The Last Goodbye

“I don’t want to do this!” Patrick groaned as he sat in the back of a limo with Adam on his left and Delaney on his right. They were currently in route to Kristalyn’s parents’ house, where Patrick would meet all of her family.

“You have no choice,” Delaney reminded him for the hundredth time. “You have to meet the parents and families so that you can make your final decision.” Patrick glared at her, wanting to tell her that he had already made his final decision, but he was sure she would be furious if she found out how he really had chosen the winner.

“Look at it this way,” Adam spoke up. “Once you meet all the families, you’re only one day away from being finished with this whole show. You’ll pick your final girl, and then you can say goodbye to all of this,” he told him.

“Can’t wait!” Patrick exclaimed, leaning back against the seat, wondering how much longer it would be until he reached Kristalyn’s place. It was as if God was listening to his thoughts because mere minutes later, he felt the limo come to a stop.

As soon as he stepped out of the limo, he knew he was surrounded by Kristalyn’s family. They were exactly like her, hyper and cheerful. And, Patrick instantly wanted to just leave. He didn’t want to spend the next few hours with her family. He knew nothing was going to happen between the two of them, not that Kristalyn had even the slightest idea, as she linked her arm with his, smiling brightly as she showed him off to her family.

After enduring Kristalyn and her family for what felt like forever, Patrick didn’t think he could ever be more grateful than when Delaney came over and said they had to leave so they could hop on a plane to go visit Rosie’s family next. Patrick wasn’t looking forward to meeting Rosie’s family at all, but he was happy to be getting away from Kristalyn’s.

Three days later, Patrick had survived Rosie’s family, though he couldn’t figure out how, and he was currently heading back to Chicago to meet Raylene’s family. “God, I can’t believe I made it out of there alive,” Adam said, resting his head back against the seat. “Now I know where Rosie got her bitchiness from. She’s exactly like her mother!”

“Her dad was even worse,” Patrick said.

“Yeah, I know!” Adam exclaimed.

Their limo came to a stop, and Patrick glanced outside. “Where are we? Why are we at a fire station?” he inquired.

“Well, as you know, you’re meeting the girls’ families,” Delaney began, and Patrick nodded his head, already knowing this. “Well, as I’m sure you already know, Raylene was in foster care growing up, and she doesn’t have a biological family for you to meet. So, you’re going to meet her other family, her coworkers,” she explained.

“Come on! Let’s go!” Adam exclaimed, excited to get to go into a fire station. He jumped out of the limo, practically running towards the entrance, and both Patrick and Delaney couldn’t help but laugh at him as they slowly followed him.

“Hey guys,” Raylene smiled at them as she walked out of the fire station, followed by a man a few years older than Raylene and a woman who appeared to be around thirty. “I’d like you to meet Damian and Theresa. They work here with me. Both are paramedics,” she said, pointing to the two people next to her. “Guys, this is Adam and Patrick,” she quickly introduced, and they all shook hands. “Well, let me show you guys around!”

Patrick had always wondered if this sweet, innocent way that Raylene carried herself was all an act or not, and now that he had seen her in her element with her friends, he could honestly say it wasn’t an act at all. She was just as caring and kind as she had been at the house, though he did see her laugh and share jokes a lot more.

As the day went on, Patrick couldn’t help but feel sort of like an outsider. Adam had immediately clicked with Raylene’s friends, while Patrick stood off towards the side. It was at times like these when Patrick wondered if Adam liked Raylene in more than a friendly way. He saw the way he looked at her and the way he laughed with her, and he knew there was something there.

But, he had already picked Raylene as the winner. Now, he wondered if he should continue with that plan, though. If Adam really did like Raylene, should he just let his friend have her?

All kinds of thoughts ran through Patrick’s mind as he spent the rest of the day and evening with Raylene and her friends. By the time came that they had to leave, Patrick could honestly say that he was going to miss these people. They were by far the best “family” he had met, and he could now see why Raylene was the person she was today.

“So, do you know who you’re going to choose now?” Delaney inquired as they stepped on the plane.

“Yeah, I do,” Patrick nodded his head, not going into any further details, deciding it was Delaney’s turn to wait and wonder what was coming up next.

