Adam tilted his head this way and that, staring at his reflection in the full body mirror in his private room. He had to admit, he felt a bit like a doll with the various layers of foundation and blush the helpful attendants had lathered onto his face. One of them—Bertha, her name was and what a lovely name that was—had informed him that the cosmetics were necessary, as the cameras would bleach his “lovely skin of all its color and make him look like a mongrel zombie.”
“It’d be such a shame,” Bertha had sighed. “Almost as much a shame as it is you have to cover up your lovely skin. Your face is so smooth! Do you use any products?”
Adam had laughed and explained no, he was just born this way. She had expressed surprise and recommended some of her favorite products if he ever wanted to try a facial moisturizer.
“Not that you need it,” she had added with a wink. “But you never know when your skin may need an extra pick-me-up.”
His stomach had growled at one point and the kindly ladies had finished powdering his nose to dash off. Now, they returned, politely knocking on his door and coming in, arms loaded with gifts.
“We didn’t know what you might like,” Bertha admitted.
“We got you a bit of everything,” the other lovely attendant, Gretel, added.
“This is too much,” Adam proclaimed, looking between the two. Bertha held two cup holders, each tray filled to capacity with hot beverages. Gretel held two large boxes, one stacked upon the other.
“We didn’t know what you might like,” Bertha repeated sheepishly, listing off her offerings. One of the drink holders several flavors of coffee—caramel, toffee, and mocha—as well as a cup of unflavored black with several sugar and cream packets to go with it. The other tray held much the same, except various flavors of tea—sugar cookie, peach, and raspberry—as well as a simple green.
“And I have pastries and donuts!” Gretel added, rattling off her various assortments of danishes, croissants, bagels, and donuts.
“This is too much,” Adam repeated weakly, guilty that they had spent a small fortune to wrestle together a late breakfast for him.
Bertha shook her head and tried to shrug in a dismissive gesture. She nearly dropped her various drinks and Adam rushed forth to help her place them on a table.
“It wasn’t a problem,” she told him firmly. “A sweet thing like you could use some doting.”
Adam took the boxes from Gretel and likewise placed them on the table.
“Well,” he said helplessly. “I couldn’t possibly finish all this by myself. Why don’t you two lovely ladies join me?”
“What’s your favorite flavor?” he asked them, gesturing at the drinks.
“Oh, no—” Bertha started.
“We couldn’t possibly—” Gretel tried.
“We got those for you,” they both said at the same time. They glanced at one another, chuckled.
“You pick first,” Bertha insisted. “We’re fine with what you don’t want.”
Adam plucked the black coffee from the lot and added a few packets of the cream and sugar. “I’ve always preferred simple things,” he admitted.
Which was true, he supposed, but he also thought that Bertha and Gretel seemed the type to prefer the sweeter options. He was right. Bertha chose the caramel iced latte and sipped happily as Gretel selected the peach tea and did likewise.
He chattered with them happily as they nibbled at their late breakfast. Gretel, it turned out, had an excellent sense of humor and had Adam chuckling more than once with her stories and impressions of some of her coworkers and their ridiculous escapades. Bertha struck Adam as the protective type, sweet to a fault until someone threatened or mocked someone she loved. Then, she had a righteous streak a mile wide, more than willing to call down her wrathful fury on the person who was foolish enough to hurt her loved ones.
They were such pleasant company, but all too-soon there was another knock at the door and a man with a headset and a clipboard poked his head in to say, “Five-minute warning. Time to head out to the stage.”
Adam sighed. “I don’t suppose we could continue this after the interview?”
Both women beamed at him.
“I wish I had auditioned for this season of the show,” Bertha sighed.
“I know,” Gretel agreed. “Honestly, I don’t like the idea behind the show. I kinda think it’s gross, ya know? All those people stripping off clothes and using their looks and body to get the attention of the bachelor. But something tells me that doesn’t impress you,” she added, glancing at Adam. “You’re one in a billion.”
“One in a lifetime,” Bertha corrected, wrinkling her nose. “Have you met the other bachelor yet?”
Bertha and Gretel grimaced in unison. Adam glanced between them. “Something wrong with him?”
“He’s a bit…” Gretel drifted off, trying to find the right word.
