Olivia turned on the water, got undressed, and got in the shower. She was thinking about Rafael in this bathroom. Perhaps he sang in the shower? She wonders how much time he put into making sure his hair was just right. She was imagining him fixing his tie and adjusting his suspenders. He was a handsome man and he cared about his appearance.
Once Olivia was done in the shower, she found herself looking in the bathroom mirror. Her thoughts were taking her to how could Rafael possibly love her? The real her. The woman's body that was lined with scars that brought her her insecurity. Maybe he saw past that and right into the woman he loves' heart. She imagined Rafael's gentle hold around her waist. He'd be standing behind her, smiling and kissing her cheeks. Rafael was truly happy to be with her. She put on the shorts and the sweatshirt. The smell of Rafael's cologne on the red Harvard sweatshirt was comforting to Olivia. Rafael was the person who could steady her through it all. His simple gestures of love meant a lot to her. She placed a hand on her leg and traced one of her scars. She knows he's never seen them in person before and part of her is scared to death of that, but if she's learned anything tonight is that she doesn't have to be because Rafael is going to embrace all of her no matter what.
She gathers her clothes and knocks on the closed door in front of her.
"Rafa I-"
"Hi there. Hold on a second." Rafael said. "It's our first date and I'm putting on my shirt.
He didn't want Liv to think he was pressuring her into something too early. It might have seemed silly to be worried about that but Olivia's security in their relationship was no laughing matter to him. He quickly pulls on his shirt and sighs as he opens the top drawer of his bedside table. He looks in the drawer for a moment before closing it back.
"Okay, you can come in."
Rafael was sitting on his bed wearing a white t-shirt and blue plaid pajama pants. She noticed something different about him: the dark tortoise shell-colored glasses resting on his nose. He seemed to be startled at Olivia smiling at him. Rafael blushes nervously. Does she actually think his glasses are okay? He didn't want to wear them but he used up his last pair of contacts and he had no other choice.
"I didn't know you wore glasses, Rafa."
"Yeah. I don't wear them out in public. I am a man of many talents such as cooking and being a lawyer but I can't actually see. That or I'm getting old."
"But you're cute in glasses."
"No, I'm not."
Rafael looks down and runs his hand through his hair. He takes off his glasses and puts them to the side as he's lost in thought. He felt so stupid wearing them. He knows there are plenty of men who wear glasses but whenever he has to wear them he's just reminded of all the other things he's insecure about appearance-wise. He stands up and walks to the mirror standing in his room. His hand shakily reaches to touch his stomach. He looks down at his chest, and for a split second, he forgets Olivia is standing in the room with him. He goes to sit back down and Olivia joins him.
"Rafael, I love you just the way you are. You're incredible inside and out. You taught me that, remember? If I learned anything from today is that you're the man I wanna be with. I fell in love with your heart, not your body. I love you for you and everything else just falls into place." Olivia said as she gave him a reassuring hug like he had done for her. She picks up the glasses and holds the frames in her hands. They really seem to suit Rafael, she pictures him wearing them when reading a story to Noah and happily chuckles.
