Page 50 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘I ’ave an announcement about me and Lorenzo,’ she says, grabbing one of Leo’s hands and pressing it into her (formidable) chest. Leo seems either mystified or horrified – perhaps both.

What is going on?I wonder.

And then Franzia drops her bombshell.

‘We’re engaged!’

They’rewhat?

There’s a burst of camera flashes and Franzia transforms back into the supermodel in an instant, draping herself over Leo and angling her head this way and that for the photographers. Meanwhile, as well-wishers rush the stage and pat him on the back, Leo looks like the proverbial deer in headlights.

When I look over at Cassie, she seems just as perplexed as I am.

‘What the fuck?’ she says, and Cassie rarely says ‘fuck’.

‘Oh my god,’ says Brandy, looking open-mouthed at the rest of us.

‘So, you didn’t know about the announcement?’ Poppy asks her.

‘Not a clue,’ she replies. ‘And not just about the announcement. I didn’t even know they were dating.’

‘Did Leo?’ Poppy asks. ‘He seemed to be caught completely off-guard up there.’

‘I guess, but despite the whole “Lorenzo” thing, my brother’s a really private person. Maybe he was just uncomfortable with the attention.’

‘Maybe,’ says Poppy.

‘And he was probably hoping to tell our mom before anything was announced. Anyhoo, I should go congratulate him,’ says Brandy. ‘Hey, are you okay?’ she asks me, but I can barely hear her over my ragged breathing.

‘Elle?’ Cassie says, grasping my arm and peering at me, concerned. ‘Are you all right? It’s like you’ve seen a ghost.’

‘I need to get out of here,’ I say. I turn and push my way through the crowd, heading towards what I hope is the exit.

Seeing Leo tonight – with how lovely he was to me and after everything Brandy told me about him – part of me had entertained the idea…

That what?

That maybe we could reconnect, I admit to myself. Or at the very least, collaborate on a collection, like Cassie has begged me to.

But now?

The last thing I want is to spend time with him, especially the amount of time required to design a collection together. Because the truth is, Leo Jones is my kryptonite and now he’s back under my skin and – worse – engaged to a fucking supermodel. If we work together, I am positive I will end up falling back in love with a man I cannot have.

I look like I’ve just seen a ghost? No shit, Cass. It’s the ghost of boyfriend past and it isterrifying.

Poppy

After Elle disappears, Cassie and I say a hasty goodbye to Brandy, asking her to pass on our congratulations to Leo – even though it was patently obvious he had no idea that was going to happen and looked about as happy as Eeyore on a bad day.

‘What on earth was that?’ asks Cassie as we wind our way to the exit.

‘I have no idea.’

Just before we step outside, she tugs on my arm. ‘Tell me you have a plan.’ We stare at each other, me biting my top lip. ‘Poppy?’

‘Not right this second. I still can’t— That was—’ I shake my head.

‘It was. And how did he look to you? Leo, I mean?’

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