Tom Sandoval explained on Tuesday's episode of Vanderpump Rules that he is still “in love” with Raquel Leviss despite feeling hate over the Scandoval affair.
After the 40-year-old reality star returned to the Valley Village home he shares with 38-year-old Ariana, he told his friend Jason about his feelings for 29-year-old Raquel.
“Since the scandal broke, I've lost a lot of long-time friends, so I've held on to the ones that stayed, and Jason was definitely one of them,” Sandoval said in a confessional.
“He’s the band’s manager. “He's been very supportive, not just in LA but on the road, and it's kept me from getting into a really bad spot,” he added, referring to his cover band Tom Sandoval and The Most Extras.
“Have you heard from Raquel?” asked Sandoval, who was back in Los Angeles after a stint in New Zealand where he took part in the Fox reality show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
Tom Sandoval explained on Tuesday's episode of Vanderpump Rules that he is still “in love” with Raquel Leviss despite feeling hate over the Scandoval affair
“I haven’t heard from her in a few weeks,” Jason said.
“I just miss her, you know?” “I just want to see her, just give her a big hug,” Sandoval said.
“Everyone goes through something like that, but this is something you both go through together, like living in this world where people hate you,” Jason said.
“I'm still very much in love with Raquel. “I hope we can give our relationship a real chance,” Sandoval said in a confessional.
Sandoval later shared that he thought of Raquel when he met with his friend and business partner Tom Schwartz, 41, who was upset with him after Scandoval affected business at their bar, Schwartz & Sandy's.
Schwartz arrived before Sandoval at The Belmont bar in West Hollywood and ordered him a soft drink.
“I don’t know if you drink. “I got you a non-alcoholic beer,” Schwartz said.
“No, I don’t drink,” Sandoval said.
The 40-year-old reality star later shared that he thought of Raquel when he met up with his friend and business partner Tom Schwartz, 41
“I just miss her, you know?” “I just want to see her, just give her a big hug,” Sandoval said
“I'm still very much in love with Raquel. “I hope we can give our relationship a real chance,” Sandoval said in a confessional
Tom's band manager Jason was one of the few friends who still supported Sandoval
“Aren’t you?” Schwartz asked.
“No,” Sandoval confirmed.
“Sober Tom scares me a little,” Schwartz joked.
“Although I think it's obviously great for your mental and physical health,” he added.
Sandoval revealed in a confessional that there was a connection between Raquel and his sobriety.
“One of the triggers for getting sober was Raquel going to a facility and I knew she couldn’t drink. The last thing I would do would be drink and go out while she was there. “I thought we could do it together when she got out,” Sandoval said to the camera.
Sandoval admitted to Schwartz that he cried while taking part in “Special Forces: The World's Toughest Test” and said the military instructors “pushed us so hard.”
“It sounds terrible, but honestly I would have preferred it to just having to deal with shit at the bar,” Schwartz said.
“I know there was collateral damage.” “I'm really sorry, Schwartz,” Sandoval said.
Schwartz arrived before Sandoval at The Belmont bar in West Hollywood and ordered him a soft drink
“No, I don’t drink,” Sandoval said
“One of the triggers for getting sober was Raquel going to a facility and I knew she couldn’t drink. The last thing I would do would be drink and go out while she was there. “I thought we could do it together when she got out,” Sandoval said to the camera
“I know there was collateral damage.” “I'm really sorry, Schwartz,” Sandoval said
The Season 11 episode titled “The Ultimate Betrayal” began in Tom and Ariana's house, where they lived separate lives under the same roof.
Tom greeted his assistant Ann, who acted as his go-between for Ariana since she wasn't speaking to him.
“How was New Zealand?” asked Ann.
“Such a stressful experience.” “Probably one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life,” Sandoval said.
Tom opened up in a confessional about life since his longtime girlfriend Ariana found out about his months-long affair with her good friend Raquel last March.
“I just got back from filming a competition reality show. I've been on the receiving end of more hate in the last few months, so to speak, than I've ever felt in my entire life. “I realized that I need to be able to deal with the things that life throws at me, but I also wanted to punish myself, to repent through pain,” Sandoval told the camera.
