Read Remind Me Again Why I Need a Man for Free Online Page A

Rachel says, eyeing me up and down approvingly. She goes to loads of trouble withher own clothes and is always really interested in what everyone else is wearing. Tonight, she’s all dressed in black, with a glittery crucifix hanging off her neck, backcombed hair, a long duster coat and really, really heavy eye make-up. ‘Take it from me, the puffball skirt is here to stay. It’s a design classic. And the white stilettos just complete the look.’
    â€˜You look amazing too,’ I say, ‘a bit like Madonna in the “Holiday” video.’
    â€˜Ughh, Madonna,’ groans Jamie. ‘If I hear that crappy song once more, I’ll puke. What a one-hit wonder. Oh, oh, oh, cute girl alert.’
    â€˜Who?’ All our heads turn as a tall girl in pink and yellow striped dungarees walks past us, nose in the air, completely oblivious to poor Jamie, who’s busy adjusting his mullet haircut in a bid to catch her eye.
    â€˜Isn’t she stunning?’ he says, all full of puppy-dog adoration.
    â€˜Looks like a poor man’s Molly Ringwald,’ Rachel cuts across him.
    â€˜I’m sorry, there’s a beautiful woman in the vicinity,’ says Jamie, ‘you’re all just big blurry shapes to me now. What do you think, girlies, will I ask her up to dance?’
    â€˜Not to this, you’re not allowed,’ says Rachel bossily as the Special AKA come on singing ‘Free Nelson Mandela’.
    â€˜Yeah, this song really gets me too,’ I nod in agreement. ‘Like they’re ever going to release Mandela.’
    â€˜Anyone for a drink?’ asks a passing cocktail waitress.
    â€˜Four orange juices please,’ we all reply, trying our best to look innocent, as if we’re four teetotallers on our way home from choir practice and that’s genuinely our order.
    â€˜Did you bring it?’ Jamie hisses at Rachel.
    â€˜Yup, but we have to go easy. If my mother smells booze off me when I get home, I’ll be under curfew for a month.’ She then fishes around in her pocket and produces a tiny club soda bottle, filled to the brim with neat, blue-label vodka.
    â€˜For God’s sake, don’t let the waitress see you topping up our drinks,’ says Jamie. ‘I’m already barred from the Berni Inn for getting caught doing that.’
    â€˜Amelia,’ Caroline says slowly, ‘don’t look now, but I think you’re being eyed up.’
    â€˜WHAT?’ I nearly fall off my chair in shock. She and Rachel are always the ones who get chatted up and asked to dance whenever we’re in Blinkers; it never seems to be my turn.
    Ever.
    â€˜She’s right,’ says Jamie. ‘Over there, by the Malibu promotion stand. Tall, rugger-bugger type. Bet he went to Blackrock College.’
    This time, we all turn to look. It’s considered the height of cool if you can nab a Blackrock boy: the ultimate arm decoration.
    â€˜Oh, he’s lovely,’ says Caroline dreamily, ‘kind of like Richard Gere in
An Officer and a Gentleman
.’
    There’s no mistaking it. In fact, not only is he staring over at me, but, prompted by Rachel’s demented waving, he smiles and makes his way over to our table.
    â€˜OK, just act natural, girls,’ says Jamie. ‘He might have mates. You know those Blackrock types, they hunt in packs.’
    â€˜Stay cool,’ Caroline whispers to me as the waitress comes back with our drinks. ‘Remember you’re single and ready to mingle.’
    I’m not in the slightest bit perplexed as I’m full sure he’ll want to chat up either her or Rachel, which is usually the normal outcome. To my astonishment, he makes a beeline for me, takes me by the hand and asks me up to dance.
    I’ll never forget it.
    Lionel Ritchie came on singing ‘Hello’ as he led me on to the dance floor. The gang looked on, giving me very unsubtle thumbs-up signs and generally