Page 75 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘Yeah, that tracks,’ I reply, meeting her eye. I look to Cassie. ‘So, it could be that he’s deliberately keeping his two worlds apart. Lorenzo of the Soho shop-cum-design-house is engaged to Franzia, and Leo is collaborating with his first love in East London.’

‘Where he’s rented a flat,’ Cassie adds.

‘Oh, that’s right. He’s moved into your ’hood,’ I say.

‘Yes and, Poppy, you shouldseethem together. They’refiring, just zinging off each other…’ She mimes this with her hands. ‘He did leave rather abruptly one day while the rest of us were at lunch. Elle was fairly rattled by that, but all good since then from what I can tell. So, what do you think? Is this something? All Leo’s sneaking about?’

Cassie looks to me, her eyes filled with hope.

‘It’s perhaps a little misguided, his behaviour, but all things considered, I’d say this is a positive, yes.’

Her eyes glint with delight as she looks between us.

‘That said,’ I add, aiming to temper her excitement, ‘we still don’t know for sure that the engagement is fake. It’s likely that it is, but until we have proof, or Leo tells Elle that it is, then we proceed with caution, okay?’

This is a reminder to myself as much as Cassie, as I’m having to report on the status of the Lorenzo–Franzia engagement every morning. I suspect Saskia is close to pulling the pin on this case if Marie doesn’t deliver soon – or, as I’ve just said, Leo confesses to Elle.

Cassie nods. ‘I understand.’

Only, having seen the typically restrained Cassie in this new light, I’m not certain she does.

I’m on the Tube on my way home, reading and listening to music (as usual), when Shaz calls.

‘Hey, Shaz, what’s up?’

‘Lauren’s going to Finland,’ she says, skipping niceties.

‘Okay.’ I wait for additional information but I’m met with silence – something’s up, besides the obvious. ‘So, why’s she going to Finland?’ I prompt.

‘For work.’

‘And…?’ This is like pulling teeth, but I suspect I know what’s going on.

‘She’s going for a month, Pop.’

‘Oh, well a month apart is doable. Hey, you could go visit her! You’ve never been to Finland.’ More silence. ‘Shaz? What’s really going on?’

‘She wants me to move in.’

‘I know that.’

‘As in, now, before she goes away – or at least before she gets back. She says she loves me and can’t imagine a future without me and wants us to share a home like a proper couple.’

It’s unclear whether Shaz needs Poppy the friend or Poppy the psych, so I wait.

‘I love her, Pop, but… I’m not sure I’m ready – actually, I know I’m not. What should I do? I don’t want to lose her.’

Right, so she needs both Poppys.

‘When does she leave for Finland?’

‘Next Wednesday.’

Yikes, that’s soon, but I don’t say that to Shaz. ‘Are you genuinely afraid she’ll end your relationship if you don’t move in right away?’

‘I don’t know – probably not, but there’s already this undercurrent, you know, like this great unspoken thing between us, only now it’s spoken – more than once – and I’m feeling all this pressure…’

Poppy the psych comes to the forefront. ‘Let’s take a step back – timing aside, because next week is, well, only a week away…’ She chuckles at that, which I take as a good sign – hopefully, she’ll be receptive to my next question. ‘What’s really holding you back; what’s at the root of the fear?’

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