Dating on Southern Charm definitely comes off as a lot more dramatic and complicated than in real life. And that hasn't changed in Season 4, because as viewers have already seen, Shep Rose and newcomer Austen Kroll sure seem to be having a lot of ups and downs with a variety of women. Since Austen's first appearance at the beginning of the season, neither he nor his buddy Rose have shied away from seeing who can get a woman's number first, but while chatting with Bustle over the phone, Southern Charm's Austen Kroll says he doesn't really feel like he and Shep are in competition.
"I don't really view it as a competition, but sometimes with Shep I can definitely tell he'll do something first and be like, 'I'm first again,'" Kroll explains. "It's like he wants people to think that he doesn't care about coming in first or second ... but I would say differently."
That said, Kroll does tease that there may be some type of clash between the two over Cameran Eubanks' friend, Chelsea Meissner, who is already a big part of Season 4. Viewers have met Meissner multiple times, including when Eubanks tried to set her up with Rose. Based on a promo for Monday's episode, it appears Meissner and Rose hit things off, though how serious their relationship becomes remains to be seen.
Before even bringing up Meissner's name during our chat, Kroll cryptically says about himself and Rose, "We really haven't experienced [competition] yet, but lo and behold, we are about to experience that."
Hmm... Could he possibly be referring to himself, Rose, and Meissner? After all, in the Season 4 trailer, Rose says to his good friend, "Let me get this straight. You're seeing Chelsea?"
Kroll wouldn't go into too much detail, but he was kind enough to tease the scene when he first officially meets Meissner in Monday's episode.
"Up to this point, Chelsea and I haven't really had much contact," he says. "I meet her for the first time at a party coming up and Shep is out of town. I get to meet Chelsea and she's a very pretty girl, so you can use your imagination as to where my head is. I definitely enjoy meeting her very much."
As for whether or not they hit it off, Kroll remains mum, but he assures me that when meeting Meissner, he did not do anything he shouldn't have when it comes to his friendship with Rose. "I'm very pro bro code," Kroll confirms. "I definitely believe in it. So, it's definitely going [through] my head [when I meet Chelsea], you know, but in this upcoming episode I'm not doing anything wrong."
He continues, "I'm testing the waters. For all anyone knows, I'm having a friendly conversation with her. So moving forward, maybe that's something to be discussed, but I'm doing nothing wrong at the moment. I'm very conscious of bro code, though, so I will say that."
As for Meissner, let's all remember that Rose and Kroll can compete all they want, but it's really up to her who she wants to hang out with or date, and I'm sure we'll be hearing more from her side of things as the show goes on.
Who knows what's to come between these friends, but Kroll says that he and Rose are still very close today — he even calls them "two peas in a pod." Kroll says of his relationship with Rose post-Season 4, "I think that Shep and I's relationship has kind of maintained its course. We are pretty close. He is by far the person that I see the most. We see each other a couple times a week."
It's good to know that these two don't let foolish games come between their friendship. As for what viewers will see from them throughout the remainder of the season, well, they'll just have to keep watching to find out.
Southern Charm airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
