Mitch Haaseth/ABC
Vanessa topping this week’s Power Rankings is twofold: She became the first woman Nick has fallen for and, in the same week, also became the first contestant to truly check Nick’s behavior.
In a sea of contestants who are smitten with Nick before even getting to know him — and who shrieked in unison over this week’s Backstreet Boys cameo, shining a light on their much-younger ages compared to 36-year-old Nick’s — Vanessa, 29, was authentically herself during her one-on-one date with Nick in the sky aboard a zero gravity plane. Unfortunately, after floating like astronauts, the 29-year-old found herself feeling sick and vomited. But the Bachelor bad boy was the opposite of turned off: He reveled in being able to take care of her, caressing and kissing her even after she puked. “This is so not sexy,” she said. But Nick said his favorite moment of the once-in-a-lifetime experience was comforting her.
Later, over wine and dinner atop the tallest building in L.A., Nick, who has been guarded, finally let his wall down with Vanessa, who also became the first woman to ask the question on everyone’s minds: Why do this a fourth time? “I’ve been incredibly terrified that this is not going to work out,” Nick shared, adding he feels “very optimistic” and “sees a lot of things he’s looking for in someone who he wants to spend the rest of his life with” in Vanessa.
Vanessa, who earned a rose that night, called Nick “the total package” but their relationship hit some turbulence when she grew fed up with Nick’s physical display of affection with Corinne and Nick’s “riding her.” She scolded him during their icy poolside altercation: “I’m not judging Corinne. I’m judging your actions” and asks if he’s just looking for a woman to “f— around with.” Nick: Fix this.