Jordan Rodgers’ unyielding confidence throughout this season of “The Bachelorette” has long been disputed as cocky by the competition. But after failing to bring his A-game the day he met girlfriend JoJo Fletcher’s family, his stock plummeted.
After greeting the Fletchers with a beautiful bouquet of flowers during Monday night’s finale, JoJo could hardly believe the frontrunner and her family finally got to meet. And on the afternoon when Jordan was expected to ask for her father’s blessing before proposing, he came up short.
“I can’t stop thinking about why Jordan didn’t ask my mom or my dad or anyone in my family for their blessing,” a baffled JoJo shares. “I thought all along that was something important for him to do, but now I don’t know what that means.”
JoJo, who admits to being in love with both Jordan and fellow beau Robby Hayes, spends what’s left of her time in Thailand contemplating her futures the remaining suitors. Though she’s still skeptical about Jordan, it seems Robby has it all planned out – now that he has her parents’ permission to propose.
“Commitment for me is for life. Every moment I spend with her, that love grows,” Robby tells his potential in-laws.
And while JoJo’s final date with Robby is something out of a romantic comedy, she can’t shake her feelings for Jordan no matter how upset she is with him.
“I was just really disappointed and bummed out because now, in two days, and you don’t have my family’s blessing, and you didn’t get that, it’s hard for me to understand that. It makes me doubt that you’re really ready,” JoJo tells Jordan.
While the former Vanderbilt quarterback is ready to go all-in with JoJo, he first explains why he didn’t ask her parents’ permission.
“I didn’t feel comfortable with, for one, them not having met Robby,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s me. There’s two of us left. I want you to know that it’s exactly what you want, and I want you to know it’s right, and I want your family to know that that’s what you want. And then, I would be comfortable asking your dad.”
“I’m okay taking a little bit of a leap of faith because I love you that much,” Jordan continues. “I don’t want to lose you.”
In a final attempt to prove to the Fletchers he is their daughter’s knight in shining armor, Jordan makes a phone call that changes everything.
“I love your daughter and I believe she is the love of my life,” he explains to JoJo’s parents before asking for their blessing.
Without hesitation, the Fletchers give Jordan their permission. But Aaron Rodgers’ baby brother has one more task before getting down on one knee: penning a love letter to JoJo.
And while Robby also gets out his handy pen and notepad too, JoJo’s decision has been made and it’s Jordan all the way.
“I came into this feeling very weary about falling in love with more than one person. And it happened. I never in my entire life chose to say goodbye to love, and I don’t know how I’m going to be able to do it,” JoJo says ahead of Robby’s proposal – which she ultimately rejects.
Before Robby can get down on one knee, JoJo stops him from presenting the ring.
“I wanted it to be you,” JoJo cries to Robby as she escorts him off the beach.
While Robby handles the rejection like a gentleman, JoJo can hardly keep it together as she says goodbye for a final time. Not that there’s much time to sulk as Jordan’s imminent arrival is moments away.
“I am so unbelievably in love with you. You are my best friend, my soul mate and I’m going to wake up every morning and choose you,” Jordan shares with JoJo, who can’t stop smiling.
“Jordan, I love you so much and I have been waiting to tell you. I wanted you to know how I felt,” JoJo exclaims as Jordan gets down on one knee.
Though JoJo and Jordan happily embrace their new reality as an engaged couple on the “After the Final Rose” special, the former Bachelorette has to come face-to-face with Robby after breaking his heart.
“I loved the way you treated me and I love man that you are,” JoJo shares with Robby, who expresses he was confused after their breakup.
Although Robby still seeks closure, JoJo tells Robby the friendship ingredient was missing in their relationship.
“I never wanted to hurt you and to be that person to cause you any pain,” JoJo says. “I want you to find love.”
After wishing JoJo the best, Robby exits stage left. But before Jordan can make his grand entrance, his lady love defends their relationship against the tabloids.
“I know the truth about the rumors. I know that those aren’t true. I think the hardest part for me is that he doesn’t really love you, this is all for show. It’s just hard to have that on you,” JoJo explains to host Chris Harrison. “It’s hard to prove something when you don’t think you should have to and you want to.”
The couple, who finally reunite after months of secrecy, put up a united front despite the onslaught of negativity.
“It’s been very difficult, but I will say. To be able to get through those things and we love each other so much, he’s been nothing but so honest with me,” JoJo explains.
“She’s the love of my life and she’s my best friend. We’re going to grow in love every day. It’s been difficult, we expect their to be bumps, but she’s the person I want to be with,” Jordan adds.
With a wedding (and a People magazine cover) in their future, the next stop on JoJo and Jordan’s journey: Dallas.
Perhaps Jordan will switch teams to the Cowboys. We’re sure the Fletchers have a Tony Romo jersey they can spare.