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Matt’s stomach fell a little, but he did his best not to show it.
“Tonight, he will send home one lady right away.”
All the women looked at each other as they grabbed each other’s hands. Matt felt odd as he watched what felt like a beauty pageant. It didn’t settle with him, but he was the fool that signed up to do this treachery, so he had to deal with it.
“Matt, please inform us which one of these lovely ladies will be going home right now.”
Matt took a deep sigh and scanned the fourteen faces. When he saw her face, he smiled pensively and her smile in return dropped.
“Tatiana,” Matt said with gentle firmness.
The rest of the women moaned, but they also sighed with relief.
“Tatiana,” Carl repeated. “Thank you for joining us. Please go through the front door.”
Tatiana stepped forward, walked straight toward Matt and kissed him. “At least I got my kiss!” she hollered as she turned around and walked out the front door.
Matt stood speechless. He was stunned and then felt a little used. Was that how some of the women from his past felt after a night of passion and then to never hear from him again?
“A kiss from Tatiana?” Carl smirked. “That was a nice treat.”
Matt turned to look at Carl and did his best to express a look of displeasure, but he was sure Carl didn’t notice it.
“Now,” continued Carl. “Please invite three women to stay and explain to each woman why you’d like to give them an invitation.”
Matt wasn’t going to keep Evie wondering if she would have to wait until the very end this time. “Evie,” Matt called, smiling broadly at her.
Evie heaved a sigh and followed Carl’s gesture to walk toward Matt.
Matt took her hands in his and smiled tenderly. She was wearing the same dress pantsuit as the night before. “This has been an unexpected adventure for you, and you have certainly made it an adventure for me. You are kind, beautiful, fun, and you have amazing hair!” Matt mused as he reached out to trail his fingers over the ringlets she had made to frame her face. “Will you please accept my invitation?”
Evie smiled in return and shook her head in amazement. “I guess,” she laughed quietly.
Matt noticed a combination of acceptance and hope crossed her face. He smiled in return, let go of her hands, retrieved an invitation from the table behind him and handed it to her. She took it, gave him a quick hug, and then returned to the other women.
Matt invited Maeve and Verlia to stay also. They both accepted, gave Matt hugs and returned to stand with the other women.
“Matt,” Carl said. “It’s time to send home two women. Please inform us of your second and third picks.”
Matt stood up straighter and said, “Emanee.”
“Emanee? Please come forward.”
Emanee walked to face Matt, “Thank you, Matt for this wonderful opportunity and the chance to meet a real man. It’ll be hard to find someone just like you.”
“The pleasure was mine,” Matt replied.
Emanee also leaned in for a soft kiss, but at least she was more tasteful than Tatiana. Matt searched the faces of the women and then seeing the next face he would be sending home, he offered her a sad smile.
“Carmela,” Matt stated.
Carmela came forward with a few tears in her eyes. She explained she thought they had a connection and couldn’t believe he was sending her home. She too, kissed Matt, and then after Carmela walked out the front door, Carl told Matt to invite three more women to stay.
The next three Matt gave an invitation to were Devanee, Dorothy, and Baylor. Then he let Kristie go home and invited Aaliyah and Callie to stay.
The remaining two were Anya and Neveah.
Matt had already decided who he would send home before the invite ceremony, but now he was conflicted. Which woman would have an easier time dealing with being sent home versus being sent home later? He knew he had to propose to one of these ladies even if he didn’t have a connection with any of them… and he knew it was his decision afterwards on whether or not to stay engaged… yet there was still the slightest of hope that he would truly connect with one of them.
