I pace back and forth in front of the bathroom door, a war waging in my head. Part of me knows that she needs time to process what I’ve done, but another part wants nothing more than to go to her.

All of my justifications from yesterday feel suddenly hollow in the face of her pain. Ryan may be the one that jilted her, but I certainly wasted no time capitalizing on the situation.

I feel like the shittiest person on the planet.

I stop pacing, raising a hand to knock.

It stops just short of the door, unable to follow through with the intrusion.

I don’t know how to handle this situation. I knew that telling her would be rough, but I had hoped she’d recognize what a huge blessing this really is.

Was I a total fool?

She dodged a bullet. Marrying Ryan would’ve been the worst mistake of her life.

My guilt at stepping into his place is earned, but so is my happiness at what she inadvertently evaded.

My head falls forward to rest against the door, the cool wood like a balm against the headache forming there.

If I feel so overwhelmed, I can only imagine what she’s going through.

“Nicole!” I call out, not liking the desperation in my own voice. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the maelstrom raging in my mind.

“Nicole, please, let’s just talk about this.”

I hear no answer from the other side, just the persistent falling water.

I raise my hand again, this time allowing my knuckles to strike against the wood.

“Look, if you would just let me explain…” I trail off, not sure what more to say.

My feelings for Nicole are still surprising, even to me.

The fact that they led me down this crazy path is even more so. I rack my brain, trying to find the words to explain, trying to find some mystery phrase that will suddenly make this disastrous situation all right.

Nothing comes, nothing that hasn’t already been said.

Words fail me here, and I realize belatedly that it’s because words just aren’t enough for this situation. If Nicole is ever going to believe the depths of my feelings, I’ll have to show her. Prove them to her in a way that Ryan never did—or would, for that matter.

Show, not tell.

I rap my knuckles against the door, harder this time. I refuse to leave her in there alone, confused and overwhelmed.

The door gives way with a small creak of annoyance, opening several inches at the insistence of my fist.

I damn near slap myself for not trying the knob in the first place.

Of course, it’s unlocked.

“Nicole…” I say more calmly, stepping through the doorway.

It isn’t until I’m halfway into the bathroom that I can hear her sobs. My heart aches at the sound of them, urging me to be near her.

The glass of the shower door is completely fogged, making it difficult to find so much as an outline. It isn’t until I’m right at it that I spot her, curled up on the shower floor, her cries only growing more desperate.

Without thinking, I yank the door open in a rush, stepping under the hot sprays of water. My eyes fall over her, her body prone, tense with emotion.

It’s with a great force of will that I drag my eyes back to her face.

“Oh, Nicole…” I whisper, lowering myself onto the floor beside her. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”

I lay a hand gently on her shoulder, testing her reaction.

When she doesn’t pull away, I scoot closer, locking my arms defensively around her.

“I know I screwed up here,” I say, my face lowered to her ear, “but I promise, I’m going to make this up to you.”

Her sobs ease, trickling off into the occasional soft groan.

“How?” she asks, finally glancing up at me.

Her eyes rake over my sopping wet form. Beads of water fall from my drenched hair, my clothes sticking tightly to my body.

I’ve never felt relief so great as I do when a giggle escapes her.

“You look ridiculous,” she laughs.

I glance down at myself—she has a point.

“Maybe so,” I say in my most serious tone, a smile tugging at my lips, “but I mean it, Nicole. I’m going to make this right, whatever it takes.”

She stares at me a long moment, water rushing down her face.

“Well, I guess you’ll have to,” she finally starts. “You’re my husband, after all.”

A full smile stretches my face. Hearing her say it, so matter of factly, makes my heart soar.

“That I am.”

Silence falls over us, surprisingly comfortable.

The water continues to fall, further seeping its way into my clothes. I pay it little mind, my thoughts elsewhere.

I feel absolutely pulled into her eyes, now staring at me in contemplation. What I wouldn’t give to hear what she’s thinking.

Her new reality is definitely going to take a lot of processing, I’m sure of that. The way she’s looking at me now, though, so open, I feel like there may truly be a happy ending in all of this mess.

“Okay,” I say before I’ve even really decided to, “so I’m gonna need you to get ready.”

The intensity of her stare breaks, confusion once again taking up place in her gaze.

“Ready for what?”

“For Venice!” I say, trying hard to sound extra cheerful.

She tilts her head in question.

“You didn’t think we were gonna sit around here all day?” I ask. “Oh, no. I’m taking you out. See the sights, live a little. It’s just what the doctor ordered.”

“You’re serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

I stand quickly, silently willing her to agree.

“O-okay.” she says.

Good enough for me.

“Perfect,” I chime, throwing open the shower door. “I’ll leave you to it then.”

I step out, my shoes squeaking as they make contact with the bath mat. Water seems to pour from me in waves, soaking through the mat in a hurry.

“I’ll just go change.”

I pull at my shirt for emphasis, hearing the small squelch it lets out as it comes away from my body.

“Thirty minutes?”

I glance back at her for approval, receiving a small nod in response.

Again, it takes more than a little effort to look away, my eyes longing to run the length of her shimmering form.

I can barely resist. Instead, I turn back towards the door and the room beyond it. I make my way down the hall, shoes squeaking loudly with every step, water dripping freely down me.

When I reach the room, I take my time, slowly peeling the soaked clothes from my body as I think.

I really do think that this is all going to work out. Crazy as it might seem.

The only real struggle was getting her to spend time with me. After what I pulled, I wouldn’t have been surprised if she went running for the hills, demanding an annulment the entire way.

Now that I see her reaction, though: calm—even striving on hopeful—I know that I can make this work.

If she’ll just stick with me here, I can prove everything to her. I can show her that this isn’t some prank or passing amusement.

My feelings are as real as they are insane, and I won’t rest until she believes me.

Believes me and feels the same.

One step at a time, no matter what it takes, I’ll make her fall for me.

Just as I’ve fallen for her.

And we’ll have our happily ever after.