***

“Let’s get right down to it, shall we?” Adam asked into the camera. It was finally the end for the show. Tonight, Patrick would be picking the winner, and he didn’t know who was happier to have it ending: Delaney, Adam, or himself. “Patrick, why don’t you tell us which of these girls is not the one for you? Who would you like to send home?” Adam continued, and Patrick nodded his head, taking a step forward.

“Rosie, I’m sorry,” he began, and he could see the look of fury on her face. He took a step backwards, remembering the way she had fought Marissa, and he knew he didn’t want to get caught in her crossfire tonight.

“Whatever!” she yelled, rolling her eyes, as she walked off stage. “Your loss!” she continued screaming, adding in a few curse words here and there. “I know you’re never going to be happy with whoever the hell you choose!”

“Why don’t we take a commercial break?” Adam suggested, remembering they were on live television. “Then, when we come back, we’ll all find out who Patrick chooses to be with in the end.”

Patrick sighed, just wanting to get this all over with. He had been on this show far too long, and he now wondered what made him want to join in the first place. He tapped his foot impatiently on the floor, and he was happy when he heard the director counting down, saying they were going back on air.

“Okay, Pat,” Adam said, turning to look at his friend. “Tell us who you choose,” Adam told him.

Patrick turned around, grabbing the single rose from off the table behind him. He turned back around, ready to announce Raylene’s name when he began looking back and forth between Raylene, Kristalyn, Adam, and Delaney. He suddenly began to second guess himself, unsure if he was about to make a mistake or not.

He was fairly certain that Adam had feelings for Raylene, and he knew that if he chose Raylene, nothing would ever come out of Adam and her. But, he had picked Raylene’s name, and Adam had never protested Patrick choosing her in the end.

If he chose Kristalyn, then Adam could be with Raylene if he wanted without a problem. But, Patrick really didn’t want to choose Kristalyn, having a feeling that Kristalyn would think that he had true feelings for her, which was furthest from the truth. In reality, he didn’t even know if he could spend more than three hours alone with her before he got sick of her sorority stories.

And, then there was Delaney to think about. Yes, he still had feelings for her, but she had made it clear that she wouldn’t date him because they worked on the same show. But, in just a mere couple of minutes, Patrick would officially be finished with the show. Was there a chance that she would date him afterwards? He didn’t think she would if he chose either Raylene or Kristalyn. So, should he choose neither of them?

He had thought he had it all figured out, but now it was apparent to him that he didn’t. “Pat, do you want to tell us who you chose?” he heard Adam’s voice, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“Huh?” Patrick asked, looking over at him, only to see Adam nodding towards the camera, reminding him they were still on air. “Oh!” he exclaimed. “Right, the winner…” he trailed off.

“So?” Adam encouraged him to continue.

Patrick held out the rose. “Kristalyn, I’m sorry,” he began, and he saw her head drop, knowing she wasn’t the winner. “But, Raylene, will you be with me?” he asked, realizing just how cheesy it sounded, but that is exactly what the writer’s had asked him to say when he chose the winner.

He watched Kristalyn walk off set, not wanting to wait around and see what happened next. Patrick realized Raylene wasn’t saying anything, and he continued staring at her, waiting on a response. “No,” she finally said, and Patrick’s eyes widened at her reply.

“No?” he asked quietly.

“No, Pat, no, I won’t be with you,” Raylene shook her head, and Patrick couldn’t believe this was happening right now. He hadn’t even considered the possibility that he would be turned down.

“But,” Patrick began but then stopped, not knowing what to say.

“Pat, you and I both know that we aren’t meant for each other. We were never even meant for a show like this. Neither of us really expected to find love on here, and you and I both know that. But, Pat, you did find something special here. It just wasn’t with one of the contestants,” she continued, and Patrick stared at her in shock, hoping she wasn’t talking about what he thought she was talking about. “Pat, you and Delaney belong with each other,” she continued, and Patrick stood there speechless.

Delaney came out, trying to stop the cameras from continuing filming, but the cameramen refused to listen to her, keeping their focus on Raylene as she continued her speech. “I know you two never expected anything to happen between the two of you, but we all saw it. You two should be together,” she said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Patrick turned towards Delaney, only to see her staring at her boss, who was looking at her with a deathly glare. Patrick knew Raylene was only trying to help, but he had a feeling that she had made things even worse between Delaney and himself, if that was even possible.