Ashley: There's something in my story I haven't told anyone yet. Um…

[suspenseful music playing]

Ashley: I am a… I'm a virgin.

Ashley: And I'm waiting for marriage.

Angel: Oh, wow.

[upbeat music plays]

Ashley: There goes the pants.

Andrew: I know. 

Ashley: That's gonna be a mess.

Andrew: So what's up?

Ashley: Nothing. What's up with you? 

Andrew: So I feel like I haven't seen you much since the mixer, and you've been staying away from me.

Ashley: No, I think it's vice versa.

Andrew: No, not at all. 

Ashley: You've got a lot of things to explore here, I feel like. 

Andrew: I mean, I definitely feel like I'm connecting with people.

Ashley: Yeah.

Andrew: Um, you know, Libby has been fun. I feel like my connection with her is a little bit different than, like, my connection with you.

Ashley: Yeah.

Andrew: I feel like we have, like, just… I don't know, it's like very calming, very chill. And then me and Libby, our banter is like a little bit more, you know, fun and playful and that. But, I don't know, I'm just

Ashley: Two opposite sides.

Andrew: Two… two opposite sides, you know.

[laughter] 

Ashley: I can be like a little more quiet around you.You sometimes make me a little nervous.

Andrew: Why do I make you nervous? That's like the… That's the second time I've heard this. 

Ashley: Um… Your personality is very, like, smooth in, like, a good way, not like a…Not like a cheesy, weird way. Not like a cheesy, bad way. Um, and I think that I always get nervous around, like, guys I have interest in anyways. Um, so, like, I'm a big words of affirmation person. So the more, like, a person tells me how they're feeling, especially about me and about the situation, the more, like, my walls come down faster. Because I do, like… I have a lot of love to give. I haven't been in love but one time. Um… And so I've been, like, you know, waiting to give it to someone. I just haven't been able to find them.

Andrew: Do you mind me asking what happened that one time? 

Ashley: Um… yes. I don't mind, no. [laughs]

Andrew: I'm like, "Okay. God, he must've really hurt you." 

Ashley: No. Uh, this is kind of a long story, but I guess it's probably something you should know too that might change your perspective about me.

Andrew: Okay.

Ashley: Um… and it's okay if it does. Uh… You just have to be transparent.

Andrew: Okay.

Ashley: I haven't told anyone else here this. Oh boy. Um… So, um… I… am a virgin that has been waiting for marriage. And, um, I get that's different. I get that's probably weird. Um… I understand it's not for everyone. I don't expect the person I'm with to have done that either. This is a very personal choice I made when I was younger, and it ties to the romantic side of me. I've been writing in a journal since I was 16 to the person that I'm gonna be with. Um, so for me, I wanted to give this one part of me to just one person. Um… And so my ex thought he could handle it, and he couldn't. And the hard part for me was that he called me selfish for doing it when the reason I did it was to kind of show as an act of love. Um… So that would be why. That would be the different thing about me. And probably, you know, one of the reasons maybe why I am single. Uh, some guys are okay with it. Some guys aren't. I just hope the person that I end up with can understand the why and respect the why and know that, like, ultimately, it was for them. Wow. So you don't have to say anything. You can ponder it. 

Andrew: Well, I mean, first off, thank you for, like, sharing that. I'm sure that wasn't easy to share and definitely, you know, it takes a lot of courage to share something like that. Like, you seem like a very sweet, a very sincere, um, woman with a very, very good head on her shoulders. And… yeah. 

Ashley: You… so you could possibly, you don't have to know definitive answer, but be okay with that? 

Andrew: I could be okay with that.

Ashley: Okay.

Andrew: I don't feel any type of way about that. I think if anything, I think it shows how strong of a person you are. And you should be proud of yourself. 

Ashley: Thank you. Thank you for reacting the way you did. Just that, it's not always a good reaction I've gotten. 

Andrew: Well, I'm sorry that you haven't gotten good reactions. 

Ashley: That's okay. It's honesty. Okay. That's all I need for now. All right. 

Andrew: Good. Oh, dropping bombs on me. 

Josh: I would love to read you a little poem that I wrote. 

Lauren: All right. 