“Arrogant,” Bertha chimed in loudly. Gretel nodded in fervent agreement.
Adam considered that, tried to think of what to ask to understand their insult. But before he could utter a word, Gretel put her pastry down and jumped to her feet.
“Enough of that!” she declared. “We prattle on any longer and you’ll be late, and it’ll be our fault you get in trouble.”
Adam felt a twist of guilt. “I don’t mean to run out on you like this.”
Gretel smiled softly at him. “We’re just doing our jobs.”
“You do them very well,” Adam assured them both. “I couldn’t have asked for better attendants.”
“Get going,” Bertha said, not unkindly.
Adam must’ve left his confidence behind him in the room. As soon as the door shut behind him, his stomach twisted into knots. The coffee, it seemed, was a bad idea. It felt like hot acid splashing at his insides. The pain au chocolat didn’t help matters anyway.
You’re excited for this, he reminded himself yet again as he followed the signs on the walls that pointed him towards the stage.
And he was. He really was. Perhaps it was because he was excited that his nerves so often rattled when he thought about the fact that he was going to have his own season on The Bachelor—he was going to be the cause of a heartache on the part of twenty-nine people. The only silver lining to possibly creating such upset was the idea that he might walk away holding the hand of the person he wanted to marry, the person he wanted to grow old with, the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It was a silly romantic notion, but Adam had always been the hopeless romantic.
But still—twenty-nine people he had to let down. Twenty-nine people he had to look in the face and tell them “you’re not who I’m looking for.”
Maybe he was going to puke up that coffee and pastry, after all.
“There you are!” a now-harried looking young man with a headset and clipboard said as he turned a corner—the same young man who had given him his five-minute warning a few moments ago. “You were due on stage thirty seconds ago—let’s go, let’s go! They’re waiting for you!”
No time to puke, then. He was nudged non-too-gently onto a stage, the young man with the clipboard expertly remaining in the shadows and off camera as Adam worked hard not to stumble as the cameras made an obvious sudden arc in his direction. He lifted a hand and waved at the crowd of mostly women before the stage, smiling pleasantly. A few ladies tried to shout something to him, but it was impossible to hear over the applause, and most women wound up yelling over one another, their words a muddle of sound and excited syllables.
He took a seat in the empty armchair to the left of a lovely brunette woman. On her other side sat a blond man with honey-gold eyes. Adam recognized him as Hunter Henderson, the other bachelor with his own season of the show that was to run in tandem with Adam’s.
Arrogant, Bertha had said.
And yet when he offered his hand to Hunter, Hunter was quick to accept with a strong shake, a friendly smile tugging at his lips. Adam was not one to call anyone a liar. It was easy to perceive and even misperceive things. He had a feeling that whatever Hunter had done to rile Bertha and Gretel, it had been nothing more than a misunderstanding.
Adam took his seat and the brunette lady—the host of the interview—looked between the two men with a beaming smile. “It’s so good to see you two getting along! You know, there was a lot of speculation that you two may have winded up as unfriendly competitors, given that your shows are going to air at the same time, and you’ll be competing for viewers.”
“That sounds like nonsense to me,” Hunter told her. “Whoever the viewers decide to watch is their business, and I respect their choice. At the end of the day, they’ll tune into the show they think is the most interesting, and there isn’t anything we can do or say to change that fact.”
Adam had to admit, he felt similarly. “And,” he added when Hunter finished, “it’s unprofessional and childish to toss hateful comments at someone just because of something as trivial as a TV show meant for public entertainment.”
The interviewer looked between the two men with a touched smile. “Well, there you have it, folks! I’m sitting live with Adam Antonsson and Hunter Henderson! I’m your host, Alex Bell!”
There was a round of cheers, applause, and whistles. Hunter had the sort of smile a wolf may give a sheep before devouring it. Adam’s was more subdued, polite, the smile of a shy school boy.
“I have a few questions to ask each of you. Our audience at home wants to get to know both of you better—”
Alex was interrupted from someone from the audience shrieking, “Adam, I love you!” and a chorus of “yes!” from other audience members.
The host laughed. “Looks like they’re eager to get to know you,” she said to Adam.
“I’m sure there are just as many who are excited to hear about Hunter,” he assured her with a smile.
