Page 104 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘Bean? Are you all right?’ I barely register that Cassie is making her way over to me.

I steel myself, then look at Poppy, who is peering at me with a mix of curiosity and concern.

‘Was Leo in on it?’ I ask, barely able to choke out the words.

‘No!’ cries Cassie, now kneeling before me.

Poppy shakes her head. ‘Leo has no idea – even now.’

The relief is palpable and the air rushes from my lungs in an audible sigh.

‘Bean, I’m so sorry. I just… I ran into Tova, see – you remember her? My work wife at my last job? Well, she asked after you and I made some joke about how many first dates you go on and then I mentioned Leo and she has this school friend at Poppy’s agency and before I knew it, she’d referred me, and I had an appointment. It all sort of snowballed from there.’

It’s unlike Cassie to rattle off a litany of details like this – all rushed and panicked. I grab her hand to shush her.

‘I think I understand. And I know you were just trying to help.You, however…’ I say, glowering at Poppy. She seems to take my fury in stride, which instantly punctures my resolve. I sigh, exhausted by the peaks and troughs of the past month.

‘So, what now? How do we get out of this mess?’

‘My colleagues and I are formulating a plan,’ Poppy replies matter-of-factly.

I laugh. ‘Brilliant. Hopefully, it’s not as fucked up as the rest of this mess.’

‘Elle,’ says Cassie.

‘Sorry, Poppy,’ I say, even though I’m not. After all this is sorted, I hope I never have to see Poppy Dean again. Even if she is just doing her job.

I push off the sofa and smooth out my clothes – well,Prue’sclothes. I never really wear street fashion, but it’s a great outfit and extremely comfortable. Prue’s feet are bigger than mine, so we had to raid our shoe storage for alternatives – no sense in sending a decoy into the world wearing plain clothes and lilac Doc Martins – a dead giveaway. So, white sneakers for Prue and I’m now teetering on a pair of orange block-heeled boots with socks stuffed in the toes – as good as we could do in a pinch.

Cassie stands and wraps her arms around me. With the boots on, I now come past her shoulders. I return the hug, holding her tightly. Poppy respectfully looks away, giving us our sisterly moment.

When Cassie releases me, I cross to my desk and retrieve my handbag from the drawer.

Hmm, probably best if I don’t take it – there may still be paps about who’ll recognise it from yesterday’s photos – so I grab my phone and my keys and stuff them into the left trouser pocket. Actually, the pockets are huge, so I take out a few othernecessities – lip balm, tissues, and breath mints – and with great satisfaction, slip them inside the other one. Never underestimate the pleasure of a decent-sized pocket.

‘Where are you off to?’ Cassie asks.

‘I’m going to see Leo,’ I declare.

‘Really?’ she asks, clearly caught unawares.

‘Yep. I know it’s a risk, but my career may already be in the toilet. Besides, I need to know.’

‘You need to know what?’

‘Ifanyof this is real,’ I reply simply. Because right now, I can’t sort truth from fiction, and I won’t know for sure until I see him.

And if it is… Can we possibly be together without it blowing up in our faces? Doubtful.

I stop walking a block away from Lorenzo and scout about for paps. From my (brief) experience with the paparazzi, they don’t care who sees them, blatantly strutting about, cameras slung around their necks. I can’t see any, so I continue.

I had the whole Tube ride over to figure out what to say but I still don’t know.

‘Hello, Leo, you may or may not know this, but my sister set us up through a matchmaking agency and now I can’t tell my arse from my elbow, but I think I might love you again. Do you love me?’

Perfect. I chuckle to myself, which is either a sign that I’m coming to terms with the absurdity of this situation or I’m losing my mind. It’s probably both.

I cross the road and enter the shop, which induces enough envy to knock me sideways – even worse than last time I washere. I’ve always wanted my own shop. In truth, I don’t need anything this grand – a cosy boutique would do. Just one. I also don’t need multiple locations or to become a chain. Just one boutique on a high street somewhere in London with ‘Bliss Designs’ above the door.

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