Girl on the Run Read Online Free PDF Page A

cleavage. A fact which, frankly, has made my week.
    ‘Yeah well, Doctor Dishy could be the first,’ she replies. ‘But nothing’s going to happen if you keep standing here.’
    She’s right, of course. Besides, I should go out there if only to rescue him from Adam. So far, Oliver has manfully resisted Jess’s husband’s attempts to force him into a catatonic state with his political ramblings, but how long that will be the case, God only knows.
    ‘I wish I’d prepared for this more,’ I tell Jess. ‘I mean, look at me. My nail polish has more chips than Harry Ramsden’s and I haven’t had time to shave my legs.’
    ‘So? You’re wearing trousers.’ She hands me a bowl of steaming potatoes.
    ‘That’s not the point.’
    ‘Why? Are you planning on taking them off?’
    ‘Didn’t I tell you I was hoping for a game of Strip Poker before the night’s out?’ I grin.
    There’s a cough from the door and when I look up Oliver is standing there, looking slightly stunned. My cheeks flush. ‘That was a . . . I didn’t mean it about the . . .’
    ‘How are you getting on, Oliver?’ Jess steps in.
    ‘Um . . . fine,’ he replies, as his eyes flash to mine then glance away shyly. ‘I came to see if I could help.’
    ‘All under control,’ says Jess.
    Conscious that his eyes are on me again, I am unable to look back until, eventually, he wanders over to the notice-board.
    ‘You’ve got beautiful children,’ he tells Jess, scanning the photos. ‘Are they in bed?’
    I turn to Jess in anticipation of her answer and register that she’s pointing manically to her eyes, whirling round her fingers in front of her face as if doing a miniature version of the hand-jive.
    ‘Hmmm?’ she says shiftily, finally registering the question. ‘Oh, yes – bedtime’s at seven. Got it down to a fine art now.’
    ‘I love kids,’ he continues. ‘I just can’t wait to have them myself. I became an uncle recently.’
    ‘Oh really?’ says Jess, only half-concentrating as she frantically starts pointing at her face. I shake my head in bewilderment, wondering why she’s chosen now to launch a game of charades.
    ‘Yeah, my sister had a little boy – Jonah. Adorable.’
    ‘How old is he?’ I ask.
    As he turns to answer, Jess grabs me by the elbow and spins me round as if launching into a flamenco.
    ‘Four months, I think,’ he says. ‘He’s crawling.’
    ‘That’s advanced for four months,’ coughs Jess. ‘They usually do it at eight.’ I go to turn when she grabs me by the arm again and snatches the potatoes from my hands. ‘Oliver, sorry to be a pain, but could you take those through before they get cold?’
    ‘My pleasure,’ he grins as Jess grips me with such force I’m wondering if a Chinese burn is next.
    ‘What’s with the ju-jitsu practice?’ I ask when Oliver disappears through the door. She opens her kitchen drawer, pulls out her compact mirror and thrusts it in my face. The steam from the potatoes has left mascara running down my cheeks like a North Sea oil spill.
    ‘Oh, brilliant.’
    ‘Don’t worry – he didn’t see. Have a tissue. Then get out there and flirt like your life depends on it.’
    Adam is determined. No matter how often Jess attempts to steer her husband’s conversation onto Come Dine with Me or Amanda Holden’s Botox, he’s having none of it.
    ‘The apathy over Europe in this country is unbelievable,’ he says, finishing a mouthful of vegetables. ‘There are three hundred and seventy-five million citizens in the EU and hardly anyone appreciates the influence the European Parliament has on our lives. The budget it controls is phenomenal and yet—’
    The baby monitor crackles into life as Lola wakes up crying. Everyone pauses to see if she settles. After a few seconds, it becomes apparent that she isn’t going to.
    ‘I’ll go.’ Adam slides back his chair and heads for the door. I have to stop myself from sighing out loud with relief.
    ‘What do you reckon to