“Ohhhh,” Alex cooed, winking at the audience. “This one is a keeper. Cute and polite.”
“Well, I know I want to hear about Hunter,” Adam pressed with another smile. “I think he should answer the first question.”
“As the gentleman insists.” Alex shifted to look at Hunter. “How would you describe yourself in one word?”
Hunter’s golden eyebrows drew together in contemplation. “I don’t suppose I could request a phrase instead of a word.”
Alex laughed. “I think I’ll allow it.”
Hunter’s smile shifted into a smirk. “Too hot to handle.”
There were a few whistles from the crowd. Alex used her pile of index cards to fan herself theatrically. “I’ll say! And you, Adam, same question: how would you describe yourself in one word?”
Adam considered that. He wasn’t very good at summing himself up. There had only ever been one thing people used to describe him…
“May I also use a phrase?” he asked.
The host smiled at him. “Oh, why not? It’s only fair.”
He laughed, a little embarrassed to admit, “I would probably say I’m a happy pill.”
“As in, you take happy pills or you are the happy pill?” Alex asked.
“I suppose both?” he admitted, shrugging sheepishly. “I’m the positive sort of person, and a lot of people have told me I’m like a happy pill.”
Alex’s eyes gleamed. “Seems accurate.” She turned back towards the audience, “Now, we know what The Bachelor is all about. A single man tries to find that lucky someone he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and we learn all about the contestants and what they offer our bachelors. But I’m curious to know what these handsome men have to offer. We all want a working partner who is willing to help out with finances. I’d like to know: what do each of you do for a living, and what would you say the hardest part of your job is?”
Her eyes fell on Adam. “And since we heard from Hunter first with our last question, this time we’ll hear from you first, if you please.”
“I was actually a professional athlete for a while,” Adam admitted. “I received a minor ankle injury and had to take some time off and thought it might be time to figure out my romantic life. A romantic partner takes a lot of time and energy, and I wanted to be able to dedicate myself fully to my relationship before I open the next chapter of my life. I have a business major, though, and I do enjoy using social media as an influencer in my free time.”
Alex clucked sympathetically and Adam continued, “The hardest part of my job, though? Probably the hours. It doesn’t get to me too badly, though, because whenever I’m overworked and tired, I just start laughing. A lot of people think I’m crazy for it, but I just get the giggles. I can’t even look anyone in the eye without laughing.” Just thinking about it, Adam felt himself chuckle. “I guess it’s better than getting grumpy, though!”
“A happy pill, indeed,” Alex commented before turning the question on Hunter.
Hunter cleared his throat, “Well, like Adam, I’m sort of taking a bit of a break. I just finished getting a history degree and thought that before I start a career, I wanted to take some time to find the perfect partner so I can start a new chapter together with them.”
Alex examined her notes. “We spoke before this interview, and you admitted to me that you were quite the heavy partier in college.”
“Oh, definitely,” Hunter said with a sheepish laugh. “There were some nights I drank so much, I didn’t remember taking tests in class the next day. Always managed to get good scores on them, though.”
“I’m assuming you’re ready to put those days behind you, if you’re thinking about finding someone to start a family with?” Alex quirked an eyebrow in playful challenge.
Hunter sobered. “Yeah, I am. Those days were fun, but I consider it to be part of my college experience. I’m definitely ready to settle down and find that special somebody.”
Alex moved through the questions as quickly as possible, trying to pose the most commonly asked questions that had been collected from various social medias. The crowd offered a round of hoots and laughter when Alex asked Adam, “If you could do or be anything, what would you do?”
“Become a human sponge!” he enthusiastically squawked. “I’d love to absorb every bit of knowledge possible. Everyone has something to offer to someone else. We never really stop learning!”
Hunter earned several blushes—and even Alex fanned herself dramatically—when she asked him what his greatest feature or quality was, and he had to work to keep his wording appropriate for the PG-13 rating.
Finally, she wrapped up with the question everybody was wondering: “This is another question for both of you. Describe your ideal partner.”
She paused dramatically to allow them time to collect their thoughts before turning to Adam to answer first.
