The Long Weekend Read Online Free Page B

arrow of the sat nav was telling her to go right but the sign ahead of her said Exmouth was left. “Should we be going right?” she asked Tash, who sat up and peered at the sign ahead.
    “The sign says left.”
    “I know, but the sat nav says right,” Laura said.
    Geri leant forward again. “I’d go with the sign,” she said, looking at Laura, then Tash. “And if I’m right, you have to back me up when I talk to everyone this weekend about calling me Geri from now on and not Gimpy. Deal?”
    Tash turned to Geri as Laura clicked the left-hand indicator and pulled out.
    “What if you’re wrong, though – do we get to call you Gimpy The Great for ever more?”
    Geri shook her head and sat back. “Sometimes it worries me that you’re in charge of the upbringing of two impressionable children, you know.”
    Tash smiled in the front seat and glanced at the sat nav, which had recalibrated itself. Tash didn’t have a lot of time for sat navs.
    “Have you been in touch with Kat, by the way?” Laura glanced at Geri in her rear-view mirror.
    Geri shook her head. “Nah, she’s been a bit off the radar of late – you know Kat and her work schedule.” She paused. “It’ll be good to catch up with her this weekend.”
    Tash couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Will it?”
    Laura glanced sideways and shot her a warning glance.
    “What?” Tash said, her tone rising with every millisecond. “I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking. Kat’s party trick of drinking as much as she can and falling over wore thin on me the third time I saw it. I just wonder when everyone else will get bored with it, too.”
    “Babe…” Laura said.
    Tash held up her hands in defence. “And yes, I know I know, she’s your old friend and we shouldn’t think these things, but really, she’s nearly 40 now, not 20. She needs to grow the fuck up.”
    Geri chuckled and moved to hanging between Tash and Laura again, a smile etched on her face. “No, tell us what you really think, Tash…”
     

The Reunion
     
    By the time Kat and Abby got to the pub it was gone nine o’clock and Stevie and Vic were drinking the local cider which was called Rattler, rust red in colour.
    The pair hugged Vic and Stevie, the new arrivals turning heads in the pub. Kat was wearing a white shirt that was only on its first or second outing, judging by its stiffness. Abby was dressed in her standard retro gear, flowery dress circling around her slim calves.
    “Look at you!” Stevie held Kat at arm’s length and swept her eyes up and down her body. “Damn, girl, you’ve lost some weight! When did that happen?”
    Kat smiled as her cheeks reddened. “You know, just trying to eat right and exercise as I approach old age.”
    “Old age my arse – you look amazing.”
    As Vic and Stevie introduced themselves to Abby, the dark-haired barmaid with the twinkly eyes rounded the bar brandishing menus. She wore jeans and a matching shirt but, despite the double denim, still managed to exude allure.
    “Hi – just to let you know if you want food, you’ll have to be quick as the kitchen closes soon.”
    She looked down at Abby expectantly then flicked her eyes to Kat.
    Abby smiled up at her and shook her head. “Thanks, but we already ate.”
    The barmaid nodded and started collecting up the rest of the menus from the tables around the pub.
    Abby followed her rear until Kat slapped her leg and gave her a look. Abby grinned at being caught out.
    “I could have had some chips,” Kat moaned, staring after the barmaid.
    “I’m just looking after your health,” Abby replied.
    “As well as checking out her butt.”
    “She passed my buoyancy test.”
    “You have a buoyancy test?” Stevie said. She leant forward, interest piqued.
    “She’s arse-obsessed,” Kat stated.
    “Correction – arse-inquisitive. Only obsessed with yours.” Abby leaned over and rubbed Kat’s knee.
    “Sure,” Kat smiled. “Plus, I’d like to point out the double-denim