Josh: I'm having fun with you, Lauren But it's more than just a vibe When we talk, it drops in deep You meet me past the tribe You've walked your own wild journey You've danced with love and loss You're not afraid of mystery You don't need to play the boss A natural empath, grounded and free You move with heart and grace You believe in aliens above

[Lauren laughs] 

You also hold this space I appreciate your presence It gives me calm within the storm You laugh, your smile You rise above the norm

[Josh chuckles]

You've tested open-hearted love You've let attachments go With you, I feel something real Something I want to grow Oh my gosh. [laughs]

Lauren: Thank you.

Josh: Mmm. So the big reveal. [chuckles] I want to see if I'm right.

Lauren: Oh, you're guessing? Okay. Go ahead.

Josh: 46.

Lauren: Stop it. I'm 47.

Josh: Whoo!

Lauren: I had a feeling.

Josh: You had a feeling I was 46?

Lauren:  Mmhmm.

Josh: You knew the whole time?

Lauren: I had a feeling we were the same age. Oh yeah, I figured… I kind of thought we were a similar age too, as well. That is crazy.

Josh: Amazing.

Lauren: Yeah.

Brian: Should I try doing a headstand?

Vickie: I need to see it.

Brian: All right. Wait, let's bet on it. If I do it, what do I get? 

Vickie: Another date. Okay. Yes, boo. Yes! Whoo! You get another date! Yes!

Brian: Your turn.

Vickie: No, I can't even do that on the ground. 

Isaiah: I really tried to come into this experience without expectations, but also had the thought that I would connect with somebody a little bit older because of the maturity and depth aspect. It's gonna be dangerous, but we got it.

Elise: I think I'll be good.

Isaiah: Okay. But with Elise, I've realized that maturity and depth isn't, you know, necessarily about age. You know, and… and she has such a deep substance about her, and she, um, has a beautiful spirit about her that I feel like really entices me to want to grow with her.

Isaiah: Come on. No, not too fast.

Elise: I was trying to go, like About to have us try like a speedboat. All right.

Isaiah: Look how beautiful this is, though.

Elise: I know, it's so nice. Here we go. Every time I'm with him, it just is so natural. I'm so comfortable. I don't feel awkward or shy. How you feeling?

Elise: I feel good. I'm happy I'm finally on a date with you.

[chuckles] Me too.

Elise: This is all I've been wanting. Yeah. It's crazy that I've even made such a genuine and authentic connection so soon in this type of environment. I have not, like, clicked with someone like this in a minute. Like, it's been a while, and it just, like, feels nice.

Isaiah: Oh, for real.

Elise:  Honestly, I think Isaiah does feel the same way. I'mma be bold and say it. I think he does. This is so beautiful, though.

Isaiah: I say we just go. Just…Just go. Go our own way, and they never see us. Although the idea of being with someone who, you know, is a bit, you know, younger, around my age, um, is something that, you know, scares me, I'd say. And it's something that I kind of might've put on the back burner. You know, when… when you have a connection like I have with Elise, you can't allow those fears to stop you from leaning into that.

Elise: Oh, the sun's coming out. Thank God.

Isaiah: That sun is beautiful, isn't it?

Elise: Oh, it feels so nice. When I look at her, I'm like, I see a… a real partner. You know, somebody I can really commit to and… and take on this journey. 

Isaiah: We locked in.

Elise: I love that you say that.

Isaiah: We locked in.

Elise:We locked in.

Isaiah: I'm serious.

Elise: Heck yeah.

Isaiah: I'm serious.

[song] ♪ I want to know the tea ♪

♪ I want to know the tea ♪

[laughter]

Angel: Okay, seriously.Like, what's going on with you? I've been dying to know what is going on with you and Andrew. You were feeling some type of way, and I want an update, please.

Ashley: Oh, so… It's been years since I've had feelings.

Elise: Feelings like butterflies, feelings like…

Ashley: Any kind of interest. Like, I can one and done a date and not think twice about it. I can go out for a couple of times with a guy.

Angel: Not the one and done. Yes. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. On to the next. 

Ashley: I just turned off my feelings for so long, and with him, I've, like, started to feel again, which is like…It's a little scary.

Elise: So scary. Isn't that crazy? Like you would think that this experience, like how deep can you get into it?

Angel: Yeah.

Elise: You can get pretty, like…You can get so deep.

Ashley: I know. And I didn't… [sighs] There's something in my story I haven't told anyone yet. And I told him, and I'll tell you guys. Um… I am, um… I'm a virgin, and I'm waiting for marriage.

Angel: Oh wow.

I love that. That's good. I love that.

Elise: Thank you.

Ashley: It's like, I know it's different.

EliseWow. 

