by Gina Scarpa

 

The relationship between Ashley and Brad this season on The Bachelor started strong but fizzled as time went on. Realizing they weren't as perfect for each other as maybe they had once thought, Brad pulled her aside before the rose ceremony and let her go. Today, Ashley spoke to RealityWanted and reporters in a press conference call about her feelings for Brad, the other women, and if she might be the next Bachelorette.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did it bother you that Brad always seemed frustrated whenever a girl seemed insecure or questioned his feelings?
A. Ashley: It's a tough process. I think there was a lot of frustration the whole way. I don't know. I mean, I think everyone was frustrated at some point. We all had to work together and move through the process. I don't know if that really answers your question!

Q. Watching the show was really frustrating because Brad just kept wanting you to say you wanted to get married and have kids.
A. Ashley: I think there was a lot of miscommunication. I feel like I'm at an age where I'm ready to settle down but I really think it was a lack of communication. I have to admit that, throughout the whole process, I went in and didn't expect to feel as strongly as I did. I guarded myself and I definitely learned a lot from that.

 

Q. When Brad said that he thought from the beginning that he thought you would be in the final two, did that make you feel better or worse?
A. Ashley: It absolutely made me feel worse. To hear him say that he thought that, it confirmed what we had in my mind. It made it harder to live with the regret.

 

Q. What did you and Brad talk about that we didn't get to see?
A. Ashley: Brad and I got to talk about a lot of things. We just continued on with our really fun, light relationship. I think that's where things went wrong. In the fantasy suite, we opted to take the light route, I guess. I didn't answer all the questions that he needed. In the end, we ran out of time. That night was the demise of our relationship.

 

Q. Would you want to be the next Bachelorette or on Bachelor Pad?
A. Ashley: Oh gosh! I don't think I would be as happy about Bachelor Pad. If they asked me to do The Bachelorette, I would definitely consider it. The process worked for me once and I would be so excited to do it.

 

Q. Did you respect that Brad didn't put you through the rose ceremony?
A. Ashley: Absolutely! I think that, especially after watching it and hearing all the things he said about me, I have a whole new respect for him. I left really heartbroken but, after seeing that, it helped me put a little bit of closure on it and it solidified what kind of relationship we had.

 

Q. Did you ever think that the fact that you and Brad are in very different places in your lives would affect you getting the final rose?
A. Ashley: A lot of people think we were in very different places but, in my mind, we were in the same spot. For me, the hard part was that school was coming to a close. I never saw us as being different. I thought we were right on track.

 

Q. You obviously spent a lot of time with Chantal and Emily. Who do you think is the best match for Brad?
A. Ashley: You know, it changes from week to week. I thought Chantal until the last episode. Now, I'm a little bit more apt to say that he's falling in love with Emily. In terms of what I think Brad wants out of life and a relationship, I think he and Emily are a good match but I love him and Chantal together! They have this playfulness that I really like to see?

 

Q. Do you think he's really ready for a wife?
A. Ashley: Absolutely! He made that very clear from the beginning. He came in, saying that's what he wanted. He was looking for a wife and I think he found her. I'm really happy that he did!

 

 

The Bachelor airs Monday at 8/7c on ABC.

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa