Fighting for the Fairytale

Cole

Nora looked... shellshocked.

Well, yeah pal, you just finished without her.

Son of a bitch.

"Babe?"

My wife blinked at me. "Did you—?" 

"Yeah." I tucked her hair hair behind her ear and leaned my head against the wall beside her head. "I'm so sorry."

You're a failure. Just like Dad said you would be. You'll never be good enough for anyone.

"Hey, it's okay." Nora's hands settled on my back. "Think of it as my birthday present to you since what I actually had planned didn't work out." 

I shook my head vigorously, unable to meet her gaze. "No, it's not okay, Nora. I wanted you to go first. I wanted to make this good for you, but I took advantage. I never should have followed you. I should have listened--"

"Shh, honey." Nora pressed me closer to her. 

My lower half started to stiffen again. I shifted away, so Nora wouldn't notice.

Oh fuck off. You've done enough.

"You didn't take advantage." Nora continued. "I... liked it." 

Startled, I pulled back so I could see her. "You liked... what?"

Nora's cheeks were pink. 

It's probably from the steam of the shower. Not you, big shot.

She avoided looking at me as she said in a voice barely above a whisper, "I liked... touching you."  Her hands had moved to my chest. "And..."

"And?" I prompted, my hands running up her arms.

"I liked...you touching me."

Thank God I can do something right!

I ignored the urge to beat my chest like Tarzan. 

She liked what you did! She liked what you did! But wait... which part?

"Babe?"

Nora finally looked up at me, her face unsure. 

"What... specifically... did you like that I did?"

Nora squeezed her eyes shut and looked up at the ceiling of the shower. "Cole, I... I'm not comfortable having this conversation like this. My head still hurts and I'm feeling..." She paused, then asked, "can we... can we have this conversation when we're not in the shower? Please?" 

Husband of the year right here.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm really failing today."

Nora's forehead crinkled, and she stopped me as I moved to shut off the shower. "No, Cole. You're not failing. Why would you say that?"

"It's nothing." I squeezed her hand reassuringly, shut off the water, and turning back to Nora, lifted her in my arms, one hand under both knees, one on her back. "Forget I said anything," I said as I walked us out of the shower.

Setting her down, I wrapped a towel around her first, then grabbed a towel for myself. I quickly wiped the water droplets from my body and fastened it around my waist. 

The whole time I could feel Nora watching me as she silently dried her face and shoulders before wrapping the towel around her arms.

"Wait here," I said. "I'll grab you some clothes."

"You don't have to do th—"

"Shh," I said, touching her cheek. "Please, let me. I want to." I pleaded with my eyes until she, slowly, nodded her consent. "Thank you."