“I’ve always been a hard worker,” Adam told her earnestly, “and I’d want to see that in my partner. I want someone who not only appreciates how much effort I put into things, but also reciprocates. I want someone who’s ready to fight for what they want in life, who isn’t a pushover, but who knows it’s also okay to hit the brakes and take the time to offer someone kindness.”
“Someone who’s driven but kind,” Alex summarized, “but who doesn’t let people push them around. When you find that person, let me know.” She winked theatrically before turning to Hunter.
“I’ve been thinking about that for a while,” Hunter admitted. “I want someone who I can say is my equal in every way. I want to meet someone who admires me for who I am and what I do, but who I can admire in turn. Not necessarily because they’re clever, but because there’s something about them that draws me to them—something unique about them, I guess you could say.”
“Oh,” Alex joked, “so you aren’t only after someone for their looks?”
Hunter’s smile was roguish. “I had hoped that was a given.”
The crowd, which seemed to have warmed up to Hunter’s odd sense of humor, chuckled at him.
“And there you have it, folks!” Alex declared, holding her hands up to gesture at Adam and Hunter, listing off the dates and times their seasons were to begin. “Our two bachelors. Which one has caught your interest?”
One of the cameramen gestured that the live recording had come to an end, and Adam turned towards Alex. “Thank you for having me. It was a pleasure being here with you.”
“Aw,” she joked, “the cameras aren’t rolling anymore. You don’t have to offer me flattery like that.”
Adam’s smile took on a quizzical edge. “I wouldn’t lie about that. It’s always a treat to talk to lovely and intelligent women like you.”
She laughed, even as her cheeks flushed. “I hope you find someone who appreciates you on the show. I really mean that.”
“We both deserve that,” Hunter chimed in with a polite smile at Adam. “I wish you luck. Hopefully, the casting team did us justice in the candidates they picked.” He glanced at Alex. “If they’re anything like you, I’m sure I’ll be blown away.”
“Gentlemen,” she said with a choked noise, “you’re going to make me combust from all these compliments!”
“Alex,” a crewman called, “next guest on in three.”
“I think that’s his way of saying we’re overstaying our welcome without actually yelling at us,” Adam joked to Hunter.
Hunter gave him a weak smile. Alex said, “Well, hopefully I’ll see you again after your season of the show comes to an end, and neither of you will be alone.”
“We’ll always have each other,” Adam told Hunter mock-conspiratorially with a wink.
Hunter laughed like he wasn’t sure what the joke was, and Adam supposed he should have worded his jest better. As they walked off the stage in opposite directions, Adam was hit with a thought that niggled at him, burrowing deeper into his brain until he couldn’t ignore it.
Bertha and Gretel had wandered away from his room, but he managed to track them down and insist they return to their breakfast with him. They were nice enough to offer to clean his face of its layers of foundation and rouge before sitting down with him. As they continued to munch on pastries and sip at lukewarm drinks, he finally couldn’t ignore his idea anymore.
“Do you know where Hunter’s room is?” he asked the two.
“Well, yes,” Bertha admitted. “We did try to do his makeup for the set earlier.”
Adam caught the weird wording. “Try?”
Gretel’s nose crinkled. “He said we were unqualified or something like that.”
Adam paused mid-chew. “Something like that?”
He considered the gentleman he had met on stage. Hunter had seemed confident, but not rude. Adam didn’t think there was anything wrong with confidence. It was true that over-confidence could lead to disaster. It was better to always look at things with a lens of humility, but he hadn’t gotten any sort of sinister or arrogant vibes from the other contestant.
“Why do you ask, anyway?” Bertha said warily.
“I was hoping to stay in touch with him.”
Both women looked as though they were trying to merge their eyebrows with their hairlines.
“I thought we might make good friends,” he continued.
Both ladies’ eyebrows seemed to disappear into their hair.
They paused and looked at one another. It was an uncomfortable, tense look.
“I can tell you how to get to his room,” Bertha finally admitted with a frown. “But I really think you should reconsider this whole ‘friend’ thing.”
Adam’s tense expression turned relieved. “Thank you.”
He wasn’t sure what Hunter had done to so greatly offend the two women, but he decided he’d rather judge Hunter’s character himself. Sometimes, those who made the worst first impression turned out to be the very type of person who proved invaluable, the sort you wanted to keep at your side, always.
