Austen Speculates on Red Flags in Craig and Paige’s Relationship: “Things Are Not as Calm...”

As Austen and Craig repaired their friendship, the beer businessman noticed the couple was "so on opposite sides of the spectrum."They say hindsight is 20/20, but Southern Charm’s Austen Kroll observed in real time that things between Craig Conover and Paige DeSorbo were slightly out of place.

Austen’s realization came soon after the Pillows and Beer podcast hosts had a breakthrough in their friendship following their trip to the Bahamas. The Trop Hop founder visited Craig and Paige after, as seen in Season 10, Episode 14, months before the couple’s split after three years together, and noticed it didn't seem like the couple was on the same page.

“I’m gonna be honest,” Austen said in his confessional. “They are so on opposite sides of the spectrum of life.”

Austen points out signs of trouble in Paige and Craig's relationship 

After months of not having any in-depth conversations (due to trouble in Craig and Austen’s friendship), Paige asked for a status update on Austen’s relatively new romantic relationship with Audrey Pratt. Although Austen and his girlfriend had used “the L-word,” they hadn’t “gotten that far” regarding talks about moving in together.

Austen said, “All [was] well,” and there was no pressure on his future with his Charlotte, North Carolina-based partner. Perhaps, he added, such conversations could be saved for their two-year mark.

But for Paige and Craig — then two and a half years into their coupledom — such serious topics came after just six months, Paige explained. Then, when mention of children came up, Craig noted that Paige wanted three kids, but according to Paige, she wanted two.

The minor disagreement prompted awkward silence as they sat for a cookout in Craig's backyard.

“When I’m with them, I’ve noticed that things are not as calm and cool as he makes it seem,” Austen told Southern Charm producers. “Like, did she just snap at him a bit? Or is he annoyed with her?”

Craig and Austen’s friendship today

Meanwhile, the future was looking bright for Craig and Austen, especially after their Bahamas-based discussion when the Sewing Down South creator got candid about his “deeply personal” struggles with addiction. While the three hung out for some backyard steaks, Paige jokingly commented that she heard they “cried and made out” during the seaside one-on-one.

But, on a serious note, Austen was happy the restaurant owners were back on good terms.

“This is the friendship that I missed with Craig,” Austen said. “Where I go over to his house to hang out with him and Paige and it doesn’t feel forced.”

More to come as Southern Charm continues, airing Thursdays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.