she's reliving the first time I proposed to her. "Several issues, Matt," she says, crossing her arms over her barely covered chest. "My name is hella long." I laugh. "Second of all, normal people don't usually propose when they're half-naked."
"Ah, but we are neither normal nor usual, aren't we, darling?"
She shakes her head with a knowing smile and holds out her left hand. I place the ring on her finger and kiss the back of her hand. She buries her hand in my hair and pulls me in for a slow kiss. And as if we need divine intervention, there is a loud, interrupting knock jarring us from the little bubble of space we create every time it's just us.
I sigh. "I really love the maids, but right now..."
Tess laughs. "I'll go put my dress on."
"No, no, it's fine," I quickly say. To be completely and blatantly honest, she looks so hot with and without it on. "I'll, ah, grab you something else in the meantime."
She raises her eyebrow and smirks, a sight I have longed to see. "There's my girl," I say as I roll out of bed. I'm still wearing my pants (no belt, mind you) so I rush to my closet. I grab a plain black undershirt and a long-sleeved shirt for Tess. "This might be a little big on you. Sorry."
"It's fine," she says as she catches the shirt I toss to her. I open the door and find someone I haven't seen in ages. "Aunt Marlee!" I say.
"Matthew, it's so good to see you!" She embraces me and pulls back to ruffle my hair. "My, my, you've grown into a handsome young man."
"Just like my father," I state. She nods, and I scratch my head. "Um, not to be rude, but why are you here all of a sudden?"
"Oh! I brought lunch for you." Aunt Marlee pulls a cart with two covered dishes and two glasses. I frown at the extra plate, and she says, "Well, everyone else was busy with their 'partners', so to speak, so I decided to bring lunch for you and Tess! Where is she anyway?"
I'm about to come up with a prevarication that probably wouldn't make sense anyway, but Tess interrupts. "I'm right here," she says from behind me, wrapping her strong arms around my torso. I've seen her work a punching bag, and I don't want to be at the receiving end of those fists.
"Hello, Tess," Aunt Marlee says. "How are you?"
"I'm doing quite well, thank you. And you?"
"Oh, just wonderful." Aunt Marlee smiles mischievously at Tess's outfit. The shirt I gave her reaches mid-thigh and the sleeves go past her knuckles. I open my mouth to explain the situation, but Aunt Marlee holds up a hand. "No need. You know my story anyway." And as her hand is held up, I remember when Mother told me the story of when and why Aunt Marlee got caned. "I won't judge. I might have to tell your mother, though..."
"No, Marlee," Tess says, ever so calmly. "We didn't do it. We're waiting until our wedding."
Aunt Marlee surprisingly smiles. "You kids have good heads on your shoulders. Well, I better leave you two alone then." Tess and Aunt Marlee embrace and Tess brings the food cart inside. Awesome, because I am starving.
"Matthew, I need to talk to you," Aunt Marlee says urgently. She brings me out and closes the door behind me. "America told me about your condition," she says sadly.
"Oh."
"When are you going to tell Tess? Matthew, I know how you are. You are going to withhold this information from her until something happens. Imagine that, you're going to black out, and the poor girl is going to be scared out of her mind because she doesn't know what's going on. And you know why she doesn't know? Because no one told her."
I look away, too ashamed and worried to even face her. Aunt Marlee puts a hand on my cheek, her scars brushing my face like a pencil tracing my every skin cell. "Matthew, please tell her. If you don't soon, you'll horribly regret it."
"I will. I promise. I'll tell her soon."
"Okay. Take care of yourself, Matt. And no alcohol. I know you've been stealing our stock at the kitchens."
I open my mouth, but she cuts me off again. "There is no excuse that will make this better. Enjoy your lunch, dear."
She waves her hand good bye and disappears around the corner.
I run a hand over my face and walk back inside. Tess isn't anywhere to be seen in my room, but I notice the open windows. "I set lunch up in the balcony," she calls. "I hope that's fine with you."
I walk to her and find everything organized and straight. I manage a smile. "What a perfectionist."
"Duh," she says, tugging on my hand. "That's why I chose you."
I smile, genuinely this time. "Can't say anything bad about that."
We start to eat our lunch—pasta with tomato sauce. A classic favorite, especially when it comes to the meatballs.
"So, Matt," Tess says, spearing the delectable ball of meat. "What did you want to tell me?"
"Hmm?"
"You said you needed to tell me something."
Should I tell her now? She looks so happy, and I just don't want to ruin that. I'll tell her tomorrow. Wait, no, tomorrow's her birthday. Shit, it's her birthday tomorrow.
"Yeah, um. Do you want to go out later?" I ask.
"Uh, yeah, I guess. Where?"
"I don't know yet, but just dress in something casual."
"Um, okay. Is that what you needed to tell me?"
I twirl my pasta around my fork. "I just wanted to tell you that I...am trying to think when our wedding will be."
Tess blinks a few times. Then she smiles. "That's great. More than great actually! Um, when were you thinking it would be? Do you have a specific date in mind?"
"I don't know, but I was thinking the season would be autumn? It's not too cold or too hot so you could pick the venue, and uh, the leaves are really pretty around that time." I'm totally going on a whim on this one, but somehow, it makes sense to me once the words leave my mouth. I do like autumn. I love how the leaves turn different shades and it only stays that way for a few months.
"Yeah, that sounds amazing, Matt." She's already done with her food? How does this woman eat so quickly?! She stands. "I'll go get ready for that date you had planned."
"Right. You just wear something completely casual and maybe something that'll make you unrecognizable because we're going out."
She nods. "Okay. I'll meet you in the foyer in a few minutes, yeah?"
"Yeah."
Tess lightly walks to me and kisses me on the cheek. Then she skips to her room.
How the hell will I be able to tell her?
I can't believe I'm doing this to you again, but it's 1 am. I feel so awful, you guys. I promise I'll make it up to you. You'll get a lot of Matess next chapter and a bonus chapter of what went down with Alexandra and Alexander. Okay? Okay.
Love ya!- AcademicGirl
