For Love or Money 2, Episode 6: Eric Gets Robbed

Last week on For Love or Money 2, Erin had four guys left and went on four dates. Unfortunately for Greg and Eric, Erin chose to go on two dates each with Chad and Wade, leaving the two of them sitting at home wishing she’d call. Erin eliminated Greg, then got a big surprise when Rob, introduced as “someone from your past,” joined the competition.

This week, we see Rob introducing himself to the other guys over post-elimination martinis. Eric, Wade, and Chad are not at all happy with this turn of events. Eric thinks it’s odd that some other guy has been thrown into the mix so late in the game. A very jealous Chad says he doesn’t know what their relationship was, and he doesn’t want to know. Wade simply says that things have taken “a turn for the worse.” The guys ask Rob how he and Erin met. Rob won’t tell them, saying, “Really, I don’t want to talk about it. I think it would make things weird.” Obviously, things are weird already, but it’s a decent excuse and the guys buy it. Rob says in an interview that he thinks his knowledge of the game gives him an advantage. He says, “I know about the money, I know how the process works, I know that they’ll have to choose between her and the money. My real goal is to have Erin pick me over these other guys.” Rob may feel confident that he knows what will happen, but I’m willing to bet there will be some twist that Rob won’t know about. It’s a hunch.

Rob goes upstairs to hang up his hideous white tuxedo jacket, giving the others a chance to talk about him. The guys play an aggressive game of pool to get out their frustrations. Eric says he’s never seen Wade and Chad so emotional. Chad says, “It sucks.” Wade is shocked at the twist and wonders, “What kind of twisted thing is that?” Poor Wade is going to be distraught when he learns that the winner will have to choose between Erin and the money. Chad says of Rob, “I can’t stand him.”

The next morning, Jordan greets the guys with their next challenge. There will be four solo dates with Erin, and some of the dates are better than others are. The dates will be Deep Sea Dolphin Safari, Train of Stars, Erin’s Perfect Date (a night alone in the house), and Pottery Painting. Jordan will ask the guys questions about Erin. If you answer a question wrong, you are out of the game. Last man standing gets to choose who goes on which date. Eric says that the upcoming date is crucial. He says with his usual hyperbole, “No one else in good faith could tell you they need this date more than I do.” In fact, I am hard pressed to think of anything in the world that is more important.

The four guys are given chalkboards to record their answers and are seated with walls dividing them so they can’t see each other’s answers. The first question is: what color are Erin’s eyes? Rob, the one who has known Erin for the longest, gets it wrong, thinking they’re blue. He’s out of the game. Wade can’t believe this moron got it wrong. I am grateful that Eric just put the correct answer, brown, instead of saying, “melted chocolate” or something equally flowery. The next question is: what does Erin do for a living? Wade and Chad both know that she’s in software sales. Eric put “management recruitment” and is furious to learn that he’s wrong. Chad thinks Eric over-thought the question. The final question is: what town was Erin born and raised in? Chad and Wade are both confident in their answers – Los Altos and Oakland, respectively. Chad is right.

Jordan has Chad assign the dates. He gives the dolphin date to himself. Then he sticks Eric with the dud pottery painting date, saying, “Eric – he’s artsy. He likes to paint, probably.” Eric is livid at getting the worst date. Next, Chad gives the “perfect date” to Rob, because it’s in the house and the other guys have been cooped up in the house. Rob thinks Chad is crazy for giving the perfect date to the newcomer, but he’s not fighting it. Finally, Chad gives Wade the train date. Eric and Wade wonder about the repercussions of Chad winning so many challenges. Eric says, “Chad… is in the driver’s seat.” Wade wonders if Chad’s victories will make it seem like he’s trying harder.

Chad’s dolphin date is first. I wonder why he chose that date for himself. Maybe Chad really likes dolphins. Erin is nervous about their date and wonders how she will explain her relationship with Rob. She says that things were a little awkward at first because of Rob’s appearance. The awkwardness doesn’t last, though, as Chad and Erin share an intimate kiss in the limo. On the boat, they snuggle close together. In an interview, Chad says he doesn’t care about the money, “It’s for Erin.” Erin isn’t so sure. Because the two of them have met under such strange circumstances, she wonders “if he’s dramatizing his feelings for me.” Chad and Erin see tons of dolphins, drink some wine, and really seem to have a good time.

In the limo ride back to the mansion, Erin stretches across Chad’s lap. He says, “Don’t you think this is real?” Erin nods. Chad still wonders privately if something is up. He says in an interview, “For some reason, I have in my head she’s playing a game with me.” Chad wondered that last week – he’s very observant. Erin isn’t sure what to think. They’ve met under such odd circumstances that she thinks that maybe their feelings wouldn’t be as intense in the real world.