The Bachelorette winner Tino Franco has revealed if he's still in love with Rachel Recchia and would ever consider appearing on a future The Bachelor spinoff, like Bachelor in Paradise.
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But Rachel revealed on The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose, which aired in late September, that she called off her engagement and split from Tino in August because he had been unfaithful to her and failed to fully explain himself or offer a sincere apology for the other relationship, which allegedly climaxed with a kiss.
"I really, really loved Rachel through the whole process," Tino told Nick Viall during a recent episode of "The Viall Files" podcast, "and I still think about her every day."
Tino revealed, "It's just after everything that has transpired, I think the best way to put it is -- I've moved on."
When recalling The Bachelorette environment, Tino said, "We really, really fell extremely in love and it was something beautiful that I haven't experienced, like, that unique style of love, because this is the most unique situation ever."
"But I think real life plays a huge role in that," he continued, "and I think there is somebody who is just more compatible for her out there, and that guts me even two months after the breakup. "
Tino, however, insisted he'll never forget Rachel and will always be there for her.
"I mean, if she ever needed something and needed to call me, I'd always answer," Tino explained.
"I'll always care about her and appreciate our time together, and she set the bar really high for my future fiance. I really appreciate the hell out of her, but I just think it's time to move on."
As for where Tino and Rachel currently stand now, Tino shared how they no longer communicate.
"Rachel and I weren't talking at all [before AFR]. There were no toxic texts or anything, or drunk phone calls, between us after the breakup. We [had] a clean break," Tino revealed.
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RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
Tino said after their split, he did a lot of "self-reflection" and came to the conclusion that Rachel had done so much for him and he really appreciated her impact on his life.
"This is certainly not how I wanted it to end," Tino insisted.
"I wanted to be with her forever, [but I told her] the time we spent together meant so much and still does. Even after AFR, I can still appreciate her setting the bar really high on how a woman can treat somebody in a relationship."
When asked if he'd ever be open to appearing on a Bachelor spinoff again or has totally sworn off Bachelor Nation, Tino replied, "I don't -- I mean, we all saw how sweaty I was, so I'd be in a tough position there."
"But at least at this moment, I really think in Bachelor Nation terms, if it's not Rachel, it's nobody," he said.
"But, you know, we'll kind of see. I think it's kind of how it should be. It's only been two months."
Nick joked about how they'll just give it some time, suggesting producers will probably convince Tino to go on Bachelor in Paradise eventually.
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For Rachel's part, she is still single and not technically dating her The Bachelorette runner-up Aven Jones.
Rachel shared on the "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe" podcast earlier this month how she'd "for sure" and "absolutely" star on The Bachelorette again -- solo -- if she'd be guaranteed to find her person.
"I mean, the thought of doing it again in any capacity is so scary," Rachel told Season 11 The Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe.
But she added, "I do feel like I am in the spot where I do want [to date again], but I'm not, like, on the dating apps... [or] actively going out and trying to date."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
Rachel explained how she just wants a commitment from a man and to be done with dating.
"The fact that I find myself now in the same position [as I was in before The Bachelor], I'm like, 'I don't want to do this.' I wanted to find my person," Rachel lamented.
"I want to get married, I want to start a family. That's where I'm at in my life. I don't want to go back to the streets, and now I'm forced to! Literally!"
Rachel had extremely emotional journeys on Clayton Echard's season of The Bachelor as well as her own The Bachelorette season, which she shared with fellow leading lady Gabby Windey.
Clayton had slept with both Rachel and Gabby and expressed his love for them in the Fantasy Suites, only to brutally dump them -- simultaneously -- for the woman he was supposedly "the most" in love with, Susie Evans.
On The Bachelorette's nineteenth season, Rachel thought she had found her happily ever after with Tino, but the pair broke up during a "Happy Couple" visit in August because Tino had kissed another woman at a bar in July.
"I hope people who have made a mistake like me don't think they're doomed to that fate or to that [identity] because they had a low-character moment," Tino told Nick. "I certainly believe it doesn't mean you're doomed to low character forever."
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Tino also revealed he had locked himself in a bathroom before his After the Final Rose appearance to cry and he initially thought -- after his cheating scandal -- that Rachel wanted to work things out with him.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski