Page 134 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘Isodo. Is that weird? Oh! Isthatan addiction?’

‘You want my professional opinion?’ she asks with a lopsided smile.

‘Er, no. Bye.’ I smack a kiss on her cheek and catch up to the others.

Elle

I can’t believe I’m sitting in a television studio with three cameras pointing at me. So far, I’ve done little more than smile like a maniac and nod along as Leo has responded to Lydia Torrent’s questions.

And it doesn’t matter how many times Paloma drilled us in preparation for this interview, how confident and prepared I felt yesterday, my heart is hammering and there’s a lump the size of Texas in my throat. Apt, I suppose, but I don’t feel capable of uttering a single syllable. Just as long as I don’t vomit on live television.

If it hadn’t been for Poppy, I wouldn’t have made it to the set. She assured me that it was normal for nerves to induce vomiting – yes, even three times in quick succession. Then she guided methrough a relaxation meditation while the hair stylist curled my hair.

‘And Elle,’ says Lydia, fixing her gaze on me. Oh god –pleaselet this sofa swallow me whole. ‘How soon after meeting up with Leo the second time around did you realise the old feelings were still there?’

Perhaps unwittingly, or more likely because she’s a pro and can tell how terrified I am, Lydia Torrent has just lobbed me the perfect question. Because picturing Leo in that godawful double-denim outfit is exactly the salve I need and I chuckle, my nervousness dissipating as if by magic.

‘Actually, Lydia, that first meeting didn’t go so well.’ Beside me, Leo smiles and shakes his head – he knows exactly where I’m going with this. ‘First, he was extremely late – I am positive the waiter thought I’d been stood up – andthenhe arrived wearing the most ridiculous outfit?—’

‘In my defence,’ Leo interjects, ‘it was wardrobe for a photoshoot.’

‘You mean this outfit?’ asks Lydia.

On the large screen behind her, up pops a photo of Leo in the double denim.

‘Yes! Exactly,’ I say, feeling as if Lydia and I are in cahoots. ‘Hardly swoon-worthy.’

‘I just wanna say, it was the exact opposite for me,’ says Leo. ‘I knew the moment I saw her sitting there, all mad because I was late but lookingsopretty, that I had never stopped loving her.’

‘Aww,’ says Lydia, ‘that’s lovely.’ Leo glances at me with a sweet smile, then lifts my hand, pressing his lips to the back of it.

When I glance at Lydia Torrent, I can’t help thinking,Now, that’s swooning. I swear she’s about to slide off her chair.

‘Hopefully, you didn’t take too long to come around, though?’ asks Lydia’s co-host, whose name completely escapes me.

‘Er, no – not really,’ I tell him. Looking back at Leo, I add, ‘He’s still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago – bright, funny, talented,kind…’

‘So, you’ve reunited, but why the decade apart – especially as it seems like the love was there all along?’ Lydia asks.

Leo and I were prepped on variations of this question – it was one of the talking points Paloma negotiated when she secured the interview. That said, it’s a difficult one to answer and I’m grateful that it’s Leo who’s expected to respond.

‘I had a family obligation that arose right around the time we finished college – sorry, university. I had to leave London suddenly and go back to Texas, and it’s taken me until this year to find my way back – to the cityand, as it turns out, to Elle.’

Exactly as he rehearsed it multiple times; though not any easier to hear.

Because it’s a reminder of all that lost time. Ten years we could have been together – travelling, working, sharing adventures and inspiration, designing, supporting each other through the tough times. Being a couple,partners.

Being in love.

‘And your recent engagement to supermodel Franzia – can you explain how that fits intoyourlove story?’

It’s another answer we rehearsed, only we went back and forth on whether to out Franzia or help her save face. In the end, Leo’s loyalty to Serena, the woman he’d always thought of as an aunt, won out.

‘Well, that was completely misguided – me getting swept up in Lorenzo the persona and forgetting whoIwas, that I’m just Leo,’ he responds. ‘And of course, the timing turned out to be terrible, as it coincided with unexpectedly seeing Elle again. But, you know, being with her’ – he looks my way – ‘it’s made me accept that I can be myselfandbe the steward of Lorenzo thelabelwithout compromising my core values.’

‘And what about Franzia’s take on all this?’ asks Lydia. ‘When she appeared on our show a few days ago, she was quite upset about your relationship with Elle.’

‘I know, and I can only guess at what she’s been going through. It’s understandable she felt blindsided – and that’s on me. I should have told her as soon as Elle and I reconnected –beforeit hit the media.’

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