I nod, thank him, and smile. The studio audience cheers loudly; they love him. I heard about his divorce after the show wrapped, but I didn’t pay too much attention to the stories about it.
“So how have you been?” Blake asks, his upbeat conversational tone making it sound like we’re best friends.
“I’m doing fine, Blake. Thank you.”
“Well, the big question in the room – the one thing all of our viewers want to know – is, are you still together with James, Xavier, Samuel, and Caleb?”
I focus on a point beyond Blake’s head, keeping my expression impassive, as I’d been instructed.
“We’ll answer that question soon,” Blake tells the camera, “but first we need to take a break.” The live audience groans, and I don’t blame them.
The commercial interruption is a short one, but it’s followed by Blake introducing footage from the season. Finally, we’re live again.
“I think everyone can agree that was quite a season. One of our most dramatic ever.” People in the audience nod in agreement. “One of the big surprises we had last season didn’t have anything to do with Olivia, but with two of our bachelors falling in love with each other. I know fans are wondering how they’re doing, so let’s bring them out.”
I clap along with everyone else as the Brads come out and sit together at the other end of the sofa. I saw them earlier backstage, and we’ve been keeping in touch since the show ended.
Blake talks with them about how their romance developed behind the scenes – it turns out that despite their attempts at secrecy, the producers captured a lot of footage that, while not overt, actually gave viewers a good idea that the two men were falling for each other.
“So, I have to ask, how are things between you now? You’re still together?”
As Lifeguard Brad is nodding, Actor Brad slides a little box out of his pants pocket. “We are together, and I’d like to make it official.” He shifts down to his knee and takes the lifeguard’s hand. “Brad, the past six months have been the happiest of my life. You bring joy into my life every single day, and I hope that I do the same for you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
There’s complete silence until we hear his “Yes.” Then, everyone erupts into cheers, me included. The two men share a teary-eyed kiss, and then chat a bit more with Blake, though they both seem pretty distracted. Lifeguard Brad wasn’t expecting this, and I think it may take time for it all to sink in.
When it’s time for them to exit, I give each of them a hug and more congratulations. We already have plans to get together before I leave town, and I can’t wait to find out about their wedding plans.
There’s another commercial break before Blake Barrows circles back to me. “So, Olivia, I’m sure our viewers don’t want to wait any longer. Tell us, are you and your four men still together?”
“Well, they’re here, Blake. So you could ask them yourself.”
All eyes turn as Samuel steps out, followed by Caleb, James, and Xavier. The fans cheer, and my heart races, as it often still does when I’m near them.
I’m greeted with a kiss from each of them, as if we hadn’t all just been together backstage. Samuel and James sit down to my right, Caleb and Xavier to my left.
“That was a warm greeting,” Blake observes, “and Olivia has a pretty big smile on her face. So, are the five of you still together?”
“We sure are, Blake,” Caleb says.
“Absolutely.” Samuel takes my hand in his.
“That’s great to hear,” Blake says. “A lot of our couples face challenges after the show ends. How have things been for all of you?”
“There was some uncertainty in the beginning,” I admit. “Even though the men gave me a ring, I still had my doubts about how committed they might be, especially with the situation being so unusual.” Blake nods, and Samuel squeezes my hand.
“Getting to know someone on camera can be difficult,” I say, “and as Samuel said during his hometown date, we still needed to learn more about each other.”
“Did you still have reservations about the relationship when the show ended, Samuel?” Blake asks.
Without hesitation, Samuel shakes his head. “I felt that way during the hometown date, but in the days that followed, I became certain about my feelings for Olivia. I wouldn’t have entered into this arrangement if I wasn’t one hundred percent on board.”
“Makes sense,” Blake says, nodding. “And what is your arrangement like? Do you all live together?”
The five of us look at each other. We were told what questions to expect, but we still don’t have a solid answer for this one. “It’s been a work in progress,” James says. “We’ve flown around a lot, and tried out some different arrangements.”