Jon Gosselin isn’t stepping out on his wife — at least not with Deanna Hummel.

The 23-year-old was photographed with the married “Jon & Kate Plus 8” star, driving his car late at night last week, leading to rampant speculation that the two are having an affair.

“We’re just friends, it’s absurd that anyone would think otherwise,” Hummel told People.com while denying that she’s a homewrecker.

“He’s a very nice guy, don’t get me wrong. But he’s married with eight children. [He] has a great family life. I would never ever think to pursue anything.”

Instead, Hummel says that all she and Gosselin have done, since being introduced a couple months ago, is hang out — as part of a social group, not a couple. While these group outings have included visits to each other’s homes and nights out on the town, nothing scandalous ever happens between them. “We just talk and socialize, the normal things you do when you see friends,” Hummel says.

Including, for example, testing out a friend’s new wheels. “He just got this new car and I wanted to drive it. I’m into cars,” Hummel says.

As for the reports that Gosselin called her “babe” while they were en route to the car, Hummel says it’s hogwash. “He did not by any means call me ‘babe,'” she says. “Nobody calls me babe. That made me laugh.”