recognize my own feelings, and for the position that’s put you in, I’m sorry.”
Bianca, Lucy, Elle, Rachel, and Lydia all consider Holley closely, but I’m surprised when Elle turns to me. “And you feel the same about her?”
I nod apologetically. “I’m truly sorry for wasting any of your time. That wasn’t my intention at all.”
It’s tense for about ten seconds while Holley and I stand there, the weight of an entire roomful of people’s eyes threatening to crush us, but as always, I can count on Chloe to have my back. And as it turns out, Holley can count on her to have hers, too.
She starts to applaud, and before I even know what’s happening, everyone has joined in. Even the women in front of us. In fact, Rachel’s lips even turn up into a smile. “I can’t believe the two of you didn’t realize.” She laughs. “Truth is, it was clear as day to me.”
“Me too,” Lydia agrees. “As soon as I walked up, I could tell there was something between them.”
Elle shrugs. “No big deal. We only went on one date, anyway.”
Bianca smiles, but when I take a closer look, I see it’s because she has her phone out, taking a selfie.
It’s not a big crowd, just the employees and the core group of people involved in the contest, but before we know it, everyone is back to chatting like none of our little exposé ever happened. It feels like a relief to know it’s not going to end in complete catastrophe.
Chloe laughs as she sidles up to us, offering up, “So, do I need to write another ad? Single dad seeks different Juliet?” as a kind of mocking question.
Problem is, it doesn’t seem so ridiculous anymore.
“No,” I say with a smile. “He found her.”
Holley
Single Dad Finds Juliet
As the Bachelor Anonymous contest at SoCal Tribune comes to a close, the staff and contestants alike have been left reeling—me included.
That’s right, folks. Our first run at a social experiment, where a bachelor is selected based on a single personal ad and farmed out on several dates with the best of candidates, is a success. Bachelor Anonymous found love!—on unplanned date #6.
I know you weren’t expecting another contestant in Bachelor Anonymous’s journey, but the truth is, in order to take a detailed look at his time with her, we have to go back to the beginning.
To the day I met Jake Brent.
That’s right, me. The lead contributor to the Bachelor Anonymous contest and a longtime employee of the SoCal Tribune, Holley Fields. I hope you’ll all pause your jealousy long enough to congratulate me—because as it turns out, Jake Brent is the love of my life.
And I was the very last person to see it coming.
I toss this Sunday’s edition of the paper down on the table in front of me and look up into the eyes of the man I love. Jake is laughing at something Chloe says as he leans against the dessert case at Grey Street Coffee, but his eyes are on me.
He looks the best he’s ever looked—of course—and I know this time, it’s because I know he’s mine.
I pick up my coffee cup and take a sip while he and Chloe wait for our brownies, and I think about everything that’s changed for the better in the last week and a half.
For one, I’m not stuck in an office between Fritz and Gianna anymore, and I know for a fact that I won’t ever have to run another dating contest for the Tribune ever again. Some might view my move to beat reporter as a demotion, but to be honest, it feels like a victory. After getting out and chasing stories for the last week, I realize that’s what I should have been doing all along. The only person I won’t admit that to is Gloria—I’m pretty sure she’ll move me again if she doesn’t feel like I’m suffering some kind of punishment.
Still, at the end of the day, I’m happy, and that’s all that really matters.
In other news, I have a lot more senders of messages than my dad, and I never have time to feel alone. Jake and Chloe have my schedule of free time all booked up, and by God, it’s been fun.
Jake and Chloe finally make their way back from the counter, brownies in hand and smiles on their faces, so I scoot the discarded paper out of the way and move my phone so they can take their seats.