Girl on the Run Read Online Free PDF Page B

think it’s my cup of tea,’ I say.
    ‘Really? If you used to swim a lot, it won’t take you long to get into condition.’ I can tell from the look on his face that he really believes what he’s saying.
    ‘Oh, I don’t know. I’ll think about it,’ I lie.
    ‘You don’t have to if you don’t want to,’ he says, looking unbelievably sweet and sexy at the same time. ‘But it’d be great if you did.’
    I realise I’m holding my breath as the door bursts open and Adam strides to the table. ‘She’s very snuffly tonight,’ he says. ‘I’ve given her some Calpol but – Oh. Where’s Jess?’
    ‘In the kitchen sorting out the next course,’ I reply, hoping he’ll join her.
    ‘Right. Well, she hates it when I interfere. Where were we, Oliver? Oh yes, the referendum.’
    I slump in my seat.
    ‘Actually,’ says Oliver, ‘Abby and I were talking about our running club. She’s thinking of joining.’
    ‘Are you really, Abby?’ gasps Jess, entering the room and topping up my wine. ‘Oh, that’s fantastic! You’ll love it.’
    ‘I don’t think I said that,’ I squirm.
    ‘Seriously, Abby, if you take things slowly at first, you’ll build up your stamina in no time,’ Jess continues, apparently unaware that this isn’t going to happen. I take a sip of wine.
    ‘We meet most nights. But we’ll let you off with three times a week to begin with,’ says Oliver, as I struggle not to choke on my Chardonnay.

 
Chapter 7
    The weekly shop was indulgent even by my standards. A four-pack of White Magnums, an over-sized bag of Tortilla Chips, two bottles of Pinot Grigio and some ‘Irresistible Cheesecake Bites’ that were so irresistible I couldn’t make it home without plundering the packet. I gaze at my haul of booty and experience a fleeting pang of guilt. My arteries will be about as free-flowing as the M25 on a Bank Holiday after that lot.
    Oh, well. I jam the phone between my shoulder and chin to open a pack of marshmallows and shove one in my mouth, devouring it as Jess finishes her lecture – and only responding when she pauses for breath. ‘Jess, it’s a lovely idea. Not least because Doctor Dishy is the Captain.’
    ‘ Acting Captain. You still like him then?’
    ‘He’s gorgeous.’
    ‘So come to the running club.’
    I sigh. ‘There is a very good reason why I simply cannot join a running club.’
    ‘Oh yes. What’s that?’
    I take out another marshmallow and examine it. ‘I may die.’
    She explodes with laughter.
    ‘I’m not joking,’ I say innocently. ‘I know my limitations.’
    In truth, I have been thinking about Oliver’s proposition last night. How could I not? But if Jess gets any encouragement from me I know she’ll leap on it, so I’m playing my cards close to my chest.
    ‘Okay. You’re probably right,’ she sighs in a blatant and fruitless attempt at reverse psychology. ‘How about this for a plan: spend a few weeks getting yourself in half-decent shape at the gym, then join. That way it won’t be so intimidating. You’ll have a head start.’
    ‘Hmmm,’ I grunt, significantly less excited by the prospect than her.
    ‘Abby.’ She says this in the sort of tone you’d adopt when teaching a Chihuahua to sit. ‘All your arguments for not doing this are precisely why you should.’
    ‘Eh?’
    ‘I mean, you’re unfit. If you want to get fit, join the running club.’
    ‘Well, if it was as easy as that—’
    ‘It is as easy as that! Oliver only wants you there because he fancies you, but it’s still a fantastic idea. As I say, you might need to do a bit of exercise first to smooth the transition, but there is a group for beginners. You’ll be fine. Forget your preconceptions – especially the idea that we’re a bunch of exercise lunatics who don’t do anything else.’
    ‘But that’s true.’
    ‘It is not! We’re perfectly well-rounded people who happen to find running fun.’
    ‘There’s nothing well-rounded about that,’ I point