Bachelors, Bigots, and Bisexuals

Chapter 4

I walked down the hallway to another dressing room, knocking on the door. I just had a gut instinct that it was where I needed to be. There were only three rooms backstage and Angie's room was flooded with producers at the moment. The door opened and Flynn's eyes narrowed on me, bloodshot and bleary. He had probably been crying. I waved gingerly.

"Airplane Annie..." he said. "You cleaned up nicely."

"Thanks," I said. "I didn't know if you were alone. Are you... are you ok?"

"Get in here," he ushered me inside and closed the door. "I have two minutes and they are going to throw me on stage."

"This is insane," I said. "I'm so sorry. You're a nice guy. You don't deserve what just happened."

"She wanted Niko," he sighed. "Everyone does, even you."

"Not everyone," I said.

"If you knew me, the real me..." he said. He didn't finish the thought. "Fuck, I need to calm down."

"Flynn, just focus on the next five minutes," I said. "Get out there, say whatever you want. But then you're done. No more television and you can just move on."

"No, I can't," he whispered. "The network is going to cancel the show unless... unless I agree to be bachelor. Stephen just told me. So either I carry on with this ridiculous bullshit or hundreds of people are unemployed and screwed."

"Ok," I said. "Is that so bad?"

"One of the women already left," he scoffed. "I heard her shouting. They wanted fucking Niko. I'm going to go out there and they won't even..."

"Well you'll have one girl," I said.

"What?"

"Flynn, I said I would give this a chance. Since the beginning of this day, you have been nice and charming. So if you're on board, so am I. "

"Even if it's just me," he said. His eyes were piercing and full of raw honesty.

I took a deep breath.

"Especially if it's you."

There was a long silence between us and then he looked me directly in the eyes. Something captured me and all of the other distractions faded away.

The door swung open and Thomas barged in.

"Jesus Christ, Annie, there you are," he said. "Go back to the dressing room. We will grab you if we need you. You, Flynn. Please, tell me you can say yes."

He looked back at me, smiling for the first time.

"On one condition," Flynn said.

"Anything," Thomas said, grinning from ear to ear as if he had just cured cancer.

"Annie is given the royal treatment," he said. "No bullshit, no edits."

"So you haven't even met the other girls and you're sweet on little artist Annie."

"Do we have a deal?" Flynn asked.

"Let's go," Thomas said. I followed behind him. "Flynn, I like you. It's going to be a great season."

***

I watched backstage as Flynn had a tough conversation with Chris Harrison about how devastated he was. The Blondes watched, sort of wide-eyed and confused. It struck me that I had no idea what I was doing. I had a plan: go on the show, flirt with Niko, go home, get my trust fund. Now Niko was in the wind and I found myself staring at the screen with an intense fascination. The show hadn't even begun and yet I had feelings for Flynn. This was all out of control.

Perhaps the best way to convince aunt Maggie I was trying to fall in love was to actually let myself fall in love.

I could actually see myself liking Flynn, which was a terrifying reality. If I actually tried, then I could actually get hurt. Flynn's hands were shaking as he spoke. Everyone else listened to his words but I just watched his hands. Perhaps he was just as terrified as I was.

The next twenty minutes were heavy and he finally agreed to do the Bachelor. Thomas came back in, looking at all of us. The Brittanys were still waiting for instructions. As was I.

"Look," he said. "We are cutting you guys tonight and showing bloopers. You'll meet Flynn at the mansion. Except for Annie, of course. Can I talk to you?"

"Sure."

I stepped outside and Thomas grinned at me.

"Look," he said. "Thanks for talking to Flynn back there. You saved the show."

"I just like him," I said. "He is really sweet."

"See, that is perfect. Keep saying shit like that. I want to make you a deal. Help me out this season. I might ask you to do something, but if you comply, I'll help you find some quality time with Flynn. Deal?"

I thought back to Flynn's advice on the plane. Don't trust anyone, especially not producers. I did not know what to do so I stood there staring at him.

"Think about it," he said.

He went to close the door and I felt a sense of dread wash over me. What had I gotten myself into?