Free Out Late with Friends and Regrets by Suzanne Egerton

well, it looks more co-ordinated when I’m stripped and ready for action. Never fancied the bald look.”
    “Ouch!” commented Fin, thinking of the stinging bleach.
    “I’m ve-ry careful, dear.   Now turn round, and let me soap your back.”
    It was a new and quite delightful experience to be soaped up and down, front and back, over and under, by smooth, sensitive hands which knew the female topography so intimately.   Fin returned the compliment, possibly lingering a little longer over all this lovely satin skin than strictly necessary, marvelling at her own lack of self-consciousness as she soaped Ellie’s breasts and between her legs with sensual, exploratory pleasure.
    “Oh! Oh!   My God!   Oh help!   It’s a bloody LESBIAN! Stop it!   She’s all over me!   She’s interfering with me!   Ooooh! “ cried Ellie.   Fin blushed, hoping to God that the adjacent cubicles were empty; she drew back, knowing that she was being teased, laughing and coughing as the strong jets filled her mouth with water.
    They towelled and dressed, Fin’s underwear feeling limp and reluctant as she pulled it over her damp skin.
    “I did bring a change of knickers,” she said, “but they’re in my bag at the B&B. Could you possibly give me a lift there, Ellie?”
    “Of course! Then I’ll drop you off at the car park, OK?”
    Fin retrieved her things, and when Ellie drew up near the NCP, leaned over and kissed her host on the cheek.
    “Thank you so much, Ellie. I think this will prove to be the twenty-four hours that changed my life for ever.”
    “Know what, kiddo, I think you might be right,” smiled Ellie, as Fin got out.
    She sorted out her parking receipt, and Ellie leaned out of the car window.
    “I’ll call you – it won’t be for a few days, because I’ve got one hell of a lot of stuff to prepare this week, but I will ring, Fin.   We’ll get out and meet a few people, OK?”
    Fin waved off the departing figure in the black Golf, the golden hair visible through the rear window until traffic interrupted her view.
    It was a glorious day, the sun baking the city street, a smell of dust and excitement rising from the pavement.   Fin put the soft top down, and made for home, suddenly hungry for lunch.
    The urban hinterland gradually gave way to open highway; then winding B roads where the growly roadster’s eagerness had to be reined in, and Fin could appreciate the countryside.   As the verges unwound past the little car, the cow-parsley stirred, buttercups flickered and poppies bobbed in the slipstream; and where there were hedgerows, wild honeysuckle billowed blowsily.   Life was abundant, rich, and bursting with promise.
    She fumbled for the compilation CD which began with the William Tell overture.   It was a version that always made her smile; it was taken at such a lick, it always conjured up the pleasing fantasy of a comedy conductor informing his merry men that a mere five minutes remained before last orders at the bar. She turned the volume up. This track did not require refined appreciation.
    The raucous music blared across the fields, to Fin’s “Tiddle-um, tiddle-um, tiddle-UM-PUM-PUM” accompaniment, shouted at the top of her voice.   Her impromptu performance was almost drowned out by cacophonous competition from the demented orchestra and the car’s engine, but there was no one to be offended but a group of puzzled heifers with green ear tags.

CHAPTER 7
     
Like most Cantlesham people, Fin tried to patronise locally-owned businesses rather than national chains where possible; but her visit to Preston & Jebb, estate agents, had not been encouraging.   The girl in the front office was obviously a model waiting to be discovered.   She took brief details, and disappeared into an inner office, returning with the information that Mr. Jebb would be free shortly.   She just about remembered to tell Fin to take a seat.  
“Shortly” proved to be almost ten minutes of the precious lunch