Page 120 of Shout Out To My Ex

My heart wants Leo. It always has.

‘Hey,’ he says, ‘what’s going on in there?’ His eyes flick to my forehead, then meet mine again, and it’s clear he’s worried.

Come on, Elle, be smart. You’ve worked so hard to get where you are – Leo has too. You don’t want to lose that now.

I heave out a weary sigh. ‘I just don’t see how this can work.’

‘That’s what we have them for,’ he says, nodding towards the door. ‘It’s their job to help get us out of this mess.’

‘No, that’s— I meanus, Leo.’

‘What?’ He snorts out a sardonic laugh as if I’ve made a sick joke. A moment later, his expression morphs into realisation. ‘Wait, what?’ he whispers.

I swallow, wishing my throat weren’t so dry. ‘The only way we can come back from this professionally is to part ways – to say we’re sorry and end things –publicly. You know I’m right.’

‘Actually no, I don’t. Because you’re not right – not about this.’

‘Leo—’

‘No, I’ve told you, we’re not doing that. We not letting other people stand in the way of us being together – we’re not lettinganythingstand in our way. I did that once and I’ve regretted it ever since.’

‘Okay,’ I say, adamant that he just needs to see reason, ‘let’s say we do stay together and we both become fashion pariahs – weneverlive down the scandal – or, let’s be honest,Inever live it down, because that’s the way these things usually go – and you end up resenting me for dragging you down or I end up resenting you because your career survives – or worse,thrives– and mine doesn’t. Either way, we end up resentful and miserable with our careers in the toilet. Is that what you want?’

By the time I’ve finished, I’m shouting, my voice reverberating off the tiled floor, but rather than cowering under the weight of my rant, Leo looks me in the eye and says, ‘I just want you.’

‘But… but…’ I splutter. ‘What if it all goes to shit? Like, properly to shit.’

‘But what if it doesn’t?’ he says, his eyes filled with love.

‘What if it doesn’t?’ I echo, my voice barely above a whisper.

What if it doesn’t?

‘Exactly.’ He moves closer. ‘I lost you once because I was a coward?—’

‘You weren’t – you were young and just trying to do the right thing.’

‘I was a coward – young and good-intentioned, sure – but I still could have made better choices. Look, that’s water under the bridge now.’ He slips his arms around my waist and pulls me towards him, staring at me intensely. ‘I am never going to be thatman again. I will never lose you again. I love you, Ellie. I always have.’

‘Really?’

Now he laughs, his eyes creasing at the corners. ‘Yes, really. I love you. And you and me together, we can face anything – whatever’s happening out there right now, whatever else comes our way. We’ve got this –together.’

I have no words to convey the rush of emotions engulfing me, so I stand on tiptoes and press my mouth to his.

It’s a soft kiss, gentle and sweet, and I’m so overcome, my eyes well up. Minutes ago, I was adamant we had to end things, and now… now he’s told me he loves me – in the loo. The most romantic moment of my life and we’re in the loo!

I start sniggering, only we’re still kissing, and Leo pulls away as I surrender to the laughter, enjoying how freeing it is.

‘Something you’d like to share?’ he asks, his brows raised.

I flap one hand about. ‘Look where we are right now.’

His eyes dart about.

‘Yeah, not the most romantic place for a declaration of love.’

‘No.’

---