Ashley: But, like, this is, like, my journey, what I felt like was best for me. Yeah. And it's become a really hard topic when I'm dating. It's like one of those things where I don't want to tell him too soon and they start to judge me and, like, paint this picture of who they think I am. Like, I'm still a fun person. I still like to go out. I like to have fun. I like to do all these things. I think when people think of a virgin, they have this like preconceived notion.

Elise: Like grandma or something.

Ashley: Yeah. Um, so, like, it's a hard conversation to have, and I don't have it a ton. I just have it, like, when I've hit the point of, like, "Okay, I have real feelings for this guy." Yeah. And I actually told him on our hiking date. He could tell I was nervous.

Elise: That says a lot.

Ashley: And he put his hand on my leg and put his arm around me. He was like, "It's okay." And, like, I've never had a guy worry about me. And he reassured me and comforted me and just worried about me. And I've just... 

Angel: You're making me tear up.

Ashley: I'm sorry.

Ashley: No, you're making me tear up because to feel seen and to feel…To feel safe.…validated and safe enough to say how you really feel is... Especially with a man, because if… Yeah, a lot of men wouldn't take that, like… They'd be like, “What?” I've had them laugh in my face. Some guys are like, "I can handle this." Some guys like, "I could never do that." Some guys, like, "I need some time to think." But they're always like, you know, "What's this mean for me?" You know, "How's this making me feel?" And, like, for him to just go straight to, like, wanting to make sure I was okay…

Angel: Yeah.

Ashley: …I've just never experienced that before. And so, in that moment, that just, like… It just flipped for me. Now I feel like my heart is so in it with him, which is scary. And maybe now that he's had time to think about it, maybe it won't work for him. And that's okay. But, like, honestly, just the positive reaction he had makes me feel, like, hopeful again. There's still good guys out there who actually… yeah. Because I've had so many negative reactions to it, so.

Elise: I'm proud of you for just being you.

Angel: Yeah, that's huge. 

Ashley: I appreciate you girls listening to my story and being so open and understanding. It's not always easy to share just because of the preconceived judgments and stuff. Thanks for sharing it with us. I love that you were comfortable.

Elise: Love you.

Ashley: I love you guys a lot. This has been an amazing experience…Yes. …with all of you. You know, uh, I definitely want to take that next step. Um, it feels right. It scares me, but I've learned not to run from fear, but to lean into it.

Oh. [chuckles]

Isaiah: I'm here. You're so sweet. I'm like, you just took the words out of my mouth, honestly. Like… Same. Like, I came here with no expectations, but then also like, okay, like being open-minded, thinking, "Okay, like, maybe I will get with someone older," but I'm like, once I just met you and we were talking at that mixer, I'm just like, no, it was you. I'll go first. Wait. [nervous laughter] And then we'll talk about it, and then you can tell me.

Elise: Yeah.

Isaiah: Okay, um… I'm 26.

[Elise gasps]

Elise: Really?

Isaiah:Yeah.

Elise: Oh my God.

Isaiah: I'm 26. Mm.

Elise: Okay. Nice.

Isaiah: How do you feel about that? 

Elise: I feel like, honestly, that's like right up my alley, to be honest. 

Isaiah: Like I… I could tell-- Honestly, I couldn't even tell.

Elise: You already know mine? Yeah. I'm 40. No, I'm kidding.

[Elise laughs]

Elise: I was about to… No, I'm playing. I'm 23.

Isaiah: Oh. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, you're older than I thought. I thought you were like 21, 22. Yes.

Elise:Really? Do I… 

Isaiah: No, just 'cause when you had mentioned being in school and stuff like that, I just assumed. Dang, 23?

Elise: Yeah.

Isaiah: I feel like that's kind of perfect.

Elise: I know. I feel like that's right there.

Lindsey: Let's do it.

[laughter]

David G: Awesome.

Lindsey: Awesome. And yeah, and I don't enter a connection with someone if I don't see, like, the potential of it growing. And so I definitely value just spending time with you, and I'm excited to get to know you more and make that commitment as well. Amazing.

David G: Is it going on?

Lindsey: I don't know.

David G: Now that we've made this step, I think maybe it would be a good time to reveal my age.

Lindsey: Go for it.

David G:You openminded?

Lindsey: Let's do it.

David G:All right. I am thirty… nine.

Lindsey: Okay. I am 24.

David G: Amazing.

Lindsey: Yeah.

