Demi Lovato and 'Bachelorette' Star Mike Johnson Reportedly Going from Flirty to Date-y

It's been a flirt-mance percolating for months around Demi Lovato and "The Bachelorette" contestant "Big Mike" Johnson. And as "Pilot Pete" Weber seems to be stepping up as the front-runner to become the next "Bachelor," it looks like Mike is stepping out with Demi.

The pop star first started getting flirty with Mike during his run on "The Bachelorette," joking through her Instagram stories, "Mike, I accept your rose." After Mike tweeted that he wondered where his "future wife" was, Demi shot back with, "I'M RIGHT HERE MIKE I'M RIGHT HERE BOO MY MOM ALREADY LOVES YOU TOO." And yes, those are her all-caps.

The reality star, who has since appeared on "Bachelor in Paradise" over the summer, told E! News that it was "pretty awesome" getting a shout-out from the "Sorry Not Sorry" singer. "It made me feel sexy," he admitted. "I'm not gonna deny it."

He went on to add, "if we were to meet up I'm not gonna be giddy at all. I'm [going to be like] 'What's up, sexy? You got a nice little booty on you. Let's talk.'" And it looks like he recently got the chance to do just that.

"They did go on a date and it's been going well," a source told E! of the not-yet-a-couple-but-we-'ship-it. However, they are reportedly taking things slow, which is probably for the best.

Mike, after all, did just have his heart broken on national television. But he was clearly in good spirits when Demi Lovato shared an unedited bikini pic to her Instagram, and he jumped in the comments with, "Look at me like that again ... Love yaself!"

According to People, that public banter led to the duo "talking privately for a bit and hanging out." A source told that outlet that Mike and Demi are "having fun and getting to know each other."

Fans have been 'shipping Mike and Demi together almost as hard as they'd been pitching Mike to become the first African-America "Bachelor" in franchise history. Unfortunately, though, you can't really have both. That would be even more awkward than Jed Wyatt winning "The Bachelorette" with a secret girlfriend at home.

Well, maybe.

Regardless, as it's looking less and less likely that Mike will be the next "Bachelorette," it looks like the steam might be picking up between him and Demi. And to be honest, the more the steam picks up, the less ABC is going to be interested in Mike for the title role. It's kind of awkward to court someone who's getting to know someone so publicly.

Meanwhile, as TMZ reported, Pilot Pete Weber has already been spotted filming scenes for the show. That doesn't guarantee he'll get the job, but it certainly puts him firmly in the running, and well out in lead as the favorite.

Somehow, though, we don't think Mike minds right now.

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