Bachelor Arie is still gushing over his first date with Becca: ‘I’m so grateful’

Bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr doesn’t hold back when he talks about his first date with Becca Kufrin — was it love at first sight?

Becca Kufrin scored the first one-on-one date of the season last week and she scored major points with Arie. Although she didn’t get the first impression rose on night one, she quickly became a frontrunner by the end of their first date.

With rumors swirling online that Becca is a top contender for the final rose, Arie bolstered those rumors when he wrote about the 27-year-old Minnesota native in his weekly People blog. Although he does mention his other episode 2 dates, most of his blog is centered around Becca.

“She stood out”

“From the moment I met Becca K., I knew she was really sincere about being on this journey,” Arie wrote in his most recent People blog. “Just because I was now Bachelor doesn’t mean I didn’t have insecurities too, and that first night, she made me feel so comfortable. On a night where everyone’s nerves, especially mine, were out of control, she stood out as someone I could be myself around. To me, that’s so important in a relationship. It didn’t hurt that she is also stunningly beautiful.”

Sincere and beautiful. That’s a great start, especially with at least one girl rumored to be on the show for the wrong reasons, finding someone who is actually looking for love is important.

Arie goes on to say that Becca was “humble and gracious and kind” during their first date, and was happy that she had no problem opening up to him about both her father’s passing and her previous relationship.

"“She’s such a strong person … I’m so grateful we learned so much about each other on a first date. It’s moments like those that remind me that this experience can lead to something real and lasting.”"

Whether we’re reading into it or not, Arie clearly has a thing for Becca K. And if she feels the same, she certainly has her work cut out for her this season.

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Although Arie seems to be smitten with Becca, he has confirmed that he fell in love with two girls before filming wrapped in November. (Sounds like Ben Higgins’ season, right?).

“I didn’t know I was capable of that. I’ve never been in that situation, and it was really hard.” Arie told People. “And they were two very different women, and that’s what made it even harder.”

And there’s even more drama ahead for the finale.

If Becca is “the one” it’s sure to be a rocky finish, when the ex-boyfriend of one of Arie’s final two girls shows up to propose to her before the final rose ceremony (spoiler in link).

The finale is going to be a messy one.

Watch The Bachelor on Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.