Last year, Scheana Marie’s relationship with Rob Valletta was tested — and, as Vanderpump Rules fans have witnessed, the ugly aftermath has been playing out on Season 6 of the hit reality series. Though the Bravolebrity, 32, and the handsome actor, 35, called it quits this past October, the former couple remain on good terms. In an exclusive interview with Life & Style, Scheana opened up about their split — and revealed that she is holding out hope for a future with Rob.

“We’re trying to just be friends, but I’ve never been friends with an ex. But with him and I, we have such a long history together,” the “Shake That” songstress shared. “We’ve been friends for 12 years now — we’ve been just friends, have dated, been boyfriend and girlfriend, all of that — but we just have such a strong love and respect for each other that we’re trying to make it work in any way we can.”

Of course, Scheana and her former beau hit a particularly rough patch after co-stars Kristen Doute and Katie Maloney — two thirds of the “Witches of WeHo” — perpetuated a rumor that Rob kissed an ex-girlfriend while out to dinner at LA’s Toca Madera. Both Scheana and Rob vehemently denied the allegation and made an attempt to not let the unsubstantiated gossip affect them.

“He didn’t cheat on me. It was a story that was completely exaggerated. He ran into an old flame and gave her a kiss on the cheek to say hi. He’s a very friendly, flirty person. And then everyone freaked out about how inappropriate it was, but that’s how Rob and I are. Like, his friends will come and pick me up and kiss me on the lips and give me a hug. And that’s just how we are,” Scheana explained to Life & Style. “For Kristen to be like, ‘We know that one million percent for a fact that it happened,’ it’s like, ‘Were you there Kristen? Did you witness this? Did you see it? No.’ So all of that is just such f–king bulls–t, and it’s really the reason why we broke up.”

Scheana harbors no ill will toward Rob. However, the same can’t be said for Kristen, 34, Katie, 31, and their BFF, No. 1 WeHo Witch Stassi Schroeder — who she credits for the demise of her romance with Rob. “He really put himself out there because he knew it was important for my story line and the second week in, got completely thrown under the bus. For him, it’s a scary world to be a part of especially when it’s not his job. He’s not making an income from being on the show. He just did it for me and me only. This is my job and this is what I signed up for,” the brunette beauty said. “He did not sign up for this. And it’s the reason why I am absolutely not friends with the Witches of WeHo anymore, because I associate my breakup with their big mouths.”

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Luckily for Scheana, she’s been able to escape the drama of LA for Sin City, where she is currently performing six nights a week in Sex Tips for Straight Women From a Gay Man at the Paris Las Vegas hotel. According to the entertainer, she is grateful for a fresh start. “It was nice to get away and start over. And I’m single now. So being in LA, that was kind of challenging for me. Even though Rob and I still are good friends and we still hang out — he was here opening night — and we still talk all of the time, it was hard still being in LA,” she said. “So it’s really nice to be here and have something new to look forward to every day and hang out with people who are just so positive and lift me up.”

While Scheana — who finalized her divorce from Mike Shay, her husband of nearly two years, in April 2017 — is happy to finally find her footing as a single lady, she remains optimistic that the stars will eventually align for her and Rob to get back together one day. “All things considered, we’re fine. And we are confident that one day it’ll work out for us when the timing’s right. But for now, we’re just trying to stay in each other’s lives in a way that we can because reality TV is a world that he’s never been a part of,” she told Life & Style. “But Rob is just that guy for me and what we have is something special.”

Vanderpump Rules airs on Bravo Mondays at 9 p.m. EST.