Lauren Bushnell, the new fiancee of Ben Higgins, tried to protect herself from getting hurt as The Bachelor season unfolded on television. 

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During a joint interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, Bushnell and Higgins discussed how they handled the end of the season since it not only featured their beautiful engagement, but also Higgins being emotionally torn up over being in love with runner-up Joelle "JoJo" Fletcher as well.

Bushnell, a 26-year-old flight attendant from Marina Del Rey, CA, revealed she only watched "bits and pieces" of The Bachelor finale.

"I've taken the approach for the last few episodes of watching mostly just our parts because obviously that's so nice to relive," she explained. "I just don't know if it's necessary to relive the other parts."

Bushnell elaborated that watching scenes on television of Higgins with other women was the toughest part of this whole experience for her and then having to deal with America's scrutiny afterward.

"I think just having to relive things that happened. Things that happened in the past, having to relive that, and then also [people] have a million different opinions about it. But I mean, [Ben] laid everything out for me the day after we got engaged," she said.

Higgins was open with Bushnell about his love for Fletcher the night after he proposed. He also shared tidbits of information with his fiancee to prevent her from being blindsided or hurt at any point while the season was airing on TV.

But Bushnell wasn't devastated to learn about Higgins' love for Fletcher. She always thought Higgins telling two women he loved them during filming was "a possibility."

"So I wasn't shocked initially and I think that day he did get down on one knee and then told me and was just totally honest, I think from that day we really just made a commitment to move forward," Bushnell said.

Higgins and Bushnell shared their engagement news with their parents once the show wrapped. And now that they can be a couple in public, they can't wait to be "normal" off-camera.

"Other than a little nap later, I'm looking forward to just starting a normal life," Bushnell said on GMA. "We've been engaged but secretly for the last few weeks, and so I'm excited to go on a date."

During After the Final Rose, host Chris Harrison was hoping Higgins and Bushnell would wed live on television since the Bachelor had insisted at The Women Tell All he'd "marry her tomorrow" if he could. However, the pair turned down the opportunity.

"We've done this fairly odd the way it is, like let's try to make it as normal as possible from here on out," Higgins reasoned.

As for what's next for the couple following last night's finale, they'll be spending a few days in New York, where Higgins has a "surprise" waiting for his fiancee. He laughed on GMA about how he can't get away from elaborate romantic gestures just yet.

The couple is also navigating a new shared life together, which comes with its challenges and rewards.

"Ben is very much a morning person and I am not so much, so that was just one of those little adjustments that you make when you get engaged," Bushnell said. "Totally livable."

"Lauren makes amazing breakfast sandwiches," Higgins pointed out. "And you don't get that on the show! So it was nice to wake up and have breakfast sandwiches in front of you."


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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