Sandoval told Ann about his plans to host a birthday party for himself at the house and said Ariana was “obviously invited” if she wanted to come.
“Um, I think she'll be busy,” Ann said.
Tom greeted his assistant Ann, who acted as his go-between for Ariana since she wasn't speaking to him
“I just got back from filming a competition reality show. I've been on the receiving end of more hate in the last few months, so to speak, than I've ever felt in my entire life. “I realized that I need to be able to deal with the things that life throws at me, but I also wanted to punish myself, to repent through pain,” Sandoval told the camera
Sandoval told Ann about his plans to host a birthday party for himself at the house and said Ariana was “obviously invited” if she wanted to come
“Um, I think she'll be busy,” Ann said before texting Ariana about Sandoval's party plans
While Ariana shared a home with Sandoval, she communicated with him via text message through Ann
Sandoval suggested getting her a nice hotel room and Ann said she could ask and started texting Ariana.
Ariana initially shut it down but later relented after Sandoval said it would be over at midnight.
A producer asked them separately, “What's it like sharing a living space with your ex?”
“Fucking stupid,” Ariana said.
“Embarrassing,” Tom replied.
“He's done some weird things like opening my mail and putting my license plate on my car.” “His latest thing is he got this white noise machine,” Ariana said.
“I got a white noise machine because when the scandal fever was at its peak, I thought I said they were being overheard by Ariana and her friends,” Sandoval said.
Ariana said it was really loud and wondered if it was some kind of “psychological warfare.”
“He's done some weird things like opening my mail and putting my license plate on my car.” “His latest thing is he got this white noise machine,” Ariana said
Scheana Shay also dealt with her postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder in the episode, which made it difficult for her to separate from her daughter Summer Moon
Lisa Vanderpump attended her Pump restaurant's wrap party after 10 years and spoke to Schwartz about his relationship with Sandoval
Ally Lewber was starting a new astrology business and gave Schwartz a reading to help guide him
James Kennedy, 32, was invited to Sandoval's birthday party after blasting him for having an affair with his former fiancée Raquel at the season 10 reunion.
Sandoval greeted him at the party and James realized he didn't recognize anyone there.
James sought an excuse for the “ultimate betrayal,” but Sandoval instead came up with the fact that James was dating his ex-girlfriend Kristen Doute.
“You still have so much to do growing up, Tom.” “It's sad for me,” said James.
“So you want me to take responsibility, but you don't want me to,” Sandoval said.
“It's embarrassing, Tom. “I'm not even going to address what you just said,” James said as he left the party.
“That's very narcissistic of you.” “Thanks for stopping by,” Sandoval said.
“Tom wants to move on and bring up the past.” You know, I'm looking for an excuse for now. Nothing makes him okay with lying to my face for six months, expelling me from the entire group, making me look crazy, all because he was about to get his ass wet! ' James said in a confessional.
James asked his girlfriend Ally Lewber, who had been waiting in the car, whether it was illegal to urinate on someone's garden bush.
Ally told him not to do it, but James urinated on Tom's bush anyway.
“Oh my God,” Ally said, pointing out that it was also her friend Ariana’s bush.
Vanderpump Rules will return next week on Bravo.
The reality series first premiered on Bravo in January 2013 as a spin-off of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.
James sought an excuse for the “ultimate betrayal,” but Sandoval instead came up with the fact that James was dating his ex-girlfriend Kristen Doute
“You still have so much to do growing up, Tom.” “It's sad for me,” said James
“It's embarrassing, Tom. “I'm not even going to address what you just said,” James said as he left the party
James asked his girlfriend Ally Lewber, who had been waiting in the car, whether it was illegal to urinate on someone's garden bush
Sandoval starred in the first season and Ariana appeared in the second season of the Bravo show.
After being a recurring cast member in the third season, James became a regular cast member in the fourth season.
Raquel first appeared on the series as a guest in the fifth season before becoming a series regular in the ninth season.
After the Scandoval affair, she declined to return for season 11.