Page 24 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘Fucking awful.’

‘Oh.’

‘First off, he was late. And then his publicist showed up – nowshe’san odd bod, to say the least – and when he finally arrives, he looks like a reject from an eighties sitcom.Andhe’s a complete tosser, Cass –soarrogant. He didn’t even have the decency to explain himself for being late or apologise or anything. And the longer I sat there, the more I realised how fucking angry I am. It never evenoccurredto me before tonight. But who does that to a person? Leave suddenly, then cut off all ties? And then to not even acknowledge it… No! He just brags about his success and – get this – invites me to his show in Paris! As if I’m going to your show, you total fucking wanker.’

‘Right.’ Cassie stares hard at the floor. That glimmer of hope? Completely snuffed out. She evenlooksdeflated, as if I’ve stuck a pin in her and she’s slowly losing air.

I get up and go around to the back of her chair, lean down, and hug her from behind. ‘Cass, I’m sorry. We’ll find someone else to partner with, okay?’

‘It’s just…’ She wriggles out of my hug, then stands and starts pacing.

‘Cass? It’s a firm no from me. There’s no way in hell I can work with that man – not after our history and?—’

‘Just…’ She stops and faces me. ‘What if?—’

‘No! You weren’t there. You have no idea how it felt to see him after all this time, and everything I’d built up in my mind about what our reunion would be… It was the total opposite. I couldn’t recognise oneiotaof Leo in there – he’s a totally different person. And I mean… why the fuck didn’t he ever contact me, Cass? We were together for four years and then nothing?’ A sob takes hold. ‘I felt sostupid. I’ve been so,sostupid.’

‘No.’ Cassie crosses to me and wraps me up in a hug. ‘You’re not stupid. You just had your heart broken is all. I’m sorry the meeting turned out so badly. But I’ll talk to his management team and we’ll tee something up?—’

I break away from her. ‘What the fuck?’

‘What?’

‘Cassie, did you not hear me? I am not working with that man.’

Her head tilts and she sighs.

‘No, Cass.’

I drag the back of my hand under my nose and wipe under my eyes with my fingertips.

‘Can we at least go to his show? I mean, we’ll be in Paris anyway. What’s the harm?’

What’s theharm? I could be given a week and still not have enough time to answer that question. But hope has sparked again in Cassie’s eyes and I can’t bear to let her down further. It’s just a show. It’s not like I have to talk to him or anything.

And part of me is curious.

‘Fine,’ I say with a sigh.

‘Really?’ she asks, her eyes wide with excitement.

‘Yes.’

She beams at me.

‘But you owe me!’ I say.

‘Fair.’

‘As in, a first-born-child level of debt, Cass.’

‘Got it.’

‘And just the show, no meeting.’

‘Right.’

‘I mean it,’ I say, heading towards my room.

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