Chapter 1: Episode 1: Introductions
Chapter Text
Bradley stood in front of the mansion. The first out bisexual bachelorette, and she’d requested to have a pool of men and women, however, the producers informed her it could be an issue of the women falling in love with each other, especially since Bradley is often separated from the group. Then, if the women were bisexual, they may fall for the men. So, she compromised by having one lesbian in the mix. She’d met three men already with the same haircut and she wondered if the lesbian would have the same hair as well.
She saw the shoe out of the limo. Men’s shoes. She smiled and watched him fasten the button on his blazer.
“Wow.” He smiled and walked up to her. “You are glowing, like a ray of sunshine on this dark mansion.”
Bradley giggled. “What’s your name?”
“For now, you can call me Sun Catcher. Come find me inside to learn my legal name.” He said and gave her a hug before he walked inside.
Bradley giggled. She waited for the next set of feet to exit the limo and the next man to walk up to her.
“Hi.” Bradley said.
“Hi.” He laughed, nervous.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Eric.”
“Hi Eric. What do you do?”
“I’m uh, I’m a dancer.” He said. “Sorry. I’m so nervous.”
“Me too. We’ll get through it together.”
BRADLEY JACKSON, 27
Bachelorette
Hanover, WV
“I’m really liking these men. Eric was nervous and that really made me feel better to know I’m like, not in this alone. Sun Catcher was interesting, I’m looking forward to learning his real name.”
Bradley watched anxiously for her last few arrivals and she saw a crowd of people wearing rainbows coming towards her, a marching band playing Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ inched towards her. Was this the woman?
A blonde man stepped away from the marching band and Bradley watched curiously.
“Hi. I’m Ty, and I heard you’re bi. I know you’re proud of that and I’m proud to get to know you, so I thought I’d express my pride with this pride parade.”
Bradley laughed. “I love it.”
She gave him a hug and watched him walk in. She turned back to the driveway and saw a giant truck with blacked out windows on it, and she couldn’t see a thing no matter how hard she looked. Finally the door opened and she saw a high heeled shoe. The lesbian. Bradley watched her carefully step down from the truck and walk over to her in a nice suit.
“You know what they say about people who drive big trucks.” She said and held her fingers an inch apart.
Bradley laughed.
“Unlike all those guys, at least I can admit it. But… I don’t want you to worry. Mine is actually probably the biggest… and prettiest.”
Bradley giggled, trying to gauge if she was serious.
“I mean, I usually don’t whip it out during my first conversation with someone, but what the hell.” Alex pulled out a large pink and sparkly dildo. “Remember this when you’re talking to these other men. They can't compete.”
“Can I touch it?” Bradley joked.
“I want you to keep it, until fantasy suites.”
Bradley took it from Alex’s hand. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“I’m Alex, by the way.”
“I’m Bradley.”
“I know.”
Bradley laughed and covered her face. “Right.”
“It’s okay. We’re all nervous.” She smiled. “I’ll find you after you meet everyone. Deal?”
“Deal.”
BRADLEY JACKSON, 27
Bachelorette
Hanover, WV
“Alex was… very bold. And so fucking hot. Sorry. I can’t say that, can I? Alex… is definitely someone who stands out right now. She is bold and confident and she was sweet. I don’t know. I’m really excited about this group of people.”
Alex entered the group and found a room full of men, most with the same haircut, but all of them friendly, at least at first. She’d grown up in a house with brothers, so she knew how men got when they thought they were going to score and someone else stood in the way. Alex’s plan was to hide in the background with them, but somehow stand out with Bradley.
“So, you’re like… dating her too?” A man walked up to her.
"Yeah. Not interested in you, if that’s-"
“No. No. I just- I find it interesting.”
“Stop picturing us together, it’s creepy.”
“No, I think… it’s cool… that they allowed it.” He said and extended a hand. “I’m Daniel.”
“Alex.”
The glass clinked against the knife and Bradley made a toast to the journey and love. Everyone brought their glasses together and Bradley caught Alex’s eye.
“You mind if I steal you first?”
“Not at all.” Bradley placed her hand in Alex’s and they walked outside to the couch.
