Ashley Darby Makes Surprising Confession About Growing Her Family: “Have To Be Realistic”

The Real Housewives of Potomac cast member noted one contrast between her and the "younger guys" staying at Bravo's Love Hotel.

Ashley Darby may be looking for love at Bravo’s Love Hotel, but she also wants people to know where she stands when it comes to having more children.

The mother of two from The Real Housewives in Potomac made a bold claim in Season 1, Episode 3 of the dating show while chatting with Rhode Island I.T. Director Wale at a group dinner. Things between the two were a little unsteady, largely because she feared committing to Wale too early on, Ashley said.

“Now we’re getting to the root of a lot of this,” Wale observed. He wondered if Ashley was holding back, to which she said she was trying to be “sensible.”

When asked further, Ashley confessed she tends to “dive right in” to relationships, which “hasn’t always fared well” for the recently divorced mother.

“I have to be realistic about everything involved,” Ashley told the 38-year-old bachelor. “You want children; I’m not sure if I wanna have more children ... And I am trying to be more selfish, you know what I mean? So, maybe it’s best just to let it breathe for a sec.”

Ashley has two boys, 5-year-old Dean Darby and 4-year-old Dylan Darby, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Michael Darby.

Wale has eyes for only Ashley

Ashley and Wale during Love Hotel Season 1, Episode 3. Photo: Bravo

Wale said it was “evident” that Ashley didn’t want to like him, purposefully “severing” any chance at a relationship before it could begin. Case in point, Ashley has been spending more time with Love Hotel newcomer Jason, a 37-year-old real estate agent from Washington, D.C.

“I have been spending a lot of time with these younger guys, and neither of them have been married; neither of them have children,” Ashley said in her confessional. “So, some of the experiences that I have, I don’t necessarily think they can understand or even be able to connect with me on.”

Earlier in the dinner, Ashley said her and Wale’s communication lacked a certain “airiness” and “light,” like the kind she found in Jason upon his arrival.

It didn’t go unnoticed by Wale.

“I think I have a genuine connection with Ashley, but I’m still not understanding how to operate in a space where there’s multiple men talking to the person at the same time,” he told producers. “There’s a part of me that’s trying to be respectful, and then there’s a part of me that’s trying to protect myself, but I haven’t figured it out properly.”

Wale said he suspected Ashley was using him as a backup option if she couldn’t find a better suitor to give a key to her heart.

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” she told him.

Ashley expresses interest in Ralph

Ashley during Love Hotel Season 1, Episode 3. Photo: Bravo

Although Wale and Jason seemed to be the top contenders for Ashley’s heart, she dropped a major bombshell later in the evening when saying goodnight to the men. With both romantic interests in the room, Ashley flat-out told Ralph she was interested in him, too.

It’s worth noting, Gizelle Bryant and The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Shannon Storms Beador are already fighting for the Nashville-based single father.

The revelation left all the men — including Ralph himself — stunned.

“I can’t process that correctly,” said a slack-jawed Wale, who couldn’t wrap his head around the age difference between Ashley and Ralph (four years less than the gap between Ashley and ex-husband, Michael Darby).

“I’ve been attracted to Ralph since day one, and I’ve been trying so hard to avert my eyes, like, ‘Don’t look in his direction,’” Ashley admitted. “But maybe I can fix my daddy issues with the right daddy.”

Ralph “never got the memo.”

Read his exclusive interview with Bravo’s The Daily Dish to learn why Ralph was “authentically blown away” by the Housewives fighting over him.