by Gina Scarpa

 

While most of the men have been throwing themselves at Emily this season on The Bachelorette, Jef has been hanging back and playing it cool - and it's working like a charm! Emily has been smitten with the skateboarding entrepreneur since the first night and their romance doesn't seem to show signs of stopping as they head to Prague next week. Jef talked to reporters this week in a press conference call about his relationship with Emily, his thoughts on the other guys, and speculations over whether or not he'll get the final rose.

 

Q. It seems like you and Arie have developed a really good friendship. Can you tell us about your relationship with him and the other guys?
A. Jef: Yeah, we became really good friends on the show. We were completely different from the other guys, we felt like. We hung out a lot and it was different with us. Any time he would come home from a date, it wasn't weird to talk about it. We didn't have a rivalry going or anything. We could talk about it openly and we tried to keep our feelings for Emily out of it and just talk as if we were hanging out with different girls. We wanted to stay friends after the show and he's kind of a free spirit like I am. It doesn't really show that on the show. We're really similar. I really like Arie.

 

Q. Why did you play it so cool and take things so slow? Was that a strategy?
A. Jef: That's a really good question. I get that a lot. When I first got to the house, I realized that every single guy was going full steam ahead for Emily. Any time she came in the room, they were jumping up and surrounding her and swarming her. That's not really how I am anyway with girls, especially in a situation like that. I was one of the only guys that played it cool and wasn't trying to chase her like crazy. I wanted to chase her but I didn't wanna try to get her attention like crazy. All the guys thought I was blowing it. I knew I didn't need to be out in front trying to catch up.

 

Q. Did you feel like you had to catch up?
A. Jef: I don't know if I felt like I needed to catch up to them. Up until Bermuda, it was just because I was still trying to figure out what I was doing there. I wasn't completely comfortable dating a girl in that situation. I was nervous and trying to figure it all out. We built a really good friendship. There were times I wanted to go home and then I'd hang out with Emily and I wanted to stay more than anything.

 

Q. Do you think taking things slow ultimately helped or hurt your relationship with Emily?
A. Jef: If I could go back and redo it, I would do it the exact same way. I wouldn't change one single thing. I made the move when I was ready to. I think it was cool to make her wait. I wanted it to be a mutual thing.

 

Q. You said you were there when Kalon referred to Ricki as "baggage". If Emily wasn't made aware prior to your one on one, would you have been the one to tell her about it?
A. Jef: That's a good question and I was present when Kalon made that comment. We were sitting on the couch in London. I happened to walk in right when he said that. I asked him, "Why wouldn't you leave?" He said his life was boring and this was a cool adventure to be on. Doug and I went to the gym and I told him what had happened. I wasn't going on the group date so I let him know.

 

Q. Obviously, at this point, there's multiple people left and multiple people have feelings for her. Did you think to yourself, "If it can't be me... I think this guy would be her best choice"?
A. Jef: I got to know all the guys really well. That's a tough question to answer. I was crazy about Emily and it's hard to picture someone you're crazy about being with somebody else, especially with some of your friends. I think there were some amazing guys there. I think the world of Arie, I think he's a great guy. Sean is so nice... there's just so many different personalities. I think the biggest key is how the guys' personalities mesh with Emily's. I didn't get to see them interact, just when I watch it on the show. That's a tough question to answer.

 

Q. You guys had agreed that Ryan was not there for the right reasons and not the right choice for her. Do you think now that he's gone that everybody else is there for the right reasons?
A. Jef: Ryan made me laugh and not because he's funny. He's crazy. He continually digs himself a hole over and over. I think he was there for the wrong reasons and now that he's gone, everyone there is there for the right reasons. I hope they are. There's a big surprise elimination this week and it'll be interesting. You guys will have to watch and see.

 

Q. Can you give us a tease as to what will happen to you on the next episode?
A. Jef: As you know, I got a date in London and so, my time isn't really up for another date. But it's all up to Emily and she gets to choose people who she has the biggest connection with. This week, Emily and I do get to spend some time together. This is a huge changing moment in our relationship.

 

Q. Who do you think you were least close to?
A. Jef: Probably Ryan. He probably didn't think that we were not that close. He thinks everyone likes him. Team Ryan. He thought we were good friends but it was so hard to listen to him talk about his chemistry with Emily because I didn't see it. I think he makes really good TV.

 

Q. How do you feel about these rumors that you're the winner? Is it hard to not have any expression?
A. Jef: I'm flattered that people think that it's me. I think that that's cool. I definitely developed strong feelings for Emily. As for where I'm at right now, I'm still crazy about her. As for what happens, you'll have to tune in.

 

The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa