Melody's POV

I feel sadness and happiness run through my body. My heart had started to ache. Not only did I not get a one on one but now the rose. What was I going to do? It's not like I told Tyler I didn't want to be here. I literally told him I was falling for him. Maybe that's why I didn't get it... he doesn't want to reciprocate the same feelings.

I'm super happy for Brynn don't get me wrong but I'm scared now that I might go home. Ugh I hate insecurities. They tear you apart.

Taking a step inside the tent a voice calls me making me turn around in question.

"Hey I was looking for you!"

I look at Brynn confused then look down at her empty hands, "What? Where's your rose?"

Brynn chuckles and nods her head towards the garden, "Tyler wants to talk to you."

I make an oh face then butterflies start to dance around in my stomach. I might have been a tiny bit over dramatic and quick to assumptions.

Hurrying into the garden, I go to the fountain and find Tyler sitting at a bench twirling the rose around in his hands. He looks up as soon as he hears my footsteps and smiles widely.

"Melly... Brynn was looking for you. Kennedy said you went to the rest room."

"Oh I did. Then I got distracted."

He chuckles and shakes his head pulling me to sit beside him, "Sounds like you."

I nod and giggle cuddling into his side.

"Melly I wanted to apologize. We didn't get that much time to spend together tonight. I should've told Camila to wait."

"But like you said before you do have to make connections with everyone else too."

He frowns and looks at the sky, "Yeah but with some people I just know..."

"I get that."

"But it's also only week three so I have to see how most of these connections develop. Melly I'm sorry if you might be confused or not sure of where I stand with you... but I want you to know that from the bottom of my heart I want to try with you. You are one of the most amazing women that I have ever met. It's so so early in the season but you just keep surprising me."

"I'm glad that I keep you on your toes, Ty." I kiss his nose making he chuckle lightly.

"This is for you obviously you know that now. So Melody will you accept this rose?"

"Definitely."

"Well we have a few minutes before we have to go. Tell me something I don't know about you Melly."

His arm goes around my shoulder and I lay my head on him in comfort.

"Well there are really two scariest moments that happened in my life. The first or scariest one was raising a child. The second was seeing my real mother."

Tyler looks at me in slight confusion.

"I'm adopted."

"Oh wow. When did you find out?"

"In high school. It was an accident. I walked in my house and my parents were having a debacle about me. And they never fight ever so I knew something was wrong. I started to creep and listen in and heard them talking about my real mom. I was so confused and so hurt that I ran to Loran's house. Loran is my best friend by the way. My parents noticed I hadn't come home or called and they got worried. They knew I was at Loran's because that's the only place I would go but they didn't know why. They finally talked to me after I told them I heard their conversation. There was a whole counseling session and everything. I had to see a therapist because of how much it took a toll on me. My real dad was just a sperm donor who left my real mom as soon as she found out she was pregnant. And my real mom gave me away because she was dying. She found out she had cancer when I was two months old. So you can imagine how I felt knowing that she had been gone for years and I had no idea who she was. I was hurt that my parents kept it a secret but I was hurt more that my real mom didn't even leave anything to let me know something about her or how she felt about me or anything at all... life is so hard."

Tyler wipes a tear that falls down my cheek and kisses my head, "It is but you keep showing it that you can fight through anything and everything. Mel you are a survivor, you're a fighter. You are absolutely incredible. I don't know how many times I've said it but I'll continue to say it. You are so strong. You've been through so much but yet you're still so possible about everything that has happened to you."

"Thanks. I have to be, I used to be negative about everything and I had the wrong mindset. It drove me crazy."

"Well I'm glad that you became a better person from it. And you know what... it brought you here. To me."

I smile and hold his face between my hands pulling him down to me. Our lips meet and move in sync as Tyler pulls my waist to him. I straddle him and wrap my arms around his neck as his hands grip my side. The kiss doesn't get intense and fast it continues to stay sweet and slow. Almost as if we were both trying to show the other how much we liked them.

Pecking his lips once more I pull back and look into his eyes.

"You are going to be the death of me Tyler Cameron."

He smiles and pushes my hair out of my face then caresses my cheek, "I should say the same to you Melody Drake."

Later all the girls and I finally pack and get back into the SUV. I look out the window to see Tyler standing by the hotel entrance. He does our hand gesture and mouths, 'Me and You.' I do the same with a wide grin just as the car pulls away leaving his figure in the distance.