Fans first began speculating that Austen and Olivia were an item before her role on Southern Charm Season 8 was confirmed. Their co-star, Taylor Ann Green, shared a photo of them on her Instagram feed in December 2021, which got fans talking. In the snapshot, Taylor and her beau, Shep Rose, posed in front of a step and repeat with Olivia and Austen at an event for a new Trop Hop release.

Less than five months later, Taylor shared another post from when she went on a trip to the Napa Valley with Shep, Austen, and Olivia. In one photo, Olivia and Austen held hands.

It appeared as if the two pairs were on a couples trip together.

In May 2022, during the NBCUniversal upfront presentation, Austen confirmed to Us Weekly that he was officially dating Olivia. He also shared that he had met her about a year-and-a-half earlier, and that the two were just friends for a while before things turned romantic.

"You will certainly see where it begins, then how it ends," Austen teased about how much of their relationship will be featured on the show. "And it certainly is some ebb and flows as I'm trying to figure it out."

In the months since Austen confirmed his romance with Olivia, things have changed (Taylor and Shep have also since broken up). During the first part of the Season 8 reunion, which aired on Oct. 6, Austen and Olivia discussed how the early part of their romance moved at a "snail's pace."

When Madison asked for clarity, the twosome said that they were not together.

"We are not in a relationship," Olivia said.

Austen explained that he was scared to take that leap with Olivia because of what had happened between him and Madison. However, the two did confirm that they dated post-filming.

"Especially when we were done filming, we got to take advantage of that time of just having fun and not putting so much pressure on the label," Olivia said. "But, I think if you stay in that arena too long of just having fun — or the gray area — whatever you want to call it, then nothing is built in the gray area."

The Season 8 addition noted that she stayed in the "gray area" with Austen for too long.

"After a while, it just kind of chips away at your confidence, and after so many months, you start dipping into that territory of 'What are we? And why are we still in that gray area?'" Olivia added. "But, I was ready to be in the relationship. It was him that couldn't figure it out."