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West Wilson had a near-perfect record in his rookie season ofSummer House.
He started the season unemployed and ended it with his dream job at Complex.
He and Ciara capped their storyline with plans to spend the fall together watching football.
The accolades didnt end onscreen, either.
Then came part one of the reunion.
West admitted to lying to Paige about not sleeping with anyone else over the summer.
Paige accused him of losing interest in Ciara once the DMs started flooding and the cameras went down.
Jesse tried to stand up for his boy, but Ciara swiftly shut him down.
Over the course of the reunion, West went from the casts favorite comic relief to an emotional traitor.
He was physically wincing as he received the ire from his female castmates.
You never want to see someone who you care about get their feelings hurt, he says.
But its not how I thought it played out in real life at all.
After the finale, it felt like you managed to get out of the season drama free.
Paige warned you not to break Ciaras heart.
Ciaras reaction was a lot different than I had interpreted.
When we stopped talking, it felt like a mature conversation.
You both acknowledged that the breakup happened for show-related reasons.
Can you explain that?I didnt word things correctly.
I was trying not to break the fourth wall too hard.
It seemed pretty fun during the season.It was great, but also we werent even hooking up.
It was a very juvenile crush on the show.
How long before the reunion did you last speak to Ciara?Five or six months.
The weirdest thing with this playing out now is it was all last year.
You see how things felt for other people when were already super-far removed.
The backlash you get Ill probably have to turn my phone off tonight.
How was that to hear?Thats hurtful, but we were always on the same page during filming.
It didnt end when she wanted.
And thats not really what anyone wanted to hear.
Has anyone else from the cast come to your defense off camera?Not really.
Its just timing, not a big deal.
Everyones emotions and thoughts about the whole thing funneled into the reunion, but no one hates me.
I still have good relationships with everyone.
This was your first.
It just happened so fast.
Another thing Im learning is that for any perception one person has, someone else has the opposite.
I got scared and chose to go through all of it solo.
Frankly, I did a horrible job explaining.
I dont think I ever actually sat there and told the story from my perspective.
People said what they needed to say, and Ill deal with it now.
I do think one good thing came from this experience.
In the past, when relationships ended, you moved on and only worried about how youre handling it.
This experience opened the door to me to see the effects of these relationships on other people.
When you guys were on the horseback-riding date, you talked about how relationships felt like handcuffs to you.
Ciara and I never got to that point.
So its not like my whole POV on boyfriends and girlfriends really changed.
I mean, what everyone says to me is like, Oh, youll know.
Well see, I guess.
This experience will help me be more intentional about separating things that are important and casual.
She says, Nothings a big deal to you.
Ive had good relationships.
Not taking everything too seriously has been a benefit for me.
But there are points where you cant be that way.
My football coach in college always said your biggest strength is also your biggest weakness.
But when you get in situations where it negatively affects someone else, you should pivot.
Guys in New York have a reputation for always looking for the next best thing.
But no, not in this instance.
We gave it a try; I wasnt there yet.
When it comes down to it, it was two people who didnt work out, which is okay.
I was just in my head about so many things and kind of a bitch about it, honestly.
Well, its a new summer.Dude.
Are you going to head back to the Hamptons for another season?I still dont know.
They didnt tell you yet?
Its June!No, everythings pretty last-minute.
Ask me that question a week from now.
Theres always a chance.
But were on our own paths right now.
Its for the best, and I hope we can be friends at some point.
I just bent over in pain on her behalf.We havent talked in six, seven months.
I should not lead people on if Im not 100 percent.
I need to be 140 percent sure now because I obviously am not going to do that again.
I think the answer should be no, if Ive learned anything.
The show has been therapy in a way.
I already have gotten pretty shitty feedback, and its only going to get worse.
I have no choice but to reflect and realize that not everything is casual, I guess.
We live and learn.
Im dreading the next week, if anyones wondering.
