Page 87 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘Sorry. I haven’t even asked how Elle is. How’s she taking this?’

‘She’s pretty upset.’

‘I can only imagine,’ I say, glad I’m not the sort of person who’s hounded by the paparazzi.

‘Well, it’s not just being chased by the paps and the tabloids… Apparently, Leo told her about his sacrifice for Brandy, how he kept her seat warm for all those years – that was how he put it.’

‘Well, that’s good, right?’

‘Yes, except now Elle’s even more conflicted. He’s essentially the same Leo from her pastandhe had a good reason for leaving so abruptly, but he also cut her out of his life and happens to be engaged. Plus, they’re now working together.’

‘I understand. It is messy.’

‘Yes… messy.’ A heavy sigh comes down the line. ‘Poppy, did I do the right thing?’

This isn’t great timing for Cassie to doubt herself, especially as it sounds like we may be close to a breakthrough.

‘Come in tomorrow morning and we’ll talk everything through, okay? If you want us to pull the pin, we will, but let’s talk first. How does that sound?’

‘All right, Poppy. I’ll text when I’m on my way.’

We end the call and I wander back into the dinner party, which is winding up.

‘Go!’ says Jacinda, shooing Shaz and Lauren out the door. ‘This is your second-last night together for weeks. You’re not hanging about doing dishes.’

‘If you’re sure,’ says Lauren.

Jacinda flicks a tea towel in their direction. ‘Go on, you two.’

After hugs and kisses goodbye, along with well wishes for Lauren’s work trip, they leave and it’s just the four of us. ‘Everything all right?’ Tristan asks me quietly.

‘I’ll fill you in on the way home,’ I reply.

‘So, Poppy and I will be off too,’ he says.

‘Hah, not so fast,’ Jacinda replies. She hands him a pair of rubber gloves. ‘You’re on pots and pans while Ravi loads the dishwasher.’ To me, she says, ‘Let’s retire to the lounge. I want to hear more about this shoe designer.’

And that right there is one of the many reasons I love Jacinda Sharma. I cast a smile over my shoulder at a bemused Tristan and follow her into the next room.

27

ELLE

‘What to wear, what to wear?’ I mutter to myself. For the second day in a row, I’m standing in front of my wardrobe, indecisive – and apprehensive – about choosing the perfect outfit. Yesterday, I wanted to make a good impression on Leo (and perhaps make him fall madly in love with me and dump Franzia so we can build a fashion empire together).

And look where that got me! Splashed all over the bloody internetandon newsstands across Britain. Today’s outfit needs to be the exact opposite of yesterday’s. I need to disguise myself to elude any paps who might be skulking about. But if I opt for the usual work uniform, I’ll (of course) look likeme– easily recognisable, fresh meat – and potentially induce a paparazzi feeding frenzy.

Cassie’s no help. Yesterday, she was at Bliss Designs, like a respectable professional grown-up, and this morning, she has a meeting with Tom Finn and Hilde Klein’s production company – also like a respectable professional grown-up. I just hope being at the centre of a scandal isn’t enough to scare them off – something else to stew over.

I back up several steps and flop onto my bed so I can feel sorry for myself properly, lying flat and staring at the ceiling. Maybe I should just work from home today. But then, I was already off yesterday on my ‘research excursion’. What sort of (not-so-fearless) leader skives off work two days running?

I skived off work last week too, after we got back from Paris. I’ve become a skiver!

‘What are you about, Eloise Bliss?’ I ask the air.

We should get a cat. At least then I wouldn’t be here talking to myself. Talking to a pet is far more normal than talking to yourself, right? I eye the half-dead plant on the windowsill, realising I can’t recall the last time I watered it. If I can’t keep a plant alive, I have no business adopting a feline.

God, my mind wanders to odd places when I am avoidingfacing the world.

---