The Bachelor

Could it be that The Bachelor environment just brought out the worst in Courtney Robertson? Away from the Bachelor mansion and other women fighting for Ben Flajnik’s love, Courtney seemed calmer, warmer, more mature and not happy about how she acted when she was in the competitive zone of the show. (Even Bachelor alums seemed to change their minds about the two being together, albeit begrudgingly/temporarily.)

As Courtney told the cameras at the start of her Season 16 hometown date in Scottsdale, AZ, “I feel badly. I feel disappointed in myself for treating the girls the way that I have. This is hard for me. I’m not proud of everything I’ve done or said, but I’m falling in love with [Ben] and I feel like he’s worth fighting for."

Later, she told her sister, “I feel like I’ve been with the wrong people only to appreciate the right person.” Her dad seemed to like Ben, even if it was just to get another man in the family. Her mom was initially skeptical — she has trust issues with men, just like Courtney does — but ultimately said she likes Ben and thinks their personalities are well matched.

At the end of the date, Courtney and Ben wrote vows for a fake wedding, a la Ashley Hebert and William Holman on The Bachelorette Season 7. When writing his vows, Ben had to think about what he likes about Courtney. “She challenges me. She keeps me on my toes. She’s funny. She’s confident. She’s sexy. She’s beautiful. I don’t know. She keeps me thinking. She keeps me thinking.”

Ben’s vows for Courtney: “From the moment I saw you, you took my breath away. What I asked myself after our first date was ‘Is this too good to be true?’ The answer that I found in Belize is ‘No.’ You’re incredible. I love how you make me feel when I’m in your presence. You are strong, kind and beautiful and I find myself falling for you more and more every time I’m with you. You are real and honest. So I want to say thank you for believing in me and trusting that we would get to this point after an incredible journey.”

Courtney’s vows for Ben: “Ben, I’m looking for love. Real love, passionate, consuming, can’t live without each other love. To love unconditionally a partner and best friend for the rest of my life. When I look at you from across the room I know your happiness is the key to mine. To love and to hold and to nurture. I’ll give you my hand, my heart, I will trust you, respect you, encourage you, laugh with you and cry with you for all the days of my life. Ben I want to love you and treat you right every day and every night. I hope you know I’m 100 percent ready for marriage and I’m so happy I found you. I want you to know that I’m in love with you.”

Aww! All in all, we saw a softer side of Courtney and it seemed sweet and genuine from here. What about you? Was it too little too late for you?  

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