Page 116 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘I might have something better, if you like,’ says Leo, ever the mind reader.

He crosses to a narrow cabinet and inside are two pairs of jeans, three T-shirts, and a white dress shirt. ‘For when I’m working late and end up staying here,’ he explains with a shrug.

I already know about the bathroom that’s adjacent to the office and stocked with emergency toiletries. It even has a shower, something I’m glad I used before we went to sleep, as there won’t be time for one this morning.

‘Take your pick,’ he says, giving me first choice. I choose a pair of jeans and the dress shirt while Leo puts on his Hank Moody outfit.

‘Umm…’ The jeans are swimming on me, of course, and if I don’t hold them up, they’ll fall off.

‘Wait here.’ He runs upstairs and in no time, he’s back bearing a box. ‘Samples from the US,’ he says. He rifles through it and takes out a Kelly-green belt that will fit me perfectly.

‘The cactus leather?’ I ask, slipping it on.

‘Yep.’

‘I love the colour.’

‘It’s my favourite.’ He checks his watch. ‘Shit, three minutes.’

‘Enough time to brush our teeth,’ I say, which we do side by side at the small sink, much like we used to do when we were students and in love.

In love. I almost choke on the toothpaste. Are we back in love? I regard Leo in the mirror and he meets my eye and gives me a wink that sends a surge of warmth hurtling through my body. Who knew teeth brushing could be so romantic?

He spits and rinses, then I do – not as romantic – then it’s a frantic rush to put on our shoes, gather our belongings, and run down the stairs.

When we get to the front door, Linda is about to put her key in the lock. She blinks at us in bewilderment, then her mouth does that judgey thing again. So far, I’ve made a terrible impression on her. Leo unlocks the door and swings it open.

‘Good morning, Linda,’ he chirrups as though it’s not plainly obvious we’ve spent the night together.

‘Er, good morning,’ she stammers.

‘Excuse us,’ Leo says, ushering us through the door and onto the footpath right as a black Bentley pulls up kerbside.

Leo opens the door for me – he always was a gentleman – and I get in, scooching across to the other side.

‘Hello, Carl,’ I say as Leo gets in.

‘Howdy, Carl,’ he adds.

Carl nods at us politely via the rearview mirror, then waits for us to buckle up before heading into traffic.

‘Phoof,’ I sigh, leaning back against the seat. ‘That was…’

‘Exciting?’

I look across the backseat and raise my eyebrows at him. ‘I was about to say “harrowing”.’

‘Hey, we made it in time.’

‘Linda hates me.’

He reaches for my hand and holds it tightly in his. ‘She doesn’t hate you.’

‘Disapproves of me then.’

‘Linda doesn’t know you. And she’s just trying to be a good manager.’

‘Mmm,’ I reply tartly as I turn my head and look out the window.

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