“I probably didn’t need to do a whole lot to stand out, because, well, I think there’s a clear difference between me and them…”
Bradley laughed.
“And I’m sorry if it was too forward at all, or if it made you uncomfortable.”
Bradley shook her head. “I liked it. It’s something no one’s ever been able to do or say, and I like that.”
“I guess I just wanted you to know, I put thought and effort into it, I didn’t wanna just step out of the limo like I had never thought about you before.”
“You’ve thought about me? What were you thinking?”
“I have.” Alex smiled and Bradley leaned closer. “I’ve thought about kissing you.”
“Me too.” Bradley smiled and gladly received the feel of Alex’s lips on her own, Alex’s tongue, her gentle fingers in her hair. Best first kiss she could’ve hoped for.
“You know, if we would’ve met outside of here, I’d already be asking you to move in.”
Bradley laughed. She understood this woman’s jokes, and this woman understood a culture that none of those men got, and Bradley knew Alex intended to make that known. “I wish we had more time.”
“We’ll have to make the most out of the time we do have.”
Bradley kissed Alex one last time and returned to the mansion to talk with her next date.
“So. Sun Catcher. I have to know, what’s your real name?”
“Cory.” He smiled. “But you can call me Sun Catcher if you prefer that.”
“What if I just call you Sunshine?”
“Well that’s your name.” He said, and he took it as his opportunity and moved in for a kiss.
Bradley knew then, that it was going to be a difficult journey. Bradley didn’t even know if she was capable of love, but she would have multiple people falling for her.
Bradley sat down with her next date.
“So, I appreciate a man who is willing to dress up in rainbows and carry the bi flag.” Bradley said.
“Yeah, I just hope it shows that I’ll do anything to support you.” He leaned in for a kiss.
“To be clear, you’re straight?”
“Come on. You can’t ask that right after I kiss you!”
Bradley laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that, but…?”
“Yeah. I mean I’ve kissed men for videos before, so that’s how much of an ally I am, but I’m straight.”
“In videos? For what?”
“TikTok. I’m an influencer.”
“Oh. Nice.”
Bradley had conversation after conversation with the other men, all of them surface level, as expected for a first night.
Finally, all of the men and Alex were presented with the rose on the coffee table.
ALEX LEVY, 34
Journalist
New Haven, CT
“Seeing that first impression rose made my heart race. I mean, I felt the connection, but it would just be validation that she’s feeling the same way. God, it would mean everything.”
YANKO FLORES, 33
Scientist
Miami, FL
“The first impression rose is a pretty big deal, especially because the bachelorettes usually end up with the man she gives the first impression rose to, and everyone knows it.”
BRADLEY JACKSON, 27
Bachelorette
Hanover, WV
“The first impression rose… uh well, there’s only one person I can think that’s really made me laugh and I want to be around, who I feel really gets me.”
“Who are you giving it to?” The producer asked.
“Alex.”
“Pick someone else.”
“No.”
“If you give it to Alex, it’ll look like you prefer women over men, and that the men never truly had a shot if you pick her in the end. Pick someone else, give her a rose at the rose ceremony, it’s not like you have to send her home.”
“But I want her to know I like her.”
“If you give the rose to Alex, you will be the villain.”
Bradley walked to the living room and picked the rose off the tray and smiled at Alex as she kept walking.
“Can I talk to you?” She had the rose behind her back.
“Yeah.”
“I really appreciate you showing me you’re willing to do anything to support me. So, Ty. Will you accept this rose?”
“Absolutely.”
She pinned the rose on his suit and gave him a kiss. She wished she had that moment with Alex, but she hoped their connection was enough to keep Alex confident and stay.
ALEX LEVY, 34
Journalist
New Haven, CT
“It was disappointing not getting the first impression rose. I thought I had a good connection, but apparently he had a better one. Ugh. Fuck. I didn’t think this would be so hard. I guess I’ll just have to try harder and hope I get a rose at the rose ceremony. Yeah.”
Bradley stood in front of the array of men and Alex, all in suits, except the one guy who decided to dress like a bag of chips, so Bradley could remember his name was Chip.
“Cory.” She called the first name. “Will you accept this rose?”
