He was a pet portrait entrepreneur. She was an executive assistant at a disaster consulting firm. Can I make it any more obvious?

In other words that can’t be sung to the tune of an Avril Lavigne song, if Bachelor in Paradise has one shot at a lasting romance two episodes into Season 10, it’s between Spencer Conley and Jess Edwards.

After four new women hit the beach, Paradise Season 10, Episode 2 introduced a “diabolical” Kiss and Don’t Tell booth designed to test contestants’ chemistry. The challenge gave Paradisers a chance to swipe right or left on fellow their peers. And if two contestants matched, they were brought to a kissing booth for a private smooch sesh that they could choose to keep secret. Many took advantage of the free pass to cheat, experiment, and confirm mutual physical attraction. But Jess and Spencer? They took the opportunity to confirm that they only had eyes for each other.

“For me, I only wanted to kiss one guy. So it was an easy choice,” Edwards, who was on The Bachelor Season 28, told Decider over Zoom. “I obviously was hoping that Spencer only picked me, but at the end of the day, it was just the second week there. I would have been understanding if he swiped on other women. But he didn’t! And that was an amazing feeling.”

In my opinion, the early loyalty speaks volumes about Jess and Spencer’s potential. Another couple — Lexi Young and Justin Glaze — also opted for a single kiss in the challenge, but thanks to a jaw-dropping rose ceremony twist, they’re no longer on solid ground by the end of Episode 2…

“It was written on everyone’s face. We all were in shock. No one expected that to happen,” Edwards said of the unexpected cliffhanger, which will carry into Episode 3 on Tuesday.

In addition to all the drama we’ve seen thus far, Edwards chatted with Decider about the highly-anticipated Golden arrivals, fan-girling over her lookalike Hannah Brown, how that big bag of cash will impact the show, and of course, her solid relationship with Spencer.

DECIDER: After Joey’s season, I was so happy to see you enjoying these first few days in Paradise drama-free. There was that brief love triangle, though. Sam M. got a bad rep from Jenn’s season. So did you get the sense he had grown since then? And why did you ultimately decide Spencer was the better choice for the rose? 

JESS EDWARDS: Yeah. Going into Paradise, the last thing I wanted to do was pre-judge anyone, because they could do the same for me. All of the conversations I had with Sam were great. He is a great guy. I didn’t see any sort of red flags or anything. That was not the case at all. I think at the end of the day, it came down to who I had the better connection with. And that was Spencer.

Yes! We love matcha. 

[Laughs] I love matcha, too! I really do.

I’m sure as a contestant it’s so interesting to watch the edit when you finally see these episodes. What was it like hearing the things Spencer said about you to the camera and seeing how hard he spiraled when you were on that date?

Honestly, I was laughing the whole time. I’m like, “That’s so funny.” Because during the date, I was thinking about him. And I was like, “Oh my gosh, I hope he’s OK back home!” That’s where my mind was. And to see that he was obviously stressing a little bit the whole time I was gone was funny, and also a little flattering as well. 

This season features new challenges and chemistry tests, and Episode 2 delivers the “diabolical” Kiss and Don’t Tell booth. What were the vibes like that day? Were you worried the girls would secretly swipe right on Spencer? Or that he could be open to kissing someone else? 

First of all, the challenge was so shocking. We were like, “What is this?!” It was a great opportunity — especially the girls that just arrived — but for me, I only wanted to kiss one guy. So it was an easy choice. I obviously was hoping that Spencer only picked me, but at the end of the day, it was just the second week there. I would have been understanding if he swiped on other women, but he didn’t! And that was an amazing feeling. 

I love that you not only apologized to your family, but to your boss as well, for your big smoochie poo. It’s so easy to forget that people’s colleagues watch these shows. [Laughs] Have you gotten any premiere feedback from your boss? Do they approve of Spencer? 

[Laughs] Oh, yeah, she was literally texting me during Episode 1 and she’s like, “Sam, no! Spencer, yes! I can just tell!” And I’m like, “Oh my gosh!” 

One of the most egregious Paradise players we’ve seen so far is Brian, who fully dropped Zoe for Parisa in Episode 2. What were your thoughts on that situation and the way he handled it?

Paradise is really hard. I will say, navigating this Bachelor world in general is very hard. So I think he definitely could have went about it in a more respectful way. Zoe definitely deserved more conversations, but we each have our individual experience. And if he felt like he didn’t owe her more than what he gave her, then that is his journey. But coming from being friends with Zoe, and seeing it from her side, and putting myself in her shoes, I would have wanted more conversations. He just kind of was like, “Hey! OK, bye!” And she’s like, “What the heck? How did this happen?” She even said it herself: “This switch-up is crazy.”

