The Boyfriend Dilemma by Fiona Foden Read Free Book Online

boyfriend’s daughter, remember? Blonde girl, shows up at your place every couple of weeks? Although, as she doesn’t possess hooves, perhaps you haven’t even noticed…
    â€œIt’s her friend Layla,” I add.
    I don’t think Rosalind hears me because in the background someone’s squealing, “Mummy, we’re going to be late for my lesson! Come on, stop talking. Get off the phone!”
    â€œSorry, who is this again?” Rosalind says in a rush.
    â€œLayla…”
    â€œZoe’s not in at the moment, she’s just gone out on my bike…” Poor Zoe. She’s probably headed off on her own to avoid hanging out with Olivia. “I’ll tell her you rang,” Rosalind adds. “Sorry, got to go.” The call ends abruptly and I feel pretty hollow as I stuff my phone back into my pocket. While Zoe has a beautiful bedroom filled with lovely things, I realized when her dad left two years ago that stuff doesn’t matter very much at all.
    Suddenly, he was living in the middle of nowhere with “that woman”, as Zoe’s mum calls her, or “the ageing Barbie doll” when she’s in a bad mood, due to Rosalind’s bleached yellow hair and the billions of beauty treatments she has. Sometimes we joke that she’s probably made of plastic and might actually melt on her sunbed. As well as dealing with all that, Zoe is also expected to be extra nice to Olivia too. “She’s been through a lot,” her dad pointed out. “Remember, her dad walked out on them when she was just a baby.” Zoe and I agreed that it must have been tough. But then my dad did the same to us , she pointed out. Anyway, Olivia’s never shown an interest in becoming friends with Zoe. I hope Rosalind remembers to tell her I called.
    I’m in amongst the market stalls now. Embroidered tops and floaty dresses are displayed on hangers, and wicker baskets are overflowing with shoes and scarves and bags.
    â€œFind anything yet?” Jude has appeared at my side.
    I smile and shake my head. “Only just started looking.”
    â€œNo Zoe today?”
    â€œShe’s at her dad’s,” I explain. Recently, I’ve suspected Jude has a bit of a crush on her. He’s just one of the gang really – a boy we’ve known since we all jostled for space around the sandpit at pre-school. He’s so easy to talk to, and Mum was right – he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. I can’t imagine Kyle hanging out with any of the other boys from my year. I want to ask if he’s seen Ben today, but know I couldn’t possibly make it sound casual.
    â€œPoor you, all alone,” Jude teases, pushing light brown hair from his eyes.
    I grin. “I know. I’m devastated.”
    â€œWell, I can give you some fashion advice if you like.”
    â€œWhat, you?” I splutter.
    â€œYeah!” He points up at a bright yellow dress with orange suns printed all over it. “You should get that. It’s just your colour.”
    I smile. “Bit too garish, even for me.” Then something else catches my eye: another dress, partly hidden behind the yellow horror. It’s fairly plain, fitted and sleeveless. I’m not really a dress person, but it’s such an amazing colour…
    Blue – angelfish blue.
    â€œHey, Layla, how do I look?” Jude’s messing around and trying on hats now at the next stall. Danny appears and pulls on a crazy hat with a floppy brim, and the two of them crack up laughing.
    â€œBeautiful.” I turn away and reach up for the blue dress.
    The stall lady makes her way towards me. “Oh, that’s just your colour,” she exclaims.
    I smile. “I don’t know. It’s not my usual kind of thing…” I glance down at my home-dyed top and patched jeans and suddenly feel horribly scruffy.
    â€œWhy don’t you try it on?” she