“It would thrill me.”
The producers chose the order, but Bradley was relieved they hadn’t left Alex to worry. It meant their connection was undeniable and if she didn’t give her one of the first roses, the audience would already know where one of the roses was going. “Alex.” She smiled as Alex walked forward. “Will you accept this rose?”
“Of course.”
Bradley pinned the rose on Alex’s suit and Alex returned back to the group.
Daniel watched the two, curious. Their connection was fascinating, two people of the same gender, having feelings for each other. Daniel looked around at the other men and wondered if any of them had ever had feelings for another man. Wouldn’t that be weird?
Bradley handed off a number of roses and then Jesse Palmer walked in. “Gentlemen, Bradley, it’s the final rose tonight.”
Bradley picked up the rose. She scanned the remaining men. “Daniel.” She paused as he walked to the front. “Will you accept this rose?”
“I will.”
“Gentlemen, if you did not receive a rose, take a few minutes to say your goodbyes.”
BRADLEY JACKSON, 27
Bachelorette
Hanover, WV
“I feel really good about this group. I can’t wait to continue this journey with them.”
Notes:
Just because their name wasn’t said at the rose ceremony, doesn’t mean they didn’t make it through. I just didn’t want to go through 20 different names, especially when we all know who everyone is here for:)
Chapter 2: Episode 2: The First Dates
Chapter Text
“I want my first one on one to be with Alex.”
“No. She can be on the group date.”
“Would I be allowed to give her the group date rose, or would you shut that down too?”
“As long as you have a good conversation and your chemistry is palpable, then you can give her the group date rose if she’s the one who stood out.”
“Fine.”
“First one on one?”
“I don’t care. Ty, Cory, Eric… whoever.”
The first group date card came and Chip listed off the names. Alex closed her eyes and hoped her name wouldn’t be called. She wanted that one on one date more than anything.
“Alex.”
Alex was excited that she would get to see her, but disappointed that it would be with multiple other guys. Was she crazy for doing this? Was she being used for ratings, and as proof that Bradley was bisexual and willing to kiss a woman when she was just going to dump her in the end for one of the men? The likelihood of a man winning Bradley over was more probable than Alex, but Alex didn’t want to be paraded around for some political points. She wanted love.
Alex got ready for the date, and dressed in shorts and a tank top, while most of the men wore muscle tanks and cargo shorts. She applied her makeup and curled her hair, so no matter what happened, she’d know she looked her best for Bradley, and she couldn’t have tried any harder in that department.
She walked out with the men, Daniel on one side, Yanko on the other, and everyone began jogging when Bradley was in sight. Ty got there first, and Alex waited for her chance to have Bradley’s arms around her. Damn. It was worth the wait. They went on a date to a poetry house, and everyone was told they had 15 minutes to write a poem for Bradley. Alex wrote and crossed it out and wrote and crossed it out. This was her chance to stand out and do something Bradley would love and see she was different from all the men.
Ty stepped on the stage first. “Bradley. You’re bi and I’m Ty. Your eyes are blue and I’m into you. I hope you give me a chance to someday say I do, because I’d be a happy man if I could spend my life with you.”
Bradley smiled and clapped and gave Ty a hug when he stepped down.
Alex cleared her throat and stepped up to the mic. “Look, I’m not that good at rhyming, and we don’t know each other very well, let’s be real guys. I don’t know what the future holds for us, and nor do I want to. I’m just grateful for today, and the moments I’m looking at you. Last night I felt really connected to you, and I can only hope you feel that way about me too. But lezzz be honest, I’m not a man, but as you’ve heard, I already have a plan.” Alex said with a wink.
Bradley laughed. There was something different about Alex, it felt more sincere, rather than all the men talking about her body or how in love they were. Theirs felt like they had tried to create a romantic poem, Alex’s felt like she’d thought about Bradley and Alex while she wrote it. “I love it!” She wrapped her arms around Alex.
Alex melted into her arms, never wanting to let go. But she pulled back when their moment was up, and any longer would put a target on her back with the guys.