Obviously we have to talk about Justin completely blindsiding Lexi and offering his rose to his ex, Susie. Were you all genuinely shocked by that? I know Lexi is your girl, so what was going through your head at that moment? 

I think my first initial thought was like, “Oh my god, now my best friend in here is going home!” I don’t want her time to get this cut short. So that was my initial reaction. I’m like, “Oh my god.” And then I’m, like, “Are you OK?” And then next thought was definitely like, “What does this mean?” And I can only speak for myself here. But I was like, “Does he want to be with [Susie], or is he offering it to give her more of a chance? What is going on?” And it was written on everyone’s face. We all were in shock. No one expected that to happen.

At the end of Episode 2, there’s a dramatic Episode 3 teaser that shows Justin walking off set. What can you say about the rose ceremony aftermath we’ll see on Tuesday night?

Oh my goodness, one thing that I will say: When you think you know what’s gonna happen, you don’t. 

Next week the Golden contestants are also hitting the beach. How did their presence impact Paradise‘s dynamic and were there any Golden guys or gals who you got particularly close with?

Yeah, oh my gosh. The Goldens coming in was like a breath of fresh air. It was literally like the energy that we all needed after a week of drama, because they come in, and they are so happy to be there. They’re getting their drinks ready. They’re already dancing. They’re coming in hot. And I think it’s definitely what we needed. I love them so much. I really bonded with Kathy, and Leslie, and Keith. I love them so much, but they’re all amazing.

One of my favorite things about you and Spencer is that every so often during a dramatic scene, they’ll cut to you guys having a small, wholesome moment, like, “I love your freckles.” [Laughs] Or we’ll see you together in the background laughing in the pool. Since the drama-free couples don’t always get the most screen time, is there anything you wish people at home got to see more of?

I think we really we hit the ground running and honestly opened up about a lot of things, like our family, how we grew up, so many different things that like you usually don’t cover so early on. We were able to do that, and it was so nice feeling so comfortable with someone right off the bat. Also, our inside jokes are just so funny. I mean, on Day 1 we literally saw a lizard and called it our love child. [Laughs] So that was insane, but just funny. 

I read that you’re obsessed with Dr. Pepper Zero. And everyone knows Spencer is a Diet Coke worshiper. Was a point of contention between you two, or have you expanded each other’s soda palates?

[Laughs] I’m actually going to spill a secret of his right now. He actually loves Dr. Pepper Zero just as much as Diet Coke.

Oh my gosh, he just has to keep up his personal brand?

Yeah, he’s like, “I can’t be name dropping all these different sodas.” [Laughs]

So many people think you look like Bachelor Nation icon/Paradise Relations head Hannah Brown. What was it like finally getting to meet her?

I am not going to lie. I fan-girled so hard when she walked in. I was like, “Hannah, I just have to say, I love you.” And she’s probably like, “Who is this little girl? Why is she fan-girling over me so hard?” [Laughs] No, she’s so sweet. And I got the opportunity to speak with her and get advice during my decision-making, which was really, really nice. Because she’s been in that situation tenfold. 

By far the biggest twist this season is Jesse offering a choice between half a million dollars or love at the end of the journey. What can you tease about the impact that has on the show and the couples involved?

Well, Nicole. It may have been a shock to me, too. How do we know if I’m there? [Laughs] But I think that people didn’t expect it. They already haven’t expected so much on Paradise Season 10. So seeing that teaser, even I was like, “Whoa. What? That’s insane.” 

I know the answer is “not much,” but what can you tease about your and Spencer’s relationship?

I think that even in Episode 2, you can see we’re not in the drama at all. We’re just kind of in the background, which is so nice, because we had so much time to really dig in deep from the get-go. It’s just really exciting. 

To frame the tease another way, I remember your Bachelor bio saying you’re a huge Taylor Swift fan. So what’s one song that you feel encapsulates your Paradise experience? 

Yes! Oh my gosh, right off the bat, I’m just going to say, “Love Story.”

Oh, that’s perfect — especially because I asked Hannah Brown to sum up the season in three Taylor songs, and verbatim, she started the same way.

[Laughs] No way! We need a compilation!

This interview was edited for length and clairity.

Bachelor in Paradise Season 10, Episode 3 premieres Tuesday, July 15 at 8:00 p.m. on ABC with next-day streaming on Hulu.