Tough Love N.O.: It’s Southern Ho . . . Down!

Despina and Austin are checking out the view of New Orleans and she admits even if she ever were to get married she would never wear a white dress. He asks if she wants to get married and she tries to sugar coat her fears of commitment, but Austin sees right through her words and calls her out on her phobia. She admits that she can’t imagine relying on a person and then having them walk out on her and leaving her an absolute mess trying to start all over.

Despina: a coward capable of great love.

Austin says he doubts that will happen to her. So sweet! I love how he challenged her and reassures her at the same time. Also, I’m proud of Despina for dropping the tough girl playing the same games as men persona. I hope we finally get to see more of her.

Things are going very well for Shalana and Aubrey. She gets an A+ in body signals 101 as she takes Aubrey’s hand to show her interest. But then she comes on in confessional to tell us that Aubrey is a sweetheart and she is open to him coming into her life because he would be a great influence for her son.

Whoa! Hold your horses, little girl.

You’re doing a great job, but let’s not get the cart before the horse . . . again.

It’s the end of the evening and the girls are saying good-bye to their dates. Most girls are getting departing pecks on the cheek, although I bet Stephanie had a nice lip lock.

Tiffany gets a nose crusher.

Melissa says good-bye to her date and tells us she’s frustrated because she hasn’t yet had a date that she liked.

I’m sure she’ll take her frustration out on the wine.

Yep! At two in the morning, Melissa goes to confessional in a tiara that wasn’t part of her outfit and sobs to the camera that she’s so upset that she hasn’t had a connection with any of her dates and she didn’t like Mike and doesn’t want to see him again.

My predicament is so much worse than oil spills and hurricanes.

What the hell does this girl want??? Considering she’s admitted she’s never even come close to intimacy that would eliminate her virginal state, maybe the problem isn’t with the men she’s meeting – maybe the problem is with her expectations. She says she didn’t feel like she connected with Mike, but I wonder what her definition of a connection is. If she thinks everything should be intense fluttery stomachs and passion the minute she meets a guy she better just get ready for a lifetime of short lived romances. ‘Cause that stuff burns out and once it’s gone, you often realize you have nothing else in common with the man. Wish I could go knock some sense into her bratty head that right now her focus needs to be on finding a nice guy who treats her well and shares some common interests.

It’s hot seat time and I’m wondering if Stephanie will appear looking like her old self. I hated those puffy pink lips that looked like the final accessory she would don every morning.

Although it might be good for her love life if she could leave them on the night stand.

But no. When we finally do get to see her, thankfully, she is still glowing and gorgeous.

Yay! She’s embracing the change. She looks fantastic!

Steve tells the girls that since this week was all about class, the winner was the person who had the most class:

I think she’s going to be one of those boring A students
who never rocks the boat. Cut loose, girl!

As Steve is gushing about how well Shalana did and how she presented her best front, Shalana seems subdued. I don’t know why she doesn’t think she deserves a good guy, but she still seems unconvinced even when Steve expressly says she does. But hopefully Aubrey will convince her otherwise – he seems very nice – and I’m relieved when he rates their date an 8 – not too overzealous and stalker like, but high enough to indicate interest and appreciation.

Damn it, child, stop wearing orange!