Daniel stepped up on the stage. “Roses are red. Bradley’s eyes are blue, sugar is sweet, and I’m sure your kisses are too.” He said. “That’s all I got.”
Alex watched. They hadn’t kissed yet? She couldn’t imagine talking to her and not kissing her, not feeling that pull and Bradley leaning in. Maybe she would experience it soon. She looked over and watched Daniel kiss Bradley in front of everyone. It felt like a knife to the chest. She wasn’t naive to think that Bradley wouldn’t eventually kiss all of these men, but if she didn’t see it, she had a chance at convincing herself it wasn’t true.
TY FITZGERALD
Influencer
Los Angeles, CA
“I thought it was extremely disrespectful for Daniel to kiss Bradley in front of all of us. We’re all dating that woman, and he was out of line. Especially, you know, some of these guys haven’t even kissed her yet.”
The next date card showed up and Chip picked it up. “Cory. Let’s fall into love. Bradley.”
All the men congratulated him and he only smiled arrogantly. “I can’t wait.” He took the card and stared at it.
Soon, the rest of the group entered to change into their nicer clothes for the evening portion of their date.
“No, no. I need to talk to you. You were completely disrespectful back there.” Ty followed Daniel into the mansion.
“How was I disrespectful? Bradley is my girlfriend. She’s your girlfriend, she’s her girlfriend… that’s what you signed up for.”
“No, I didn’t sign up to have you flaunt it in front of my face! The rest of us are being respectful, you need to be too.”
“I am respectful.” Daniel said. “I’m not the one who started yelling.”
“Who’s yelling? Who’s yelling?”
“Listen to you!”
Alex smiled to herself and went to her room. The front runner was in drama, and those involved in drama never make it to the end. Besides, if they turned on each other, Alex would escape their eyes and questions and them all turning on her for their obvious differences.
ALEX LEVY, 34
Journalist
New Haven, CT
“Yeah, seeing the kiss sure hurt me, but… I kissed her first, so take that!” She laughed. “No, uh, in the end, Bradley is a grown adult and she can kiss who she wants. That’s what this process is about. You can’t be upset with Daniel when Bradley was just as much apart of it. Sure, I wish I hadn’t seen it, but… I just have to be confident in what Bradley and I have, and not let it get to me. I’ll just have to give her a better kiss tonight. So, yeah.”
Bradley entered the room where the men and Alex sat on the couch, and stood when she entered. Alex wore a one piece jumper which Bradley noticed immediately.
“Hey y’all. Thank you all for joining me tonight and let’s make a toast to a great first date!”
“Cheers.” Everyone said and they all brought their glasses to the center.
Before Bradley was done taking a sip, Daniel speaks up. “Do you mind if I steal you?”
“Not at all.”
Ty seethed as he watched them walk away holding hands.
Bradley settled on the couch, a drink in hand.
“How’s your night?”
“Good.”
“Good. You’re stunning.”
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“So, tell me about you. You’re obviously bisexual, right? When did you realize that?”
“Um. I think in eighth grade I had this teacher, Mrs. May and… the girls were all swooning over Mr. Dretcher and I was too, but the guys liked Mrs. May, and that’s how I realized that my fascination with her, came from the same place as every horny boy at the school.”
“That’s incredible that you knew so young and that you were able to figure it out. That’s very admirable.”
Bradley laughed. “When did you realize you were straight?”
Daniel laughed and scratched his head. “Uh. I guess it was when I saw The Proposal and I realized I wanted what he had.”
“You wanted your boss to demand you marry her?” Bradley laughed.
“Well I don’t think I’d complain if you did that.”
“Hey, do you think I could steal Bradley for a second?” Ty asked and Daniel was clearly frustrated, but he got up and let Ty take his place on the couch.
“How’s it going? You holding up okay?”
Daniel shook his head as he rejoined the rest of the group. “Ty just cut me off up there. He got the first impression rose, and some of us haven’t gotten to speak with her at all.”
Alex headed to the bar, sensing the drama beginning and not wanting that target on her back any more than it was. As a woman, people expect her to be in the middle of the drama, and when she finds herself involved in it, it will automatically be her fault and she will be the one who started it. No one acknowledges that men fighting for one woman can be much more toxic than what the one lesbian could ever bring.
She stayed at the bar when Ty rejoined the group and sipped her drink as Daniel approached him.
“Hey. Man. Can I talk to you?”
“Sure.” Ty followed Daniel away from the group.
“Why do you feel like you could interrupt my time with her?”
“Well you kissed her in front of all of us, that wasn’t cool, man.”
“It’s not my problem if you’re jealous.”
“Jealous? What’s there to be jealous of?”
Alex finally got a moment with Bradley while half of the men were eves dropping on the argument.
She sat on the couch with her and looked into her eyes. God, how could anyone have a stronger connection than them?
“How’ve you been?” Bradley tucked a strand of hair behind Alex’s ear.
“Good. Missing you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” Bradley leaned in and she met Alex’s lips immediately, waiting all day to finally be alone with her for a few minutes.
“So, where’d you grow up?”
“Um, Hanover, West Virginia. As you can probably tell by my accent.” Bradley blushed.
“I love your voice.” Alex smiled. “Any siblings?”
“Yeah. One brother.”
“Are you close?”
Bradley laughed nervously. “Uh, kind of. I’m- I’m not really sure what to do when we get to the end, like, if you’re there. When I came out, it didn’t go well, and I just- I don’t know if I’d wanna subject you to that.”
“Well, we still have a long time before we get there, but… if I’m still around when it comes time, we’ll get through it, in whatever way feels right for you.”
“Thanks, Alex.” Bradley brought her lips to Alex’s again, moving closer, nearly straddling her.
ALEX LEVY, 34
Journalist
New Haven, CT
“It’s definitely disappointing to hear that Bradley’s family most likely wouldn’t approve of me. It puts me at a major disadvantage, for sure. But, the fact that she’s already thinking about me meeting them, means she sees me in the final two… hopefully. It just sucks you know? Because none of the guys have to deal with this, and like, knowing no matter how happy you make her, or how well you treat her, her family will always rather her be with the other person, and I’m sure that’s always in the back of her mind.”
“You’re not here for the right reasons.” Daniel said to Ty. “You’re here to promote your channel, wave the gay flag around to expand your fan base…”
“You don’t know what you’re fucking talking about!”
They argued back and forth until Daniel finally stormed off. He walked past the other guys, just wanting to get away from Ty who brought out a jealous side of himself that he’d never seen before. He for some reason walked towards Bradley, who was having a private conversation and the last thing anyone would want, would be to get interrupted by the man who had kissed her in front of them. He froze once he made it in the doorway and saw her making out with Alex as if her life depended on it. He thought he’d had something great with her, but… He gulped as he watched, wanting to look away, and yet not able to. He wasn’t turned on, like some men. He was… intrigued. He felt there was no space for him, and that brought him relief. Bradley clearly wanted a woman, and that let Daniel off the hook.
He finally retreated, relieved at knowing the lack of spark he felt went both ways. He couldn’t imagine Bradley climbing on his lap… ever. Especially not on this second date.
He took a seat on the couch and everyone started, Ty directly across from him.
“You guys good, bro?”
“We’re all playing for second anyway.” Daniel said.
“Why would you question her like that? That’s really fucking disrespectful to Bradley and all of us and the connections we have with her.”
“She clearly has a preference to women.”
“Are you invalidating bisexuality?” Ty leaned forward, the frustration evident in his voice.
“I’m saying, she hasn’t jumped on my lap to kiss me ever…”
Alex walked in, and the room went silent. The rose sat on the coffee table in the middle of the room, all of them suddenly hyper aware of its presence.
“This will be very telling.” Ty said, his eyes glued to the rose he was sure would go to him.
Bradley finally joined them, taking a seat on the couch between Alex and Daniel, the only place there was space, as if the men found them toxic.
“I had such a great time with y’all tonight. I’m looking forward to seeing where all these connections go, but there was one connection, and someone who took a genuine interest in getting to know me tonight. So... Alex. Will you accept this rose?”
“Always.” Alex smiled and watched Bradley pin the rose on her one piece jumper, her hand reaching under the fabric to secure the magnetic rose to her. If they’d met outside of this show, Alex wouldn’t spend the night alone.
