That’s a perfect way to describe the hometown dates this week onThe Bachelorette!
“It’s just such an honor that he’s here.”
But wait, there’s more!
Credit: ABC
Brendan has invited a special guest:
Now that is a cute kid.
“I actually hugged [Tayshia] before my uncle,” giggles Aliyah.
They play ring toss together before moving on to a very janky-looking basketball toss game.
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Did producers make the Bachelor interns build that thing from scratch?
But everybody seems to have a good time anyway.
“I started, like, kind of freaking out,” she admits.
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“Because I was like, ‘Well, is Brendan actually ready?'”
If anyone can find out the answer to that question, it’s Daniel.
“That’s all I really want in this life,” says Brendan.
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She definitely LOVES to hear it.
“That made me feel so good,” she says.
“I definitely see myself falling in love with him.”
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Man, the interns were really busy with arts and crafts projects this week!
Next stop is a fake bagel shop.
Even grosser, though, is when they both lie down in the La Quinta fountain and make out.
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Gah who knows what’s growing on those tiles?
Of course it doesn’t!
Tayshia can’t be spilling all the tea when there are still two episodes left in the season!
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I HATE IT WHEN THIS SHOW MAKES ME EMOTIONAL.
All and all, the “hometown visit” goes very well.
“I love Zac’s family!”
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“Zac’s incredible.
It feels good.”
c’mon be careful, Ivan’s dad!)
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“My brother, like, he’s the most influential person in my life.”
Of course, she’s also nervous… which is understandable.
“It’s just so fast,” frets mom.
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“Everything is happening so fast.”
Ivan’s dad reveals that he, too, has been married before.
“I got married at the age of 24,” he says.
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“In retrospect, we were both too young.
Good advice, Clarence!
And I declare that I really love Clarence and his old-school, gentlemanly ways very much.
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“If she keeps you around,” mom cautions.
(Did we ever learn her name?)
“Regardless of the way I feel, I trust in you.
That’s the bottom line…
If you’re happy, that makes me happy.”
Awww, aren’t moms the best?
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any more emotional, a door opens and… Ivan’s brother Gabriel is here after all!
After a stunned silence, Ivan bursts into tears and he and Gabriel share a huge hug.
ONCE AGAIN, SHOW, STOP MAKING ME TEARY!
“He’s demonstrated his love for me as a brother.
He’s helped guide me,” says Gabriel.
It’s so sweet watching these two together.
“You’re glowing, brother,” says Gabriel.
“Loyalty, that’s an action word,” he says.
“He’s demonstrated that to me my whole life…
I couldn’t see my life without him.”
As for Tayshia and Ivan together?
Gabe approves: “You guys together…
I like it.”
With that, another solid hometown date is in the books!
Now, last but not least… Clearly, she’s hoping he’ll Open UpTM more on this date.
“I, like, don’t know how to do that emotion,” he explained.
“I don’t know where it’s supposed to come from.”
There is no way that’s supposed to be Tayshia, right?
It looks more like Clare, for Pete’s sake!
That’s just uncalled for, TeamBachelorette.
Before we get into the family sit-down, can we just take a moment to address Ben’s neckline?
What is it with this guy’s need to show off his clavicles?
And why do I find said clavicles so disturbing?
But is he in love with Tayshia?
“I have the strongest feelings I’ve ever had for a person for her,” Ben says.
“But love is like a scary word.”
Antonia’s all,Suck it up, dude!
You love her!And you know what?
“I’m in love with her,” marvels Ben, after a pensive pause.
“That’s wild.”
Also wild: We don’t even get to see Ben sit down with his sister, a.k.a.
his “favorite person in the world.”
Will Ben have the courage to drop the L-bomb before the date is over?
It’s so easy, um, yeah.
I don’t know.”
Oh man, the poor guy is just choking.
I just, my brain couldn’t work.
In true Ben fashion, I just blew it."
Stop beating yourself up, Ben!
We all know where this is going, rose lovers.
Let’s just get it over with.
Rose ceremony roll call: Ivan, Zac, and Brendan are your final three.
The guy still has a lot of healing to do.
But poor Ben is so ill-equipped to discuss his hurt feelings openly that he essentially shuts down.
“I’m not sure what to say,” he murmurs.
“I would have liked it to go a different way, but it is what it is.
I’ll be all right.
I’m always all right.”
Ooof, it’s really sad to watch but it also proves that Tayshia probably made the right choice.
“He wasn’t angry, he wasn’t mad, he wasn’t sad.
It kinda felt empty.”
Meanwhile, poor Ben is in the Reject Limo professing his love for Tayshia.
“I should have told her when I had the chance,” he laments.
“Maybe she loved me, and she thought I didn’t love her back.”
This is too much.
Let’s wrap this up.
Only two episodes left, rose lovers!
Who will “win”?
Place your bets below!
(And kindly, be kind and keep things spoiler free.)
See you in a week!
The Bachelorette airs Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. on ABC
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