“I don’t want to live like this forever,” Gina explained. “Logistically, it’s a damn nightmare. It really is, like, going back and forth all the time. But, it just feels like the right thing to do until we can actually take the next step.”

Despite living apart being “incredibly difficult,” Gina also felt that the toxicity between Travis and his ex was wearing her, and her children, Sienna, Luca, and Nicholas down.

Gina is waiting for Travis’ “puzzle pieces” to fall “into place”

“We have a blended family situation, and it is extremely complicated and stressful sometimes. And I ultimately just feel like I always have to do what is in the best interests of myself and these three people [who] mean the world to me,” the RHOC star shared. “I’m responsible for shepherding them through this lifetime and protecting them. There were just things that were starting to happen as a result of everything that he’s a victim of that was outside of his control. And I get that, but I still feel like I need to protect my kids from it.”

There is no timeline to move back in together. Rather Gina is waiting for “his puzzle pieces [to fall] into place.” But she’s happy to wait for the person who means the most to her.

“It was like, ‘Look, you’re a phenomenal person and I know that I want to be with you…’” she recalled when presenting the idea of living apart. “Nobody makes me feel as safe and cared for and loved and appreciated and valued as that man. He’s such a good dad, and he’s such a good stepfather, but he has some stuff he has to get through before he can really commit to this relationship in the way that we need him to make it whole. But, I’m willing to do this and to wait.”

Catch Real Housewives of Orange County Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.