by Gina Scarpa

 

This week on The Bachelorette, Ashley had some tough decisions to make. The guys that she kept around would be bringing her to their hometowns to meet their families. First, she shocked everyone by sending Ryan home during a one on one date and then eliminated Lucas at the rose ceremony. Today, Lucas opened up to RealityWanted and reporters in a press conference call about his relationship with Ashley and his time on The Bachelorette.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: After Ashley told everyone that she saw Bentley in Hong Kong, did you feel like you emotionally checked out at all?
A. Lucas: Well, you know, I thought we finally made a connection on our date and had a really good date. I thought everything was kind of behind her. When she told us all she fell for him, it was kind of a gut shot really. I didn't emotionally check out, no. It put a damper on the way I was feeling. I was kind of on cloud nine, and then she threw that out. I don't know. I've never had somebody do that before especially after a date but I was still in it.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: So then, were you surprised that you were eliminated on last night's episode?
A. Lucas: You know, I felt very confident going into that [rose ceremony]. I was already prepared to take her home and say, "Hey Mom and Dad, here's Ashley." I was shocked. I wasn't quite sure what she didn't see in me versus Ames but she made great decisions pretty much throughout. We moved at a slower pace. I was bummed out. I was kinda shocked at the end.

 

Q. Do you wish that you would've left when Bentley returned to Hong Kong?
A. Lucas: At the time when she told us about Bentley, I guess my mind... as a typical man, you really don't wanna be second or third. You're trying to get to know a woman and at the time, I was like, "What am I doing?" I'm very excited that I stayed and went to Taiwan. I'm glad I did it. It didn't work out for me but I gave it that one extra shot. There's no regrets.

 

Q. What do you think went wrong and why didn't the two of you connect?
A. Lucas: Ashley and I had a conversation about our beliefs and our families. We were just really opposite. I'm very, very traditional and conservative and she's the other side. And that's fine. Opposites attract, I guess. We just had some differences in what we believe in. If that was her decision, then I respect that.

 

Q. When you watch the show back, what surprises you most that you didn't know?
A. Lucas: Um, probably the most is Bentley. I didn't really see that in him of treating somebody like that. The way I was raised, you don't treat somebody like that so it really shocked me. He and I were pretty cordial to each other. Seeing the interviews he was giving, throwing us under the bus, saying we have no chance, really surprised me. Seeing the way he was talking about her, you don't talk about a woman like that. It was childish and I have no sympathy for people that treat people like that.

 

Q. If Ashley had decided to take you home, who would she have met and where would she have gone?
A. Lucas: I live in a smaller, West Texas town. It's not your New York or Sonoma Valley but there's good people here. We do a lot of cookouts with my family. There's a lot of sand dunes. We'd get in a big go kart and go around these sand dunes. It's not the most beautiful town in the world but there's good people. I would've loved for her to meet my parents, brother, and nieces. They would take her in. Anybody I've ever brought home, they've accepted.

 

Q. Who do you think is right for Ashley?
A. Lucas: Well, it's been so back and forth with everyone, including Bentley. I think probably the two most comptible are Ben F. and JP probably with her. If I had to pick, I think she has the most... it's not so serious with Ben F. Look at the guy! He's a good friend of mine. Winemaker, living life to the fullest. I think if she has to pick anyone, it should be Ben F.

 

Q. Hindsight is 20/20 but would you do it again?
A. Lucas: Absolutely! I would do the show again. It's tough odds. You have 27 guys going after one gal and that's usually odds I don't try to overcome. It was a wonderful experience. I would never think I would be able to be involved in something like this.

 

The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8/7 on ABC.

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)

 

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