Page 43 of Shout Out To My Ex

Poppy

Well, fuck me. I have no idea what to unpack first – that Leo shouted out to Elle, that his sister is in Paris, or that Franzia (literally) has her claws in him. The first is brilliant and plays right into our plan to reunite the lovers. The second is an interesting plot twist and could be used to our advantage. The third, not so much. We have got to get Franzia out of the picture, even if it’s a one-sided affair, so to speak.

I glance across the runway to where Brandy is chatting to the Fanning sisters and decide on my tactic.

‘So,’ I say, turning to Elle and Cassie, ‘should we hang around and wait for him to come out? Say hello?’

Elle is beet red and it’s hard to tell if that’s signposting fury, passion, embarrassment, or all three.

She’s visibly frustrated, so Cassie answers for her. ‘Yes, absolutely! Wonderful idea.’

But Elle quickly recovers enough to protest. ‘I want to go back to the hotel – to get ready for the H&M party.’

‘That’s hours away,’ says Cassie, glancing my way.

‘It really would be good for the article if you congratulated him,’ I add.

‘Congrat—’ Elle cuts herself off, her eyes darting about – first towards Brandy, then to the business end of the runway, where Leo is most likely to emerge from, and back to us. ‘Look, they’re already shooing people out to set up for the next show,’ she says, indicating the attendants who are straightening chairs. ‘We should go.’

She stands and sidles past us, beelining for the exit.

When she’s out of earshot, I sigh. ‘Your sister is becoming a master at escaping,’ I say to Cassie.

‘But that was good for us, wasn’t it?’

‘Him mentioning Elle like that? Oh, yes, that wasverygood for us. I couldn’t have scripted it better.’

‘So, you didn’t? Script it, I mean?’

‘Oh, no. That was all him.’

Cassie seems puzzled. ‘Oh.’

‘I know I’m a matchmaker, but beyond ensuring he had a ticket to Elle’s show yesterday, there’s only so much I can do to influence Leo’s behaviour.’

‘Is that why you’re doubling down on the article angle?’ she asks. ‘Adding an impatient editor and a faux photoshoot…?’

I wince at her pointed question – she’s not wrong. ‘I know. Sometimes the subterfuge seems to take on a life of its own. I don’tlovethis part, being the puppet master.’

Cassie nods, seeming to understand.

‘Are you two coming or what?’

Cassie and I appear to have exhausted Elle’s patience, as she’s doubled back and glares at us, hands on hips.

‘Sorry, just talking about the show,’ I say, holding up my notebook to sell the fib.

Her gaze swings towards the end of the runway again and, in an instant, her eyes turn to saucers. I look over and there he is – Leo.

‘Come on,’ says Elle, rushing towards the exit. This time, Cassie and I follow.

‘Hello, darling,’ I say, flopping onto my hotel bed. I snuggle into the generous array of pillows, feeling the full weight of exhaustion.

‘I miss you so much, I am this close to catching the next Eurostar to Paris,’ Tristan says, pinching his thumb and forefinger together.

‘Can you? I can probably wangle an extra ticket to the H&M party.’

‘I assume that is literally a big-ticket item.’

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