Just Tell Me You Love Me (Book 1 in the Just Series) *under editing*

Chapter 25

I do hope you also take the time to listen to the music I have attached above. Aside from this song being one of my all time favourites, I really believe that this song is a match made in heaven for Massimo and Arabella. Let me know what you think.

Guiding Light by Foy Vance
(There is a version of this song with Ed Sheeran as well, I personally like that version better)
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Massimo

It's so dark. I try to open my eyes, but I can't. I try to fight it but it was too strong. All I could think about was Lia and Arabella, before darkness consumes me.

***

"I'm so sorry. Please forgive me," I can hear Arabella whisper. Why is she saying sorry. What's going on? But before I could ask, darkness consumes me again.

***

I can hear her voice again, willing me to wake up. But I can't. I don't understand any of this. Arabella... But darkness consumes me...again...

***

"I love you so much. I'm so sorry, please just come back to me. Come back to us. Lia and I needs you. She misses you," she said.

Lia? Oh god, la mia cara bambina! Oh god, my darling baby!

"Just listen to my voice. Just follow my voice and come back to me, please Massimo. I love you so much. I need you..."

Oh god, her voice. Arabella... She loves me... She keeps saying that...

I croak. My throat felt so dry. "Arabella..." I managed to croak out.

"Oh god Massimo! I'm right here. I'm here honey," she said as she burried her face on my neck. "Im so sorry. It's all my fault," she kept saying.

"Cara, shhh, what are you talking about. None of this is your fault. Shh, it's okay sweetheart. Stop crying," I said. I remember... I remember thinking about how much I've hurt her, and then suddenly there was a bright light and I was hit. Oh fuck! Everything hurts.

I ignore the pain all over my body. It's as if a truck ran over me. everything hurts, but it hurts more to see Arabella so distraught. "Cara, shhh, please baby, stop crying," I said again, while hugging her to me.

I let her cry it all out, and once her sobs subsided, she sat up and looked at me. "I love you," she whispered. "I just want you to know," she said. I opened my mouth to try to say something, but she held a finger to my mouth and shook her head no. "Shh...don't say anything. I don't want you to say anything. I just wanted you to know. I was so scared that I lost you. I was angry at myself for not telling you sooner, I thought it was too late, I just..." I raised
my finger to her lips. Silencing her.

"You saved me. Your voice. I could hear your voice. You brought me back. It was you who saved me cara. You told me to listen to your voice. To follow your voice and come back
to you," I said to her.

"You heard me?" She asked im shock.

I nodded. "I can't explain it, but it was as if you were guiding me." I look at her straight in the eyes and said, "You're my guiding light cara."

Tears stream down her face, and I gently wipe them away. She gave me a teary smile in return. "I love you so much, Massimo," she said. She has no idea how happy I am to hear those words from her. I know for a fact that I can't lose her. I won't!

"You're going to marry me," I said, causing her to laugh.

"Still so arrogant. You're so sure of yourself," she teased.

"Of course. You love me," I said in a matter of fact.

She nodded "I do. So very much," she said through my tears.

"Don't cry anymore cara, it's going to be okay," I said.

She nodded.

"We're getting married as soon as I get out of here," I grunted.

She giggled, "I haven't even said yes yet," she teased.

"You will marry me," I said smugly.

She shook her head in reprimand, but the smile on her face tells me, that she's not really mad at me.

I know what she wants...

I took her hand in mine and I looked her in the eyes. "I don't have a ring with me, but I don't want to wait anymore. Will you marry me? Will you be my wife and a mother to Lia and the children we're going to have?" I asked.

Tears start streaming down her face and she gave me a blinding smile.

She hugged me so tight, causing me to grunt in pain. She instantly pulled back. "Oops, sorry," she said.

I chuckled. "It's okay," I said pulling her back to me, she hesitated, but gave in. This time she was hugging me carefully.

She pulled back again, with a big smile on her face. "Oh, and that's a yes by the way," she said, causing me to laugh, but I stopped because it actually hurts like fucking hell to laugh.

"Was there any question?" I joked.

She scowled and pouted playfully. "EJ, you're such an arrogant prick," she grumbled.

I laughed, "ow, fuck. Don't make me laugh cara," I said.

She was giggling uncontrollably. "Sorry. I can't help it."

"Seriously stop baby," I said trying so hard not to laugh.

"Okay, okay... I'll stop EJ," she said, giggling.

"You're going to pay for this, once I get my strength back," I growled, but the smile and laughter in my eyes, gave me away.

"Promises, promises," she said, her eyes dancing with humour.

Oh yes, I am EJ, I thought to myself, while chuckling at the nickname Arabella has given me. I shook my head in good nature...EJ for egotistical jerk. I try hard not to laugh. God the woman has a lot of spunk and feistiness in her. My little firecracker.

I maybe EJ and an arrogant prick, but I've got the woman...

"Where's everyone by the way?" I asked.

"Oh, right. Oh my god. Sorry, I was so happy to see you awake I totally forgot about your parents. Anyways, Marco drove them home a couple hours ago to get some rest. Then Jason, well he had to leave for an important meeting He didn't want to go, but we all told him he should, and that you wouldn't have it any other way, so he did. Zarah, should be here soon too. Ellie came with your parents, by the way. Oh and wait, let me call them. Actually I'll text Marco too," she said.

I laughed, then grunted in pain.

"What?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, it just amazes me how much you can say in one breath," I teased.

She laughed. "Sorry..." She said sheepishly.

"It's adorable, cara," I assured her.

I still can't believe she loves me. I still can't believe we're getting married. I'm one heck of a lucky bastard.