At the beginning of week three of “The Bachelorette” season 18, the men were still in bewilderment over the rumor that Michelle Young had addressed to the men during the last Cocktail Party.

“As a group, we kind of messed-up last night” Casey said in regards to when Michelle asked the men if they had any questions for her when she addressed them with the rumor that Jamie had started. The rumor was that Michelle and Joe knew each other before the show. Casey openly wondered who spoke to Michelle and if that information will come to light.  Jamie said he was in “a best position” since he already had a one-on-one date with Michelle.

Co-host Kaitlyn Bristowe stopped-by the men’s place to announce that this week there would be two group dates and “an intimate one-on-one date.”  Kaitlyn then left them with the date card which had the following names:  “Martin, LT, Olu Spencer, Clayton, Nayte, Joe, Rick, Will, Peter. – I want a man that isn’t afraid of the danger zone.”  – Love Michelle.

THE FIRST GROUP DATE:

The guys met Michelle at an air force museum.  They arrived to a nice surprise.  Actors Jay Ellis and Glen Powell were there.  They’re two stars in the new movie “Top Gun: Maverick.”  Glen and Jay said they’re there to help Michelle find love.  “Michelle can only pick one Maverick.”   They explained to the men on the group date that “call signs” are given to pilots that are nicknames.  So, the men on the date had to come up with their own call signs.  Martin was “frosted tip.”  Peter was “dough boy.”

Pictured (l-r): GLEN POWELL, JAY ELLIS, MICHELLE YOUNG. Photo by: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Next, training began.   Martin pulled Michelle to the side to see how she was doing.  The other guys looked-on suspiciously.  The men had to get into a G4 simulator while telling Michelle how they felt about her.  This was an apparatus that for sure could make someone who suffers from motion sickness, very sick.  Will was one such person and was getting nervous about the whole situation.

When Peter got into the G4 Simulator he talked to Michelle in Italian.  Then Will got in and, according to Peter, said the exact same thing but in Spanish. Peter was very upset.  The next challenge had the men matching-up to fight each other on a padded platform with padded sticks.  Of course, one matchup was Will vs. Peter which got pretty agressive.  Will kept pushing Peter off of the platform.  The winner of that Group Date was Will.  He won a  bomber jacket.  Another prize was a ride in the vintage car from “Top Gun: Maverick.”   Michelle drove.

Pictured: MICHELLE YOUNG. Photo by: ABC/Craig Sjodin

THE AFTERPARTY:

Clayton got a kiss from Michelle during his alone time with her.  Same with Nayte.  Michelle said “relationships are progressing and we’re getting back on the same page.”  Michele told Joe that he has a quiet confidence about him that she really likes.  She said she’s glad that she has a “mature group of men.” Meantime, Will and Peter were arguing nonstop. Lol.

Back at the house:  The next date card arrived.  It read: “Rodney. Love is about letting go. – Love Michelle.”  Mollique said he doesn’t see Rodney as a threat and thinks Michelle is going to friend zone him.

Back to the Group Date:  Martin got some alone time with Michelle who told him she liked that he asked how she was doing earlier.  Michelle told Martin that he has so many “different layers and depth.”  Michelle said she’s confident that Martin is there for her.

Next, Peter took off with the bomber jacket that Will won earlier on the date and threw the jacket in the pool.  Rick’s reaction was “I’m tired of going on dates with Peter.”  When Will found out, he stayed calm and excused himself.  In his confessional, Will said he was “hurt beyond words.”

Michelle rejoined the group of men.  She gave the Group Date rose to Martin.  Will decided not to tell Michelle about what happened between him and Peter so as to not ruin the night.  Michelle said goodnight to the group of men except for Martin.  She and Martin danced to an orchestrated version of “Take My Breath Away.”

THE ONE-ON-ONE DATE:

Rodney and Michelle met in a kitchen and it was Rodney’s turn to give Michelle a blind fold taste test of various foods in a game of Truth or Dare. Their next challenge was to handcuff themselves together then unwrap and unbox various boxes to find the key.  Rodney said he can see Michelle as his life partner and best friend in his confessional.  The challenge after that was for one of them to strip-down and run through the lobby.  Rodney decided to do it while covering his private parts with a large pillow.  The rest of the men came out of their rooms to see what was going on!

They ended that challenge by relaxing in a bed in a room.  Rodney said his biggest fear is passing away before becoming a husband and father.  Michelle’s biggest fear is “being complacent.”  She said she focuses on the next thing and not what’s happening now.  “That’s where life is,” she said.  Michelle said Rodney kept chipping-away at that friend zone and was able to make it to the other side, to the relationship zone.

Back at the house:  The last date card arrived.  It read:  “Jamie, Leroy, Chris G., Casey, Mollique, Chris S.,Brandon, Romeo.  I want a man who can express himself.  Love Michelle.”

Back to Rodney & Michelle:  They had dinner by the water.  Michelle told Rodney how she loves his vulnerable side and his playfulness.  Rodney said he can’t hide who he is.  He was raised by a single mom.  He said he grew-up watching her struggle.  She showed that with hard work, you can get through anything in life and he wants to make her proud.

Rodney asked Michelle in her last relationship, what went wrong.  She explained that when she was in a relationship and while at a store, a woman used the “n” word.  When she got home and told her boyfriend, she had to justify her emotions.  Michelle said “if I have to explain that.  I also have to explain that the relationship isn’t working.”

By the end of their date, Michelle said she feels that she can trust Rodney.  Michelle gave Rodney the date rose.