Let's get one thing straight. However you may feel or whatever you may think you've seen on television, Southern Charm stars Landon Clements and Thomas Ravenel are just friends. That's something Clements makes very clear when I chat with her about all of those rumors surrounding the two during Season 3 and about Season 4 opening up with Ravenel thinking he and Clements should pursue a relationship.
"I don't want to lead him on. I know he quite fancies me and I just really love him as a friend," she tells me via phone. "I don't want to lead him on, but I don't want to lose our friendship. It's a tricky position to be in, that's for sure."
Basically, not everything is at it appears. As for T-Rav asking out the Trovare (formerly Roam) owner on an official date on Monday's episode, Clements shares what was really going through her mind upon receiving his phone call.
"[There was] just sort of a long quiet pause," she says with a laugh. "I didn't really know what to think, to be honest." Like she explained in the episode, she says, "I already had plans to go to a Phish concert with my sister. We still got together. We had drinks."
Another big reason she didn't want to go on a date with the 54-year-old reality star is because she was technically still dating Drew, who she first introduced to everyone at the beginning of Season 4.
"At the time when Thomas asks me out, I was still kind of seeing Drew, so that was also cause to sort of pause and keep Thomas just in the friend zone," Clements explains. For those interested in her current relationship status with Drew, she notes, "Drew and I are just really good friends right now."
She also stands by the comment she made in an earlier Season 4 episode that Ravenel is too much drama for her. "Absolutely, and it seems like there's more drama in his life every day," Clements says. "I'm just glad I can be there as a friend and he has someone to talk to when he's dealing with all the drama."
When it comes to the rest of the season, Clements says viewers will definitely see more from her and Ravenel, including what sounds like a memorable party hosted by Patricia Altschul. Though, it's not the type of party Clements expected.
"Patricia hosts a beautiful dinner, where I sort of halfway through dinner realize I've walked into the lion's den," she explains. "Patricia has set this whole thing up as a way to get Thomas and I together. I mean, I love how she so passionately gets involved in all of our lives."
You can see a bit of what Clements is referring to in this teaser for next Monday's episode. Yes, there is even prenup talk regarding a potential marriage between the two.
It will be interesting to see what else unfolds with Clements and Ravenel throughout the rest of the season (and how that flash-forward scene with them that opened Season 4 plays out), but keep in mind that today they are nothing more than good friends.
Southern Charm airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.