full size Aria and Ezra Kiss in the Hospital on Pretty Little Liars August 2, 2011
Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC Television Group © 2011 Disney

Now that Ezra (Ian Harding) and Aria’s (Lucy Hale) secret relationship has finally been exposed on Pretty Little Liars, what’s next for the couple whose forbidden love has kept us in a tizzy?  As you already know from our recent spoiler, the hot (ex-)teacher and his pet will have a sexy makeout scene in the Season 3 premiere. And Ian Harding, who plays Ezra, is as relieved as fans that there’s no more hiding!  At a recent set visit the hunky actor spilled details on how the edgy love story will play out on Tuesday, June 5.        

What can we expect for Ezra and Aria as the season opens?
Ian Harding: Things have gotten seemingly easier for the time being. Aria and I start having an adult relationship with adult problems as opposed to: are we going to be outed?

How did Ezra and Aria spend their summer vacation?
That’s a good question! If I am remembering the storyline correctly, she did an internship and they were together at points and had moments of just being able to have a solid relationship without fear of being outed or [me] losing my job — because I lost it anyway! I think they had a good summer break.

Are you two going to be pretty happy this season — or will there be another woman in the picture?
If we’re happy, that's boring, so we’re never going to eat popcorn and watch a movie and that's a scene. But I think that yeah, there's bound to be something like that that comes up. I think there are going to be complications with other people my life, maybe not necessarily another woman comes in and I meet her in a bathroom, too, or something like that. [Laughs] But there will be other complications, other wrenches in the spokes!

full size Ezra, Aria, and Aria's Dad on Pretty Little Liars July 26, 2011
Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC Television Group © 2011 Disney

Do you have any interactions with Aria’s parents this season? What's that like now that you guys are public?
I have had an interaction with them. Things are really tense, maybe specifically with [Aria’s father] Byron and I. That's like really tense! But [her mother] Ella (Holly Marie Combs) and I actually have a little situation that happens, which is pretty cool. I'll leave it at that. She and I have some fun together — no, I will leave it to the audience!

Will things be easier for Ezra and Aria now that A has been caught?
Who is this person that's been following you for years apparently? Now she's locked up in a mental institution — hooray! This is the end of it, right? Naturally, because we're shooting Season 3, no, it's not. Things are on interesting ground right now with us.

How has it affected you now that your character doesn’t have to hide the relationship?
Because the relationship is out, I am now interacting with a lot more actors, like having an actual scene as opposed to just being in my apartment and doing that storyline. I've been seeing a lot of the other actors, how about that?!

No more Chinese takeout?
No more takeout! I also think we were sending a bad message to the kids!

Catch an all-new Pretty Little Liars when Season 3 premieres on Tuesday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC Family.

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