The odds that the 2015 season of The Bachelorette were going to be out of control were evident right from the beginning with the whole Britt Nilsson versus Kaitlyn Bristowe, but we never predicted this one. It felt like it would come down to a coin toss for Kaitlyn Bristowe as she confessed her confused love toward both of her finalists — Nick Viall and Shawn Booth. In the end Kaitlyn professed her exclusive love to Shawn Booth and the two are now engaged.
For Nick Viall it was a painful déjà vu and complete blindside. The Chicago software sales rep and two-time Bachelorette competitor (Andi Dorfman sent him home the night before we was going to propose) was a latecomer to the series but immediately connected with Kaitlyn. Their chemistry was so strong he even bedded her long before the overnight date. We also learned in the post-show that the two had known each other prior to Kaitlyn being selected as The Bachelorette, as they playfully exchanged emails and phone calls (apparently a not so uncommon thing for former cast outs). Going up to the final episode Nick had signals that they shared mutual feelings but wasn’t 100 percent confident. “Our connection is so much more meaningful, passionate and intense, better than anything she has,” Nick said, as he selected her ring. “No matter how confident I am this could not end well, again.”
And it didn’t. Nick was first to arrive for the finale and started by explaining that even though they began their journey with no expectations, they evolved, and now all he can think of is how much he loves her. “Know that I’m yours forever if you have me,” he said. Kaitlyn lead him on all the way to that final moment — he actually started to pull out the ring before she took her hand and stopped him — delivering the gut punch. While she muttered, “Oh God,” unsure almost what she was going to say, she eventually told him her heart was with someone else. While a dumbfounded Nick stood in utter confusion, Kaitlyn bumbled her way through explaining how she did not share similar feelings. So like that last date they had where she couldn’t keep her hands off of him, that wasn’t real? I guess not, as she explained: “Everything was real to me in those moments.” She tried to explain that her love and feelings were just in “those moments” and didn’t carryover apparently when he wasn’t around but that didn’t help, in fact, it left Nick even more confused. “I’m the world’s biggest joke,” Nick said as he was driven off.
While Kaitlyn cried and said she was going to miss him, she did an about face when Shawn arrived. He was ready. “You have exceeded all expectations. You went from being this girl on TV that my sisters thought I could be a good match with, to the most incredible woman I’ve ever met in my entire life,” he told her. “Every time I look into those beautiful blue eyes I can’t hear myself think, and when I kiss those lips I get a pit in my stomach. I don’t ever want that to end. I fall more in love with you every time I see you.”
Kaitlyn agreed. “I never want you to question what we have ever again because I’m completely yours and I will always be faithful to you. …I love you with all of my heart. … I can’t wait to make a lifetime of memories with you.”
Bristowe, 30, and Booth, 29, claim they couldn’t be happier. In fact they told Jimmy Kimmel in their appearance on his show after the finale, that they would pay him $1000 if they weren’t together after a year. I’m thinking if they were that confident the wager would be much higher than $1,000. Either way, I’m not betting on them.
