Bianca nods, seeming to think it over and agree.
“Before you go, do you have any advice, or anything you’ve noticed from watching?” I ask.
“I don’t know if you’ll want to hear this, but all four of them seem like great guys. I had a hard time watching you get close to some of the men.” I wince, knowing she must be talking about Johnny and maybe Marcus. “But I could always see that you had something special with these four. I’ve been watching closely, and I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I were in your shoes.”
“I’m spoiled for choice,” I say.
“Not that I could be in your shoes, O. I’ve been so proud watching you! Everyone’s rooting for you.”
We hug one last time, my heart warmed knowing I have local support and that my friend thinks I’m representing myself well on screen.
34
Maybe something more?
I should be sleeping, because I have an early date with Samuel tomorrow, but all of the travel and time zone changes have me both tired and wired. I’m in a lotus position in the center of my big hotel bed, trying to focus on a deep breathing exercise, when there’s a knock at the door of my suite.
Caleb’s at the door, with no cameras in sight, and I quickly invite him in so he’s not seen in the hallway.
“How are you doing?” he asks. “I’ve been worried about you.”
In reply, I simply pull him into a hug, wanting to feel his nearness and take comfort in his arms. He’s rubbing my back in long, soothing strokes when there’s another knock.
“Think the producers followed you?”
He shrugs. Through the peephole, I see James in the hallway, and I let him in too, before giving a thought to the potential awkwardness of being alone with both of them in my room.
“Caleb came to check on me,” I tell James. “He just got here.”
“I came to check on you too.” James doesn’t appear bothered to see another man in my room, nor does Caleb seem to mind that I let another man in.
“Final week,” James says. “I wanted to see how you’re coping with the stress.”
I shrug and give him a small smile. “As well as can be expected.”
“I came here with the same concern,” Caleb says. “Figured you could use some stress relief before you head into your dates.”
“You know what always works best for relieving stress?” The arch of James’s brow and his tone of voice leave no question what he’s referring to, and I can’t believe he’s coming on to me with Caleb standing right here.
“We are absolutely on the same page,” Caleb says.
If it were anyone but Caleb, and if they both weren’t grinning like fools, I might worry that a fight is about to start, but I know that’s not Caleb’s style at all. Still, the fact that he’s apparently joining James’s line of thinking is still a shock to me. What exactly are they proposing?
They don’t leave me wondering for long.
Caleb comes up behind me and squeezes my shoulders, one in each of his big hands. “Maybe you’d like a back rub?”
“A massage?” James says.
“Maybe something more?” Caleb adds.
I blink hard and open my eyes wide. Is this really happening? Both of them here? This must be a dream. A really, really good dream.
Even before meeting with Bianca and hearing about her and her men, intimacy has been on my mind. This is the week on the show that offers the option of overnight dates, and I’ll be given the chance to spend the night with each of the men.
I understand the need to explore physical compatibility before committing to someone, but I’ve always been a bit uncomfortable watching women on previous seasons spend the night with three different men right before they were about to choose one to be their fiance. Plus, there’s the fact that I still have four men here instead of the usual three – things are already complicated enough without adding sex into the mix.
As for determining physical compatibility, I already have a good read on that. Even though I haven’t done much with them, the four men get me hot every time I see them, even as I have to keep things family-friendly for the cameras.
I step away from Caleb and turn to look at them both. “What exactly are you proposing?”
“Whatever you’d like,” Caleb says. “It’s nice to finally be with you without any cameras around.”
I glance at James, wanting to gauge his reaction. “It’s been torture not being able to have time alone with you,” he says.
“But … we’re not alone. I’m confused. Both of you are okay with this?” I look back and forth between the two men.
James shrugs. “I’m good with whatever makes you happy. Caleb and I have gotten to be friends.”