Page 107 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘Why’s that funny?’ he asks.

‘Not funny, just… I was dreading a cab ride back to East London.’

‘Oh, sweetheart, can you imagine that poor cab driver…?’ We chuckle together. ‘Give me five and meet me on the second floor – the office on the left.’

He’s gone before I can reply so I head to his office to wait out the longest five minutes of my life.

32

ELLE

Five minutes turns into twenty, giving me enough time to poke around Leo’s beautifully decorated office while second guessing if we’re doing the right thing. By the time he returns, I’m close to leaving.

‘Sorry about that. Couldn’t convince Linda you weren’t some sort of… Never mind. She’s gone now. They’re all gone.’

‘Have they seen all the stuff in the media? Your team?’

He shrugs, seemingly unbothered – or maybe, like me, he’s wearied by it.

‘Lovely office,’ I say, looking about – my feeble attempt to change the subject.

‘Elle…’ Leo draws nearer and despite the kiss we shared just a short time ago, I feel self-conscious being here like this. I’m also overcome with a strong sense of foreboding, as if consummating this… this…whateverthis is will blow up in our faces and lead to our ruin. Professionally, yes, but also emotionally.

I don’t know if I could bear losing Leo a second time.

I also haven’t told him about Cassie and Poppy and the Ever After Agency. There’s so much we haven’t talked about and right now, it’s a lot –unbearableeven.

I should go.

‘It’s a lot, isn’t it?’ Leo asks.

‘How do keep doing that?’ I whisper hoarsely.

He comes even closer. ‘Know what you’re thinking?’

I nod.

‘I know you.’

Three simple words, yet the most complex of sentiments. In many ways, Leo does know me – even after all this time apart because, at my core, I’m still me.

And he’s still Leo.

‘I’m scared too,’ he says, his body barely an inch from mine.

‘Why areyouscared?’

‘Because…’ He looks away for a moment, a small furrow appearing between his brows, then meets my eye. I home in on the gold flecks in his large, grey, soulful eyes. ‘I don’t want to lose you again.’

He’s scared of the exact same thing I am.

His frown intensifies. ‘But we don’t have to if you don’t wa?—’

I grab the back of his neck with both hands, pulling him to me and landing a kiss. It’s rough and wanting. Our teeth clash and my lips will be bruised later but I don’t care. I want him, I’m desperate for him. He returns the kiss, just as hungry for me, and enfolds me in his arms, making me feel both desired and safe.

We move awkwardly to the sofa, still in our embrace, me shuffling backwards. I wait for him to lower me onto it, but instead he stops, easing away and looking down at me, his breath rapid.

‘Ellie…’

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