ALEX LEVY, 34
Journalist
New Haven, CT
Alex smiled in front of the camera, and looked down at her rose and then back up. “This just stands for so much. She knows who I am, the challenges we’ll face, and she’s okay with that. Of course, maybe I’m just a really good kisser. There’s always that possibility.” She chuckled to herself.
BRADLEY JACKSON, 27
Bachelorette
Hanover, WV
I am so glad I got to give Alex the group date rose. She’s been a standout from the start and it feels good to give her some validation, while also having an amazing conversation. I know you won’t air this part, but, not being able to give her the first impression rose really sucked. I feel like it’s different with us, you know, and not everyone would be willing to entertain a relationship with a woman when she was dating 30 or so men who could make her pass for straight and not have to fight homophobia every time we went out in public. But, you know, it’s about the connection and how I feel when I’m with them. I feel really good with Alex.
Bradley had to go from a group of people fighting for her to the next day, being with one guy. It was… kind of nice. It was calm during the storm. Of course, the excitement from the activities made it anything but calm. She was given a choice on the activities to do on her dates, however, she was encouraged by the producers to choose the biggest and most dangerous activities so she could test their relationship in more stressful situations, so it’s not just happiness and traveling the world together. So, Bradley hesitantly chose a date where she and Cory would go skydiving.
As they walked up to the small private plane she realized it was a mistake, not only for the health of the planet, but a mistake to think this man she barely knew would put up with her complaining on the first date, about an activity she chose. She grasped his hand tighter and he looked over at her.
“You nervous?” He chuckled.
“I’m kind of freaking out right now.” She wished she hadn’t held his hand so he couldn’t feel the tremble.
He smiled. “You’ll be fine. We’re gonna do it together. It’ll be a great story to tell the grandkids one day.” He laughed.
Bradley followed him onto the plane, and she wished she could be a better host and talk to him, but she had to remind herself that she was safe and they wouldn’t let her die on the show. Bradley was so quiet, she almost had hope that they wouldn’t notice she was there.
“This is going to be an experience we’ll never forget.”
Bradley chuckled nervously. “Yeah.” Especially if we die in the next 10 minutes.
“Hey. We’re in this together.” He said and gave her a kiss. “This will be fun! Exciting! Once you feel that rush, you’re gonna wanna do it again, I promise you.”
“Okay.” She held his hand as the guy strapped to her back moved them into position. She hoped her heart wouldn’t burst, it was beating so fucking hard. She closed her eyes for a second, which was a mistake. She was completely unprepared for how fast everything moved when she opened her eyes and shortly after, Cory gave her a thumbs up and she was jumping out of that plane. This was how she would die. She smiled for a few moments so they could edit it together to make it look like she wasn’t trying to keep her stomach inside her body. She finally slowed when the parachute was pulled and she could hear Cory screaming from where she was. Maybe if she wasn’t so terrified of heights, she would be having as much fun as he was, but it made her feel good to see him happy.
She finally landed and she threw her helmet off, and watched Cory land. “Woohoo!” He screamed as he landed, a huge smile on his face.
Bradley walked over to him as he detached from the instructor, but her stomach still felt like it was going to climb out of her throat, and then suddenly, her breakfast did. She hacked into the grass field beneath her, turning away until she felt his hand on her back. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I take it the drop didn’t sit well in the old tum tum.”
“God, that’s so embarrassing that I threw up on our first date.”
“Hey, it’s a story for the grandkids.”
Bradley laughed and accepted the towel the producers gave to Cory to hand to her. “Thanks.”
BRADLEY JACKSON, 27
Scared of Heights
Hanover, WV
“I think Cory handled it all very well. I was terrified at first, but he calmed me enough to get me to jump out of that plane, and then he comforted me when my stomach revolted against me. It was a lot for the first date, but he was there the whole time.”
CORY ELLISON, 35
Sun Catcher
Southampton, NY
“The date was so much fun. I can’t wait to open up more tonight and show her a different side to me.”
They sat at the table, not allowed to eat the food in front of them.
