“Bachelor in Paradise”: Blake's 'Worst Nightmare' Comes to Life as Katie Arrives on the Beach (Exclusive)

Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes split in October 2021, three months after their engagement aired on 'The Bachelorette' season 17 finale

Blake Moynes is living his “worst nightmare” on Bachelor in Paradise.

In PEOPLE's exclusive sneak peek at Thursday’s episode of the ABC dating series, Blake comes face-to-face with his ex-fiancée Katie Thurston for the first time since their split in October 2021.

“I was in love with this girl. I have not seen her in two years,” he says. “It's kind of the worst nightmare.”

Related: Katie Thurston Says 'Bachelor in Paradise' Was the 'First Time' She Spoke to Ex Blake Moynes After Split

When she arrives on the beach, Katie introduces herself, saying, “If you don't know me, I am Katie. I was a past Bachelorette. I'm going to pull Blake aside and we'll chat a little bit.”

Fellow castmate Mercedes Northup shares that Katie’s arrival will be “hard” for Jess Girod.

“I mean, they're literally in a relationship and in comes your ex-fiancée,” she says of Jess and Blake.

During their one-on-one conversation, Katie admits she is "shaking" while Blake says he is “soaking this in.”

“I am sorry that things went the way they did,” she says. “If I could go back and redo it all, I would.”

He responds, “[You’re] throwing me for a loop right now.”

In a confessional, Blake admits Katie’s arrival “adds more confusion to the confusion.”

Related: Rachel Recchia Comes to 'Bachelor in Paradise' for a 'Second Chance' and Katie Thurston Encounters Ex Blake Moynes

In August, Katie revealed that filming the ninth season of Bachelor in Paradise was the exes' first reunion. She confirmed that seeing Moynes on the beach was their "first time seeing/speaking since we split 1.5 years ago."

"Can’t say much more for now," she added of their reunion, which Bachelor Nation first learned when a first look at the new season dropped.

Related: Kat Izzo Drops a Bomb That Threatens Eliza Isichei and Aaron Bryant's Bachelor in Paradise Relationship

Upon arriving on the beach in the teaser, Thurston told host Jesse Palmer, "I don’t think Blake’s going to be happy that I’m here."

Moynes later said of his ex's surprise appearance: "I don’t think there’s a worse scenario."

In another post on her Instagram Story, Thurston — who dated another contestant from her season, John Hersey, for six months following her breakup with Moynes — offered some more clarification on her role in the upcoming season of Paradise.

“I was NOT invited to get closure 👀,” she shared in response to a follower who compared her arrival to that of Kendall Long, who arrived on the beach when her ex-boyfriend, Joe Amabile, had taken major steps in his budding relationship with his now-wife, Serena Pitt.

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Bachelor in Paradise airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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