I wonder if maybe he didn't even think Naley would stick. He was throwing them out there just to see. Fan response was off the charts so he knew he had to go with them. Maybe he didn't want to? He might have figured they were only short term to get the desired frustrated response from Lucas. But then again, he did say the actors had chemistry. Of course he could still say that and not put his heart and soul into them. Who knows. It's just very clear his heart and soul was all about Leyton, not really Naley, and certainly not Brucas. He didn't even try with Brucas which is why it's so comical to me people thought Brucas had a shot. Every scene he wrote for Brucas was all about not meant to be, unhealthy, never lasting, superficial, all about sex, lack of emotional connection.