I mean, she was trying to do what Bethenny did to the cast of RHONY by tripping Katie up verbally (Example: "we weren't living together, we were STAYING together" when the two things are pretty much exactly the same) I think that was kind of where it clicked for me... the girl is a FAN of Bravo. She clearly *watches* a lot of Bravo because some of her moves are the same we see in Housewives and even VPR timeline and I guess I didn't clock it until I saw her pull a Bethenny.
Then I really thought about it... she was known as "Kristen's 'crazy' friend. She also made appearances on the show as a hairstylist and as Kristen's friend, so she's probably been trying to get on the show *for years*. She also texted Katie after the divorce that creepy text, but Ariana also mentions that she group texted her and Sandals moments after the Ariana sent that text to Raqchel. Apparently it said something along the lines of "I love you guys so much" or something weird like that. And that, to me, strikes me as she's been moving around the group for years as she has these people's phone numbers. She was also invited to Sandals and Ariana's Thanksgiving party, after going on dates with Raqchel, Shorts, and Sandals so saying that she didn't know about the affair was also incorrect.
But I digress. She thought she *had her bag* when she was double dating Shorts and Sandals with Raqchel. She thought she was going to make more appearances on the show because of this. And Shorts said on Nick Viall's podcast that before cameras picked up, Jo did something really bad and then he basically dumped her but he wasn't comfortable sharing it because Jo is "his friend". I think it was related to her trying to be on the show and using him or something. It's likely not talked about this season because they didn't break the fourth wall until the finale.
AND THE THING IS, I do think Jo did use Tom. She's not "in love" with him, she wants to be his girlfriend so she can be on the show. She's in love with the show, Bravo, and wants so badly that relationship so she can get her bag. And her acting like the heartbroken lovesick puppy is clearly an act because EVEN SANDALS SIDE EYES HER A LOT. He seems genuinely confused why she came to single's night... which she invited herself to because she knew cameras would be there. Shorts told her how many times that it's never going to happen, and going on Insta live to say she thinks she and Shorts will end up together is her trying to gain a fanbase. They call her "Spooky Jo" and I think all of these reasons kind of add up? WDYT?