Jesse Metcalfe Reacts to Scheana Shay Detailing Their Romance in New Memoir

Yes, Jesse Metcalfe knows he was name-dropped in Scheana Shay‘s upcoming memoir, My Good Side.

“She spoke highly of me, which was nice,” Metcalfe, 46, said during the Wednesday, July 16, episode of Tori Spelling’s “Misspelling” podcast.

Entertainment Weekly published an excerpt from Shay’s memoir earlier this month, which revealed that she and Metcalfe dated in 2007. Shay wrote that their short-lived romance was “a great time” overall.

“It felt like I was living a real-life fantasy with this guy I’d watched on TV and in movies for years,” the Vanderpump Rules star wrote.

During Wednesday’s podcast appearance, Metcalfe joked that he “tried to keep [the book excerpt]” from girlfriend Helene Immel.

“[It was a] long time ago, 20 years ago,” Metcalfe continued. “We were dating. I mean, it was — overall — it was pretty brief, but we were seeing each other on a regular basis.”

Shay wrote that Metcalfe was “an awesome guy,” according to the EW excerpt.

“Our relationship didn’t happen right away. Soon after we first met, he went to rehab, so we started hanging out often only after he finished,” she wrote. “The first date he took me on post rehab was the Cloverfield red carpet movie premiere. I then spent my twenty-second birthday at dinner with him, and I vividly remember sticking to water and Red Bull all night as a way of supporting his sobriety.”

According to the Bravo star, Metcalfe went with Shay and her friends to a karaoke bar following the birthday dinner.

“Since everyone was drinking alcohol, and I could tell it was a little overwhelming for him. The fact that a group of my friends decided to sing Rick Springfield’s ‘Jessie’s Girl’ didn’t help, either,” she added. “But I was totally cool with leaving and told him that I just wanted to spend my birthday with him.”

Metcalfe also bought Shay “a pair of Marc Jacobs sunglasses that I have to this day” as a gift.

“I could have asked for something much more expensive, like a Louis Vuitton bag, but I wanted to be respectful,” Shay wrote. Despite the time they shared together, the reality star wrote that “things faded out,” causing the relationship to end.

Shay also spoke exclusively for this week’s Us Weekly cover story, reflecting on her romantic past, in part. Shay also shared what she hopes 4-year-old daughter Summer Moon will take away from her romantic history.

“I just want her to be with someone who treats her with respect,” the VPR alum said.

My Good Side is available for pre-order ahead of the memoir’s July 22 release. For more from Shay, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.