“It’s so refreshing to be here with you. You know, I didn’t grow up in a traditional family by any means, like you. I grew up with a single mother who was a campaign organizer, my dad was never really in the picture…”
Bradley nodded along and ran her fingertips over his forearm as he spoke about his upbringing and always being compared to his father, and his mother not having much faith in him. He teared up at one point, and then he said he was glad he met Bradley and started kissing her. She did not mind the pivot at all.
“Cory. I want to thank you for being so supportive earlier, and so open now. So. Cory. Will you accept this rose?”
“You know it!”
The final group date came and went with minimal drama, and Bradley sent home 4 men at the rose ceremony.
She stood in a circle with her remaining dates, each with a champagne glass in their hand.
“We are going to start our journey around the world, so pack your bags… because we’re going to… New York!” She looked at Alex, then at Cory who were both from around that area, and tried to catch them in an eye roll, but they both seemed excited. So was she.
Chapter 3: Episode 3: Traveling the Country
Notes:
Hi! I'm back! I'm still here! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Text
“I want to take it easy on this date and not throw up? Maybe?” Bradley said, and so she picked three simple dates.
The first, a group date with 8 men. It was a basketball game and Bradley cheered them on.
Back at the hotel, Alex could feel her heart beating in her chest. She had to get one of the first one on ones if she wanted a fighting chance. She wasn’t on the first group date, so there was a chance her name was on that card.
Daniel opened the envelope. “Ty.”
Alex’s heart dropped. Ty was the love of her life. The first impression rose and the second one on one meant no one else had a chance.
“Let’s sea our connection. Bradley.” He read and tossed the card on the table.
Alex stared at the card that had let her down. What if she was sent home before Bradley could see her heart? Before she could see how genuine she was and how much she wanted to be with her. All she wanted was for Bradley to be able to make up her own mind about her, and at least make a genuine effort to get to know her before she sent her home, that way, Alex wouldn’t always wonder what could have been.
Ty met Bradley on the dock and she jumped into his arms, planting a kiss on his lips.
“I’ve been missing you.”
“Missed you too.” Bradley smiled. “Can you guess what we’re doing today?”
“We’re going in the lake in some form.”
Bradley laughed. “We’re going on a boat! We’re gonna have a nice and relaxing day with a little picnic and some champagne…”
“I love it.”
Bradley and Ty boarded the boat that sailed down the Hudson river, and past all the major landmarks. “It’s getting hot up here. I think I’m gonna lay out.” Bradley said, doing her best to encourage Ty to take off his shirt. Bradley took her own top off and handed Ty the sunscreen bottle. “Can you get my back?”
“You know I always got your back.”
BRADLEY JACKSON, 27
Bachelorette
Hanover, WV
“Yeah, I planned this entire date just to see Ty without a shirt on, and it worked perfectly.”
Bradley pulled her hair in front of her and smiled to herself as this man’s hands ran up and down her back, and knowing he was all hers, his heart was hers to break. Bradley got the opportunity to rub her hands up and down Ty’s back, and then his chest. Her fingers grazed the muscles and she looked up into his eyes and was drawn in immediately. She threw her arms around his neck as the front of her body pressed against the front of his and his tongue reached into her mouth. At that moment, she didn’t care that she had 20 something guys at the hotel, waiting for her. It was just her and Ty.
She finally popped open a bottle of champagne and they shared it as they viewed the historic sites from the deck of their private boat.
After, they shared a dinner they once again, were not allowed to eat. “So, tell me more about you, Ty.”
“Well, I’m an influencer, I live in Los Angeles and you know, influencers get a bad wrap, like everyone expects me to be some himbo, but my parents actually had really high standards for me growing up. I went to college and studied engineering, but when my channel blew up, I quit my job to be a full time influencer. My parents didn’t understand and were really disappointed in me. They both have a PhD, and expected me to do the same.”
Bradley nodded along. “Thank you for opening up to me.” She smiled and grabbed the rose. “Ty. You’ve been nothing but supportive of me from day one, and I would like to show my support for you so… Ty… will you accept this rose?”
“Absolutely.” He allowed her to pin the rose to his chest and immediately leaned in for a kiss.
