Celebrity Celebrity Belief & Identity Celebrity LGBTQ+ Issues Sophia Bush Says Partner Ashlyn Harris Told Her 'I Always Thought You Were Straight' When She Asked Her Out Bush recalled the two "cackling" during the moment because neither of them had ever considered themselves "as an option" By Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Journalism. Before joining the team, she worked as an Editor at FanSided and provided work in the celebrity and lifestyle space for brands that include Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, EW, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 19, 2024 04:38AM EDT Close Ashlyn Harris and Sophia Bush. Photo: Ashlyn Harris/Instagram Sophia Bush is giving insight into how her relationship with Ashlyn Harris started. On the latest episode of her Work in Progress podcast, Bush, 42, who started dating the former USWNT player in October 2023, discussed what it was like asking the athlete, 38, out for the first time. "Our friends were, like, trying to set her up with someone, and I was, like, 'If she's ready to date, she's going on a date with me.' Like, sorry. Uh-uh," said Bush while reflecting on the moment during her conversation with guest Nico Tortorella. Sophia Bush attends "Melissa Etheridge: My Window" Opening Night at Circle in the Square Theatre on September 28, 2023. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images All About Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris' Relationship "Yeah. Like, no fu----g way. And people were, like, 'Wait, what?' And she even said to me, 'Hold the phone. I always thought you were straight?!' And I was like, 'I always thought you were happy. But, like, we're both single. What are we doing?' " recalled Bush. The actress filed for divorce from entrepreneur Grant Hughes after 13 months of marriage in August 2023, while Harris filed for divorce from ex-wife and fellow soccer pro Ali Krieger in September 2023. Months later, the One Tree Hill alum came out as queer in an essay penned for Glamour in April. Bush recalled the two "cackling" during the first date moment because neither had considered themselves "as an option." Ashlyn Harris and Sophia Bush at Cannes Lions 2024 on June 17, 2024. Antony Jones/Getty Ashlyn Harris Says She Loves 'Everything' About Sophia Bush in Sweet Birthday Tribute: 'You Are Such a Gift' "Even a lot of the queer women in my life were, like, 'Oh, we knew you were, like, an ally and we maybe wondered when we saw this TV show or this movie you've done or whatever: 'that doesn't really look like acting.' But, like, we didn't really know,' " said Bush. "And I was like, 'Wow, we all do it. Like, even in our friend groups, we make assumptions.' " The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Elsewhere in the podcast, Bush reflected on her coming out experience by explaining why she wanted to clear up speculation. Ashlyn Harris and Sophia Bush on July 26, 2023. Todd Williamson/Peacock via Getty Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "People will really take your self-discovery from you. What made me make the decision was knowing that we’ve gotten into a post-fact vacuum," said Bush. "So I was like, ‘What I’m gonna do is just sit and wait, but eventually what I'm gonna do is clarify very firmly but gently what’s real, cause it matters to me.' "