The moment you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived: Ben Higgins and his three remaining contestants — Caila Quinn, JoJo Fletcher and Lauren Bushnell — got physical during the Monday, February 29, episode of The Bachelor. The Indiana native and his trifecta of girlfriends enjoyed a series of romantic overnights dates in Jamaica (a beautiful land where, as Ben helpfully pointed out, the “water is blue”), and our lovable Bachelor dropped the L-word on not one, but two women. Talk about a first!
Caila Loves Ben, But Does He Feel the Same Way?
Welcome to the jungle! Ben and Caila started their romantic overnight date by taking a tropical ride through a murky river, and it was basically the most awkward thing ever. These two barely managed to hold a conversation, thanks to Caila’s nerves, and the cameramen were so bored that they literally just filmed spiders. “She’s beautiful, but Caila sometimes has a tendency to withdraw, and it makes me nervous that maybe we’re more distant than I really expected or thought we were,” Ben told cameras.
Things lightened up after Ben and Caila made a pit stop at the “Jerk Center” for food (no, Juan Pablo Galavis wasn’t there), and she told Ben, “I was off today because it’s hard knowing that there are two other people in this.”
Caila eventually said “I love you,” and even though Ben only responded with a kiss, she seemed convinced that his feelings ran deep. “Ben doesn’t have to say anything,” she said before spending the night with her man. “I tell him I love him, and I can see in his eyes. And I can feel in his breath that he feels the same.”
Red Alert: Ben Loves Lauren
So, Ben and Lauren’s date was the greatest thing that’s ever happened, mostly because they released a bucket full of baby sea turtles into the ocean. It was like watching an episode of Planet Earth, only erotic.
These two did all kinds of bonding while nurturing their turtle babies, and eventually ended up in the Fantasy Suite after a night of dancing. Can you guess what happened next? Lauren said, “I love you” — and Ben said it right back! “For me, I’ve known that I’m in love with you for a while as well,” he said after his gal declared her feels.
As anyone who watches The Bachelor knows, saying “I love you” is typically a huge no-no — but Ben’s fine with being a rule-breaker. “I love Lauren, and I have for a while,” he explained to cameras. “Knowing that she loves me, it just feels good. It feels right — it feels comfortable.” Adorable — but unfortunately for Lauren, Ben is a man who likes to spread the love around.
Redder Alert: Ben Also Loves JoJo
So, Ben must have canceled his date with JoJo since he’s in love with Lauren, right? Wrong. The Bachelor took his third date on a helicopter ride to a waterfall, where he and Lauren made out and stared dreamily into each other’s eyes until JoJo said, “I love you.”
Ben’s response? You guessed it: “JoJo, I love you too.” That’s correct — our beloved Bachelor is in love with two women, which comes as a complete shock to everyone, including him. “I never thought in my life I could be in love with two people at one time,” he told cameras. “But I am. … After telling two women I’m in love with them, I’m in a state of shock.”
Wow, it should be so much fun for Lauren and JoJo to both watch this episode!
And None for Caila
See ya, Caila! Despite having a fondness for his gal, Ben explained that he just wasn’t feeling the love. “With Caila, I just couldn’t say it,” he said. “There’s just something missing.”
Meanwhile, poor Caila was spending her time watercoloring pictures of Ben (like, actually), and the situation only got more tragic when she showed up unannounced to his Jamaican bachelor pad — and he promptly rejected her. “I am in love with two women here, and I just couldn’t say it back to you,” he explained while she cried. “And I don’t know why, and I don’t know how.”
Caila accused Ben of reciting lines and stormed to her car, but she had a change of heart after he assured her that he wouldn’t have gone through with their overnight date if he’d better understood his ~feels~. “I was ready,” Caila said during the car ride home. “I was ready to get married. I was ready to be his wife.”
Poor Caila! And by the way, if you’re wondering whether Ben told Lauren and JoJo the truth about his dueling feelings, the answer is a solid nope. You know what they say, Ben: Honesty is the best policy.
Tell Us: Should Ben have been honest with Lauren and JoJo?
The Bachelor airs on ABC Mondays at 8 p.m. EST.
