The Long Weekend Read Online Free

head in the en-suite, then came back into the bedroom. “This is incredible. It’s like a fucking show home…”
    Vic watched Stevie: it’d been a while since she’d jumped up and down on a bed with such glee in her presence. Before all of this, Vic would have jumped on top of her there and then, wrestled her into submission and kissed her long and hard. But these days, lines were blurred and their relationship was misshapen, wonky. Vic continually checked her actions, stopped, reassessed.
    Stevie was staring at her and was probably thinking similar thoughts. When did kissing your wife become such a difficult decision?
    Vic forced a smile and Stevie returned it, just as sad and ill-formed. If she were going to go with her gut it was too late; the moment had gone and there were too many thoughts clogging the air in the bedroom now. Vic bit her top lip and took off her glasses, running a hand through her hair before replacing them.
    “Shall we get going? The Flowerpot awaits.” Vic offered Stevie her hand.
    Stevie made a slight grunting noise as she got up, something she’d added to her repertoire since turning 40 earlier in the year.
    “Yep – I’m famished.”
    ***
    The Flowerpot was busier when they returned, despite the fact it was little more than an hour later. A new bartender had appeared in Vic and Stevie’s absence and she greeted them with a welcoming smile as they approached the bar. She had a pleasing Devonian accent that curled at the edges, along with short, dark hair and piercing brown eyes.
    As they sat down with their wine, burgers ordered, Stevie checked her phone but reception was poor. She was in the country now.
    “Just going to check this,” she said to Vic, indicating her mobile. Stevie’s bones creaked as she walked out of the car park until she eventually got three bars of signal, a couple of texts popping up on-screen.
    When she returned, Vic had poured the Cabernet Sauvignon and already taken a large gulp.
    Stevie’s phone skittered across the shiny wooden table as she put it down and took her own slug of wine. She sighed with contentment as she felt the warming alcohol seep into her system.
    “So?” Vic leant back in her chair.
    “Well, they’ve all left at least.”
    “All of them?”
    “Yep – even Gimpy got off work early, so she’s on a train.”
    “I’m impressed,” Vic said.
    “I’m amazed.” Stevie paused. “Kat and Abby reckon they’ll make it by 9-ish. Stu’s at his mum’s and she’ll bring him in the morning.”
    “And the other two?”
    Stevie crinkled her forehead. “They left late, obviously…”
    “Obviously…”
    “…But they’ve dropped the kids off and they’ve got to pick up Gimpy – so who knows. Around 10pm?”
    “Optimistic,” Vic grinned.
    “Give or take,” Stevie said. “The upshot is, most of the merry band will be here soon – barring calamitous natural disasters.”
    “And dodgy sat navs.”
    “I’m going to treat that comment with the contempt it deserves, drink some more wine and hope our food comes soon before I eat this beermat.” Stevie smiled at Vic, a knowing smile, a smile to a lover she’d known for half of her life. “By the way – did you get a vibe from the barmaid?”
    “A vibe?”
    “You know – an ‘on our team’ vibe.” Stevie narrowed her eyes conspiratorially as she said this.
    Vic flicked her gaze up to the bar and studied the barmaid for a minute, then shook her head. “Nah, I don’t think they allow lesbians this far west, do they?”
    “Ha ha,” said Stevie. “Bet you a fiver she is.”
    Vic arched an eyebrow. “You going to ask her?”
    “Not tonight, but maybe tomorrow.” Stevie yawned. “Anyway, here’s to a fab reunion.” She held up her glass for Vic to chink.
    “Let’s hope it’s not as eventful as the last one...”
    “I’m kinda hoping it might be.”
     

The Collection
     
    “You ate what?" Tash turned in the passenger seat as Laura guided the car back onto the