Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James may not have lived together before their breakup, but they were moving toward serious next steps.
The former “Bachelor” contestant revealed to “Call Her Daddy” listeners Tuesday that she and her ex, who split earlier this month, often spoke about getting engaged and starting a family.
“We talked about family and kids more than anything,” she said while getting emotional. “That sucks more than anything, I think.”
Kirkconnell, 28, explained that she no longer has any “idea what life looks like from here on out” since she has been “picturing these kids that are obviously no longer a thing.”
She added that James, 33, talked to her about rings and “told [her] a few months ago to start saving some” ideas so they could “look at some.”
This felt like a “big deal” to Kirkconnell, as did the former “Bachelor” discussing “wedding food and where we want [a] wedding.”
Kirkconnell said she “used these things to just hold on” to the relationship.
“It’s confusing to look back on now because when we would talk about things, he always seemed like we were on the same page privately and publicly,” she noted. “It’s just one of those things you replay a lot over and over again because the words were there … but the actions obviously were not.”
The graphic designer explained that she “tried to justify” her and James not living together because she “didn’t want to worry” about their status.
“He said he didn’t want to live together until we were married,” Kirkconnell said. “He’s a very religious man, and I was like, ‘That’s OK, I can do that.’
“But at the same time a little confused because we were still traveling together and staying at the same hotel,” she continued. “It was like we were living together. Half of his stuff is still at my place in Georgia right now.”
While James always kept an apartment in Miami or New York, Kirkconnell “was making excuses for” this since one day they hoped to live in multiple places.
The duo fell in love in 2021 on Season 25 of the ABC show — and reconciled after a brief breakup post-finale.
James shocked Bachelor Nation fans on Jan. 16 when he posted a prayer via Instagram revealing the pair’s breakup.
“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he wrote. “Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding.”
While many social media users believed the upload was a prank — considering James posted about Kirkconnell on a London trip hours prior — she and her sister confirmed the split in TikTok comments.
She broke her silence to TMZ Tuesday and clarified that while infidelity did not lead to them calling it quits, there is no chance the couple will get back together.
Kirkconnell said on “Call Her Daddy” that she was “blindsided” by James’ announcement, claiming they broke up in the “heat of the moment” and he blasted the news as she boarded a plane home solo.
