Bachelor in Paradise returned Tuesday for Season 5, but things are already seemingly heating up in the romance department for former flames Colton Underwood and Tia Booth.
Underwood and Booth, both 26, briefly dated before he was cast on The Bachelorette. Prior to this, Booth and Kufrin became close friends while competing for Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s affection on Season 22 of The Bachelor. Underwood, an NFL alum, revealed his former connection with Booth to Kufrin on a June 4 episode of The Bachelorette.
"Prior coming onto this in January, I had a relationship with Tia and I wanted to make sure to explain, sort of, that we had a weekend together," Underwood confessed to Kufrin. "We had a good time but for me, the timing wasn't right to grow what was a spark into a flame. If my feelings were strong enough, I wouldn't have come on this. And I think that, what I know of you, we could have a ton, whereas it wasn't there with her."
Booth initially stepped aside to let Underwood and Kufrin continue their budding romance. She, however, realized how hurt she was by their involvement after the retired San Diego Chargers linebacker introduced Kufrin to his family.
Booth admitted to Kufrin she still had feelings for Underwood. At the time, Kufrin had shared with Booth and their other Bachelor Nation friends that she "could see a future" with him. "When I think about Colton...If I'm being completely honest with myself, I do feel like I still have feelings for Colton," Booth told Kufrin on the July 16 episode. "When I think about Colton being at this point now, it makes me sick in my stomach." Shortly after this reveal, Underwood was eliminated from the competition.
Following the announcement of Booth and Underwood joining the cast of Bachelor in Paradise, the pair drew criticism from fans—and Bachelor alum Beckah Martinez—after leaked pictures of the former flames depicted them on what appeared to be a date in Paradise. After viewing Tuesday's premiere of Paradise, fans quickly learned the duo are open to rekindling their relationship again.
"I obviously want to explore this," Underwood told Booth. "I wouldn't have wasted a [date] card if I didn't want to. I don't want you to think though that it's just going to be so easy. I have to be fair to you. I have to be fair to myself. I'm not closing the door on us. I'm here to figure my s**t out."
This exchange happened after Underwood received a date card upon his arrival. While he ultimately asked out Booth to "clear the air," he pulled aside a Kendall Long and Angela Amezcua prior to speaking with her. Before Underwood arrived, Booth was the recipient of the first date card. She kept declaring her interest in Underwood, but she ultimately asked Kufrin's former flame Chris Randone on a date because she didn't want to "let anyone get in the way" of her finding happiness in Paradise.
In speaking with Newsweek on Tuesday, Underwood said fans would have to "watch Paradise" in order to find out whether he's found love again. Underwood did, however, talk about how being on both The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise has helped him to grow as a person.
"Paradise was full of emotional surprises for me," Colton shared with Newsweek. "I think you're going to see a lot of growth from me as an emotional human being."
Bachelor in Paradise airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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Dory Jackson is a New York-based entertainment journalist from Maryland. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College—in May 2016—with a focus in Communication ... Read more
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