Page 94 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘Leo?’

‘I mean, of course I’m attracted to you. I always was, from the second I saw you…’

‘At the restaurant?’ I ask, puzzled.

‘On the quad… at college. You asked if I needed help finding my class and I was dumbstruck. I could barely get any words out, I was so taken aback by how pretty you were.’

This isn’t how I remember it – if anything, it was the other way around – but I guess you never truly know what’s going on inside another person’s head.

‘And, of course, you’re even hotter now,’ he says with a grin –thatgrin, Leo’s grin.

Only I don’t return it, because he’s making light of what’s going on, which is that, once again, I’m falling for him – between bouts of being infuriated and frustrated – and he’s feeling nothing more than attraction.

Being hot for someone is a thousand miles away from wanting to have a relationship with them. But at least I have my answer. It’s shit and I will likely eat my feelings later – actually, Iwilldo that – but it’s an answer.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asks, finally realising we’re not on the same page.

I shake my head. ‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter. We should get back to work.’

‘But…’

‘Look, we have a history, and that history includes us being mad for each other. You’re still attractive – even though you’re going through some sort of Witcher phase with your hair’ – I don’t mention that I quite like him as a platinum blond – ‘and apparently, I’m still attractive. Or even more so, as you’ve just said. Glad we’ve cleared the air.’

I go to walk past him, but he grabs my wrist, just like he did that night in the restaurant. Only this time, I don’t snatch it back. He’s so close to me and smells so good, heat blooms between my legs. It would besoeasy to lean against him, stand on my tiptoes, and press my mouth to his.

Easy but disastrous.

‘Let me go,’ I whisper, wanting the exact opposite. Brilliant. I’ve become one of those women who says one thing while meaning the opposite. Cassie would never end up in this situation.

‘You’ve got it wrong,’ he says, his voice low in my ear. I bravely meet his eye – and I say ‘bravely’ because this office has a glass door and glass walls and Iknowmy team is probably watching us and I amthis closeto throwing myself at Leo.

The way he’s looking at me doesn’t help either.

‘It’s not just attraction.’

What?!my mind screams, but I remain perfectly still save for swallowing the lump in my throat.

‘It’s not, Elle, but I’m eng?—’

‘Engaged,’ I finish. The word is a metaphoric cold shower and I step away from him. He lets me, his grasp on my wrist releasing.

‘Yeah. And we already dodged yesterday’s bullet with the press release. We can’t risk fanning the flames,’ he adds, mixing his metaphors. ‘At least not right now, because Franzia is?—’

‘Whereisshe, anyway?’ I ask, interjecting. ‘Franzia?’

I look around as if she might pop her head into the office any moment.

‘What do you mean? She’s working. In Paris.’

‘So, shedidn’tarrive in London two days ago?’

‘Sorry, yeah, London. I meant London. Wait, how do you know tha?—’

‘What sort of man loses track of which city his fiancée’s in?’ I ask, interrupting again. I am not about to admit to stalking Franzia on socials.

‘A busy one,’ he replies, a sharp edge to his voice.

‘Right. And do youtalkto her?’

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