Page 66 of Shout Out To My Ex

Tally claps her hands. ‘Everyone, listen up.’ The hum of activity stills and everyone looks towards Tally. ‘Slight change of plan. This will impact wardrobe and hair and makeup – heads to me, please. We start shooting in thirty.’

The activity resumes, with Sylvie stepping away to huddle with Tally – she must be the head makeup artist and hair stylist – and Cassie re-joining Poppy on the sofa.

‘Hey,’ Leo says, coming over.

‘Hey,’ I say back.

He drops his canvas satchel on the floor next to my chair. Looking around, he rubs his hand along his jaw. ‘Pretty intense, hey?’

‘Yes.’ Why can’t I utter more than a syllable whenever he’s around? I reach for my now-tepid tea and take a sip, just for something to do.

Leo turns towards me, flashing a cheeky grin. ‘So, ready to get half-naked together?’

I spit my tea out all over the makeup table and the mirror.

Oh my god!I don’t know which is more horrifying – that I’ve just embarrassed myself like that, or the realisation that this is actually happening. In less than an hour, Leo and I are going to be in each other’s arms, semi-clad.

If I tap my heels together three times, will I wake up in my bed? Hah! Chance would be a fine thing. Instead, I’m mopping up spit-out tea with a wad of tissues and Leo ishelpingme – evenmoremortifying!

Then the head of wardrobe walks over carrying one of my waistcoats on a hanger and a pair of nude knickers clipped to a skirt hanger.

‘Elle, your wardrobe,’ he says, hanging the garments on a nearby rail.

Gah! Now I know how Carrie Bradshaw felt about her look for that runway show – onlyshegot to wear a bra under the dinner jacket as well as knickers!

‘If it makes you feel any better,’ says Leo, ‘I’m also a little anxious.’

I frown at him in confusion.

‘You know, being bare-chested for the photos.’

‘Why? You were barely wearing much more on the runway. Besides, you have a great body.’

It’s hard to say who’s more shocked by my comment – me or Leo – but then he grins and all I can hope for now is that the world opens up and swallows me whole.

21

POPPY

‘How’s it going?’ Nasrin asks. I get off the sofa to take the call in a quieter part of the studio, which turns out to be more difficult than I’d anticipated. I end up huddled in a corner near the kitchenette.

‘So far, brilliantly,’ I say softly. ‘Elle and Leo are going to be photographedtogether.’

‘As in posed together?’

‘Yep.’

‘That is good.’

‘Half-dressed,’ I add for impact.

‘What?’

‘Uh-huh. Cassie tried to give me credit, but I set her straight. She seems to think we have magical powers.’

‘Hah!’ Nasrin laughs. ‘I’ve had clients like that – attributing their good luck to me.’

‘Exactly. That would be the Hocus Pocus Agency, not the Ever After Agency,’ I quip, making her laugh again. ‘So, any news?’ I ask, hoping that’s the reason for her call.

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