Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty (2)
Before news broke of Tom Sandoval’s affair withRaquel Leviss, theSchwartz & Sandy’sowner confessed to his best friend and business partnerTom Schwartzthat he and now-ex-girlfriendAriana Madixenjoyed letting their eyes wander “all the time.”
The Toms, both 40, were celebratingBrock Davies' bachelor party in Mexico on Wednesday’s episode ofVanderpump Ruleswhen Sandoval was encouraging Schwartz tomove on already amid his divorcefromKatie Maloney.
“I think Schwartz needs to start putting himself out there. Meeting other women,” he said in a confessional. “It’ll help him get over his marriage faster.”
“It doesn’t,” responded Sandoval. In fact, he added, “Me and Ariana check girls out all the time — and guys.”
Before he could comment on Sandoval’s remark (which wasn’t entirely shocking considering Madix, who is bisexual, once got the green light from Sandoval to enjoy a vehicular hookup with costarLala Kentwhile he drove them around Los Angeles), Schwartz did double-take and questioned if Raquel, 28, was one of the ladies they were watching.
It turned out not to be the pageant queen, but Sandoval askedSchwartz: “Do you wish it was?”
“I can’t explain it, she’s beautiful,” Schwartz admitted.
Sandoval assured him, “It’s OK. I get it.”
Nicole Weingart/Bravo (3)
The events of Wednesday’s episode took place months before the cast learned that Raquel had been having amonths-long secret relationshipwith Sandoval — abombshellthat ended the bar owner’snine-year relationshipwith Ariana, 37.
But before the “Scandoval,” it seemed Schwartz had finally worked up the nerve to take action Raquel — not only because of Scandoval’s urging, but also because of a disastrous dinner with Katie.
Raquel had come at the request of bride-to-beScheana Shayto inform Katie that she and Kristina weren’t allowed to lounge in certain areas within the hotel since they were not attending thewedding festivities.
“It’s just so rich that Raquel is gonna tell me not to do something,“said Katie, who’d been either yelling or sobbing about Raquel’s flirtation with her ex all season. “The self-awareness is just so lacking all over this place.”
After telling her castmate that she will do as she pleases, Katie then said of Raquel, “What a dumbass, dude. I feel bad for her.”
Katie Maloney, Tom Schwartz and Raquel Leviss.Tommy Garcia/Bravo
Later on, Raquel would get under Katie’s skin even more after Scheana, 37, asked Schwartz if he was going to make out with anybody at her wedding. Raquel asked, “Can I join this conversation?”
“I can literally see Raquel’s ears perk up at the sound of Schwartz saying he’s gonna make out with someone,” Ariana snarked in a confessional. “Like,Here she is!”
“This is a romantic table. Raquel, what is this? Are you seducing me?” Schwartz asked her.
“Why, do you feel seduced?” Raquel quipped.
“A little bit actually,” Schwartz admitted.
Arturo Holmes/WireImage; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
As Schwartz and Raquel inched ever closer toward each other, and giving in to temptation, Brock could be heard in the distance yelling for them to make out. Despite making the situation more awkward, it also spurred Schwartz to action.
“Schwartz!” Raquel squealed. “When did you come to this realization?
“Raquel, you’re f—ing gorgeous. You’re beautiful,” he said. “It was never even a thing. Katie made it a thing and now you’re forbidden fruit.”
Raquel agreed, “She made it more of a thing than anything, and now I just can’t stop thinking about it.”
In a confessional interview, she shared, “There’s a lot of things that attracted me to Schwartz. He is so sweet, kind. Love his sense of humor. My attraction for Schwartz definitely outweighs my desire to be friends with Katie.”
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
After her affair with Sandoval became public knowledge, Raquel claimed the kiss had been organic — not simply a calculated distraction from her involvement with the other Tom.
“I genuinely had an interest in Tom Schwartz and there’s a genuine curiosity there, soit wasn’t a cover-up,” she insisted.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Vanderpump Rulesairs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
source: people.com
