Southern Charm: Taylor Felt ‘Pushed’ to Hook Up with Austen Because of Their Mutual ‘Brokenness’ (Exclusive)

Taylor Ann Green began to explain why she felt drawn into a relationship with her ex Shep Rose’s best friend, Austen Kroll.

Get a sneak peek at Thursday’s episode in a PEOPLE exclusive Southern charmThe 28-year-old offers a surprising insight to Austen’s ex — and Taylor’s good friend — Olivia Flowers.

When the two friends meet at a restaurant, Olivia, 31, strikes up an awkward conversation by telling Taylor that she heard Jarrett “JT” Thomas grilled Austen, 36, about rumors of an ongoing romance between him and Taylor following their breakup. (Austen and Olivia dated briefly during Season 8 before calling it quits; Taylor and Shep split in February after two years together.)

“Shep was telling me about the guys’ night out, and JT asked questions involving you and Austen — and Shep started to seem a little shaken,” says Olivia Taylor.

Stephanie Diani/Bravo (2)

Taylor is quick to dismiss the rumors: “Nothing is happening and I’m going to put my hand on the Bible. Nothing is happening.”

But that didn’t convince Olivia. “I do not know, [Shep] he said when JT confronted Austen about Austen being, like, speechless. So what exactly is it that Austen is so tongue-in-cheek about?”

‘Southern Charm’ Trailer: Taylor Ann Green’s Relationships With Austen Koll, Shep Rose Cause Chaos (Exclusive)

After some nervous hesitation, Taylor then explains what really happened between her and Olivia’s ex after their relationship.

“After New York, when we were both not in a good place with each of us [exes] — he wasn’t in a good place with you, I wasn’t in a good place with Shep — but we created such a bond in the midst of that vulnerability and that absolute brokenness and the two of us being pushed together by our situations,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘ I mean, Austen, is this something we’re investigating?'”

Taylor Ann Green (left) and Olivia Flowers at BravoCon 2022 in New York.

Todd Williamson/Bravo via Getty

“I said so,” Taylor continues. “I thought, ‘Is this something we need to investigate?'”

“Are you and him together?” Olivia asks, but Taylor remains silent.

‘Southern Charm’s Austen Kroll & Taylor Ann Green ‘Considered Dating’ After ‘Kissing’: Source

In last week’s episode, Shep, 43, began to suspect that there was chemistry and a growing connection between Taylor and Austen. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they both looked at each other like, ‘Let’s just go like this and nobody will ever know,'” he told Craig Conover, adding, “I think it’s fucked up.”

Shep also said in a confessional interview that he saw Austen’s new friendship with Taylor as a way to keep tabs on his ex-girlfriend.

“I kind of see Austen as a life raft between me and Taylor and I get information,” he revealed. “I ask, ‘How is she? What is he up to? Is she happy? How was she last week?’ Because I care.”

Stephanie Diani/Bravo

Taylor recently told PEOPLE what it was like to come face-to-face with Shep again when Season 9 began filming.

“It was the first time we’d seen each other in a while – it was probably a few months – and obviously I found out some things in the meantime and it was quite upsetting,” she said, referring to claims he cheated on her while they were together. were together. “I only wanted to go in there calm, cool and collected, and maybe sad [Shep]but my emotions got the better of me.”

Shep Rose Says Austen Kroll ‘Should’ve Known Better’ Than To Hook Up With Taylor Ann Green (Exclusive)

Taylor also shared with PEOPLE that when her friendship with Austen turned into something more, it “drove a wedge between me and a really good friend [Olivia].”

“I take full responsibility for everything that happened and how I handled the situation and the things I said and how I acted,” she continued. “It was really hard. I think there is a lot of forgiveness to be had. That’s a big thing this year — there’s a lot of forgiveness and tough love.”

Shep, meanwhile, places the blame for the faltering female friendship squarely on Austen.

“She came out and it was hard to swallow,” he told PEOPLE upon learning that Austen and Taylor had gotten involved. “Honestly, I couldn’t help thinking that Austen should have known better. She was vulnerable, she was hurt, and they were very close friends because of me, and he must know better.”

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Southern charm airs Thursdays at 9pm ET on Bravo.

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Source: HIS Education