Rune Read Free Page A

said Kitty, “and enjoy it.”
    “I can’t wait. When is it?” She searched for a date on the invite she held.
    “Tomorrow evening.”
    “Fucking hell,” screamed Jess. “I can’t, it’s too soon, I mean, I’m not ready.”
    “Jess, if I left it to you, you’d never be ready,” said Kitty. “If you had time to think on it, you’d back out.”
    Jess knew what Kitty said was true. Despite the fact she craved actual sex, she’d recall her parents constant rows, would assimilate it, tear it to pieces, and refuse to go. “Oh my God, I need to get drunk.”
    “I think that’s a very good idea,” grinned Kitty refilling their glasses.

Chapter Two
    Jessalyn attempted to roll over in bed; unable to move, she discovered herself trapped, her legs tangled in the sheets. Dragging her eyes open, a blast of sunlight along with a mind numbing pain hit her. She hitched up onto her elbows and waited for the room to stop spinning. Shit, she felt as if she were on a fairground ride.
    Jess pushed her hair back and muttered to herself. “By fuck, I’m never drinking with that bitch again.” Her scream rang out at the touch of the undulating body moving at the bottom of the bed.
    Kitty peered up, her eyes swollen, her face pale, the usually immaculate hair a total disaster. She crawled out from beneath the sheets resembling an earthquake survivor. “Don’t blame me; you were the one to open the second bottle.” Her hand slapped across her forehead, then winced. Her face turned from pale to ashen, then changed to a tinge of green, and slapping a hand over her mouth, she half fell out of bed.
    Jess turned away and held her stomach, whilst Kitty threw up over the floor; the retching noises ground throughout the room and made her heave. She placed her hands over her ears, blocking the sounds, her eyes squeezed tightly closed.
    “Oh God, I’m never drinking again, no way, not ever.” Kitty shot her a murderous glare, yet didn’t follow with words, and, instead, wiped the spittle from her mouth. The remainder of her body that was wrapped in the sheets fell to the floor. She resembled a chrysalis evolving; her legs freed, they released their tenacious grip. On a slow roll, she struggled to her feet, still fully clothed, and staggered from the room. She held her palm to her head. “I’m going to die in the shower.” The door closed with a soft click behind her.
    Jess winced, just that slight sound cracked through her cranium, and her hands clutched her head as the wave of shooting pains ransacked a befuddled brain. They left her exhausted. Then, she happened to check the time, shit , it was moving past twelve, and she had a bag to pack.
    Over an hour later, she ambled downstairs to face a pale Kitty, who sat at the table propping her head up on her hand. The coffee she held steamed dark and pungent, the aroma strong. “Don’t speak to me, don’t say a word. Just let me curl up and suffer.”
    “Whatever,” said Jess; helping herself to a mug, she struggled to hold down the nausea. Christ, this was to be the night of her life coming up and she felt like shit. That was putting it mildly. Carefully, she sat her ass on the chair.
    The silence blew out, the only sound steady slurps from their mugs. Jess couldn’t speak; she tried to arrange her scrambled thoughts. There was so much to think of. Firstly, what was she supposed to take? What did she need to pack? Then, Jess gave another groan because at this present time she didn’t give a toss. She continued to hold her head in her hands.
    The phone rang. It screamed, cutting through the silence. Each blip sent a shard of pain slicing over her. She reached out, finally grasping it.
    “Hello.” Her voice hoarse, it crisped out in a not-so-sexy growl.
    “Jess? Are you okay?”
    “Hi, Dad, yes fine, just hung over.” She tried to stop the smidgeon of a grin that attempted to play over her lips.
    “Good, I’m on my way; bet you thought I forgot your birthday.” His