David G: Okay, I was off by two years.

Lindsey: Really? [laughs]

David G: I had a pretty good guess in my mind.

Brian: Well, are we ready for this?

Vickie: Yeah.

Brian: Let's do it.

Vickie: Let's go. 

Brian: Age has never been an issue. Um, for me, it's all about a person's spirit, their vibe, sort of their morals and what they truly stand for is what's most attractive quality of a person. It doesn't really matter their age. 

Vickie: The last couple of days, um, and time that we've spent together, you know, what I've seen so far as a woman who, um, is displaying all the characteristics that I am genuinely attracted to. I've dated a lot of younger guys just because I felt like their energy was more of my energy. And this came at the right time. I didn't expect to find someone that I could maybe see a future with. Well, you check all the boxes for me. I would like to give you this promise ring.

Brian:  Oh my gosh. I'll let you put that on there.

Vickie: Thank you.

Brian: And I want to give you a first kiss.

Vickie: I don't have any doubts. Like… [laughs] I think we're gonna be like the role model healthy couple.

[Brian laughs]

Vickie: I really do. I think maybe we should know each other's age by now. 

Brian: Oh, right, right, right. Hello. [laughs] I am 48 years old.

Vickie: Okay.

Brian: Yeah.

Vickie: All right.

Vickie:  I love that. 

Brian: How old did you think I was? 

Vickie: Um, like… Girls were just guessing.

Brian: Okay.

Vickie: And so… we guessed it, like… I guessed early fifties.

Brian: Oh, okay.

Vickie: But not because you look early fifties. Um, I am forty…

Brian: [laughter]

Brian: Forty?

Vickie:…four.

Brian:  44?

Vickie:Yes.

Brian: Oh, wow. Wow.

Vickie: Yes.

Ashley: How you feeling?

Andrew: I'm in my feels a little today.

Ashley: What's going on? 

Andrew: Um, well, I've been thinking a lot about our conversation the other day.

Ashley: Okay. 

Andrew: I can't tell you, like, how much, like… what it makes me feel for you to, like, confide in me and, like, trust me to, like, tell me something like that.

Like…

Andrew: Yeah. Just after, you know, not spending that much time together. If anything, it just, like, shows me what, like, I already knew about you. That, like, you were and are, like, a strong woman. You're very disciplined, as I can see.

Ashley:  [giggles] Yeah. Yeah. 

Andrew: And honestly, like, that's nothing that would ever alter, like, my decision and, like, with a connection or a relationship. If anything, it, like, makes me feel, like, more connected to you, that you would share something like that with me. 

Ashley: I feel like your reaction to that conversation was the best reaction I've ever had. And I can't tell you, like, how much that meant to me. And no matter, like, where this goes or what decisions you make, I just want you to know how much that meant to me. I'm not really good at, like, expressing my feelings. I usually just keep them in, uh, out of, like, fear. But I kind of just want you to know where I'm standing right now. Um… Like, for here, like, you're it for me. Um, and I'm not, like… I guess it's I go with you or I go home kind of thing. I just want to walk away with this knowing that, like, you know exactly how I feel. And… that's how I feel. It's a big deal for you to figure out what you want. It is. 

Andrew: Um… You know, I do want to be transparent about, like, where I'm at as well. Um… I have been spending a lot of time with someone else, as I'm sure you know.

Ashley: Yeah. It's okay. 

Andrew: And I do feel like there's, like, a connection there that has, like, grown. Um… It's okay. And… And I think, like, where I'm at is like I want to, like, see where that goes. I get it. But, like, I…

Andrew:  I really just want you…

Ashley: It's okay, you don't have to… 

Andrew: I know I don't have to, but, like, I want to. Like, I want you to know that, like, I think you're an amazing woman. And any guy here would be lucky to have you. And, like, I truly mean that. I get it. I appreciate that. I wish you two the best. It sucks for me, but happy for you. You deserve to find love, no matter who it's with.

Andrew: You okay?

Ashley: Mmhmm.

Andrew: You sure?

Ashley: Mmhmm.

Andrew: You want to hug it out?

Ashley: Sure. Come here. Good luck with everything.

Ashley:  As much as it hurts, I'm glad that, like, I told him how I felt. It's made me realize, like, I do deserve a big love, and I do deserve someone that's gonna make me feel safe and chosen. And… [sniffles] I want that. It's not him, but maybe it'll be the next one, I guess.

[inhales deeply]