I pull into my underground parking lot and park in my usual spot. I press the button for my floor.
By the time I get inside, I head straight for the shower. I want to keep the good memories of today, but wash away the anxious noise trying to creep in about the future.
The shower has always been one of the easiest places for me to talk to God. No distractions. No noise. Just quiet and honesty.
I rinse the salt water from my hair and pray about today—for clarity, for wisdom in moving forward.
“Lord, if this is from You, I don’t want to run ahead. But if she’s the one… don’t let me hold back out of fear.”
The words feel simple, but they carry everything.
When I step out, I dry off and walk to my closet to grab what I’ll sleep in, my mind still circling back to Lizzie again and again.
I climb into bed, turning on my bedside lamp. As I settle in bed with my Bible, peace settles in my chest. The warm glow of my lamp envelops the room, a reflection of the warm peace I feel in my heart. As I sit there with God, surrendering all of it — the desire, the timeline, the uncertainty — my decision becomes crystal clear.
Every part of me wants her.
We’re on a timeline like no other. It’s sped things up between us in a way normal relationships probably wouldn’t be. But that doesn’t automatically make it wrong.
What matters is the choices we make with the information we’ve been given.
Love isn’t just an emotion. It’s a commitment. I’ve had enough experience in that to know.
Falling in love might not happen overnight.
Butchoosinglove can.
It’s the next morning, and I’m getting ready for church when I hear the phone ring.
I walk into the kitchen, fiddling with my belt as I pick up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Nate. This is Marc.” Lizzie’s dad. Calling me?
“Hey, Marc. How’s it going?” I’m not usually the nervous type, but with Lizzie involved, I feel a small flicker of it anyway.
“Yeah, good.” He pauses. “I was wondering if you’d like to come over for lunch today.”
My face brightens immediately. It’s been a while since we’ve spent any real time together.
“I’d love to. I’ll see you at church?”
“Yup. On my way now, but wanted to call first in case you already had plans.”
“Great. No plans until now. I’ll see you soon.”
I hang up and walk from the kitchen into the living room just as the front door opens and Camila steps inside.
“Camila, what are you doing here? It’s Sunday.” My tone isn’t scolding—I just genuinely want to make sure she takes her day off. I don’t want her working when she should be resting and with family.
“Hey, boss. I forgot something I needed to pick up.” She looks just a little too innocent.
“Really?” I raise an eyebrow. “Nothing that could wait until tomorrow?”
“Alright, alright,” she sighs dramatically. “I can’t lie. I was passing literally down the street and thought I’d take a quick detour to hear about yesterday.”
I laugh.
