Page 130 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘I wanted to spend time with you. And I was due back in London, so…’

‘And how many sets of three people did you approach before finding us?’

‘Four.’

‘Hahaha!’ I’m not laughingathim, but at the hilarity of Leo wandering through train carriages, checking his tickets and finding strangers in those seats, then having to move on to the next berth. All in search of me.

Oh. He did that. Forme. The laughter dies in my throat, and more tears well up.

‘Nicely done,’ says Poppy. I’ve been so transfixed by Leo’s story, I’d forgotten she was there.

‘Is that the sort of thing you would do – you know, to make a match?’ Leo asks her as I blink back the tears and compose myself.

‘Oh, you have no idea,’ she replies with an enigmatic smile. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I need to make a call.’

‘I like her,’ Leo says when she’s gone.

‘Mmm, I didn’t mind her at first, but then after she told me who she really was, I hated her a little…’

‘And now?’

‘How can I hate the woman who brought us back together?’ I ask, watching Poppy across the room.

‘Right, Elle, Leo…’ says Paloma.

I step back half a step, as I find her alot. It’s like she carries this bubble of intensity with her, as if her personality is a physical being.

‘Good news,’ she says cheerily, ‘we’ve just had confirmation thatHello Britainwill interview you on Saturday morning.’ My stomach clenches at Paloma’s so-called ‘good news’. ‘I know that’s a few days away, but we should begin preparations immediately.’

‘And by “preparations” you mean…?’ asks Leo.

‘Talking points, mostly,’ she replies. ‘And we’ll do several run throughs, obvs.’

‘Run throughs?’ I ask, hating how my voice squeaks. I sound like a scared little girl. Scratch that – when it comes to appearing on television, Iama scared little girl.

‘Mock interviews. I’ll play Lydia Torrent and you’ll play yourselves,’ she says with that self-assured smile of hers. ‘When can we get started? Does tomorrow work for you?’ She consults her phone. ‘I can block out the entire afternoon.’

‘Sounds great,’ replies Leo.

‘Yes, perfect,’ I squeak.

Perfectlydreadful. Not only have I just agreed to be on national television, but I’ve also signed up for hours and hours of Paloma.

She wanders off, barking orders at the nice woman from reception, Anita.

And now the atmosphere has returned to the room – or at least our little corner of it – I feel like I can breathe again.

‘She’s kinda intense,’ Leo whispers, breaking the tension and making me giggle. ‘And I’ve lived in New York for the past three years – I’ve met alotof intense people. Paloma’s moved into the number two slot right behind this customer I had who would bring her entire entourage into the store, including herpsychic– I’m not kidding – who chose which shoes she should buy based on the alignment of the planets – still not kidding –andher pet ferret, named Charlton Heston.’

I’m properly laughing now and when our eyes meet, his are creased at the corners and lit from within. With love.

‘You’re quite funny,’ I tease.

‘Sweetheart, I amhilarious.’ This kicks us off again and when I circle my arms around his waist and press my cheek to his chest, we’re both still shaking with laughter.

You can do this, Elle. With Leo at your side, you can do anything.

Poppy

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