Bradley Jackson, 27
Bachelorette
Hanover, WV
“Ty was able to open up and be vulnerable with me tonight and that’s what this process is all about, so I’m glad he was able to let down some of those walls.”
Her second group date of the week was an obstacle course and only the winner got to go on the night portion of the date with her. Alex gave it her best shot, but she was against 4 athletic and tall men and never really stood a chance. So, she stood next to Bradley as Bradley cheered on the remaining men.
“You know this wasn’t fair, right?”
Bradley looked over at the voice beside her and smiled. “Hey there.”
“They’re all twice my height.”
“Well, maybe I wanted it this way. So you’d be here right now.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat. This woman gave her so much validation and yet she still always wondered if she was like that with everyone. “So we can talk while you pretend it’s sexy to watch men puff out their chest and scream when they win?”
“You know, some women enjoy it…”
Alex gave her a look. “I know I’m not into men… like, at all, but…”
“No, they totally chose this date for me.” Bradley laughed and covered half her face with her hand.
“It’s so bad, right!?” Alex laughed.
“Well, I do get to see you all wet, so I’m not complaining.” Bradley twisted a strand of Alex’s wet hair in her fingers.
“Well, it won’t be the last time.” Alex smiled and she moved in, seeing Bradley close her eyes and part her lips, but Alex pulled back. “Sorry.”
“Everything okay?”
“I just- I don’t wanna kiss you in front of the guys.”
“Who cares what they think?”
“I have to live with them. I’m sorry. I really wanna kiss you, though.”
“I get it.”
“Congratulations Daniel! You have won the obstacle course and will get to continue the date with Bradley!”
Alex felt her heart drop. That was it. That was the time she got to spend with her that week. There was only the cocktail party left, but that would mean she’d have to wait until then to kiss her. Was it even possible? Alex face planted on her bed the second she arrived back at the mansion. The one perk of being the only woman was that she had her own room and she could isolate from these men who were dating the same woman she was. Alex knew she would treat Bradley better than any of them. How did Bradley not see it? Ty, the front runner, was caught up in some feud with Daniel over kissing her and time with her. When dating someone, if they show you an ugly side like that, you have to realize that one day you’ll be on the receiving end of that anger. It’ll be over something just as small, and he won’t be able to let it go for weeks. Didn’t Bradley know that? All Alex could do was hope she was enough and Bradley could see it.
Daniel came back from the group date with a rose, proving Bradley was still naive to the fact that these men were showing red flags.
“Gentlemen, Lady, Bradley has decided to skip the cocktail party tonight and go straight into the rose ceremony.”
ALEX LEVY, 34
Journalist
New Haven, CT
“It was really disappointing to learn she’d canceled the cocktail party. I was really needing and looking forward to that time with her. Now, I just have to hope what we’ve already built is strong enough.”
Bradley stood in front of the men and Alex, a gorgeous floor length purple ball gown with a large slit so her legs were visible when she walked. She reached for the first rose and scanned her options.
Alex’s heart beat out of her chest. She didn’t want their journey to end, but especially not on a week she barely had a chance to talk to her.
“Alex.”
Alex was stunned frozen for a moment, and then made her way in front of Bradley. She was… first? They’d had one conversation all week. Was she a front runner? The second in line after Ty? Maybe they were nearly tied and it would all come down to saying “I love you” on the right week or being convincing when she said she was ready for marriage. What if that was it? She might actually leave the show with a girlfriend, with a fiancée. Holy shit.
“Alex. Will you accept this rose?”
“Absolutely.”
guest (Guest) on Chapter 1 Wed 17 Jul 2024 02:13AM UTC
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myownsunshine on Chapter 1 Wed 17 Jul 2024 02:32AM UTC
Last Edited Wed 17 Jul 2024 02:46AM UTC
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guest (Guest) on Chapter 1 Wed 17 Jul 2024 03:53AM UTC
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amillionstories on Chapter 1 Wed 17 Jul 2024 09:50PM UTC
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myownsunshine on Chapter 1 Wed 24 Jul 2024 10:03AM UTC
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Tms (Guest) on Chapter 2 Tue 06 Aug 2024 11:31PM UTC
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