Shopaholic on Honeymoon by Sophie Kinsella Read Free Book Online

says, almost to himself. ‘
Clothes
.’
    I’m noticing that the atmosphere isn’t
quite
as easy and fun as it was before. I think I might just go and pay for my trainers.
    ‘Thanks for the heart test, anyway!’ I say brightly, and take off the bracelet. ‘Good luck with the pecs!’
    Honestly. What a big-head that Kai is. I know he has stunning turquoise eyes and a great body, but he doesn’t have a neon zip, does he? Lots of men have stunning blue eyes, but only one cardigan has a cool oversized neon-pink zip. And if he thinks he’s never competed with clothes before, then his girlfriends have been lying to him. Every woman in the world sometimes thinks about shoes in the middle of sex. It’s a well-known fact.
    Anyway. Don’t think about stupid Kai. On the positive front, I’ve got the best, most whizzy trainers in the world. And OK, they cost $400, which is a lot, but I’ll just have to think of this as an investment in my career. In my
life
.
    ‘So, I’ll box those for you,’ says the sales assistant, and I nod absently. I’m imagining standing at the start of the race with Sage, and her glancing down at my feet and saying, ‘Cool shoes.’
    I’ll give her a friendly smile and reply carelessly, ‘Thanks.’
    Then she’ll say, ‘Luke never told me you were such a serious athlete, Becky.’
    And I’ll say, ‘Are you kidding? I love running.’ (Which isn’t quite true yet, but I’m sure it will be. Once I start this race, the endorphins will kick in and I’ll probably become addicted.)
    Then Sage will say, ‘Hey, we should train together! Let’s meet up every morning.’
    And I’ll say, ‘Sure,’ very nonchalantly.
    Then she’ll say, ‘I train with some friends, but you’ll love them. Do you know Kate Hudson and Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz and—’
    ‘Will you be paying by credit or cash, ma’am?’
    I blink at the assistant and fumble for my card. ‘Oh. Right. Credit.’
    ‘And did you choose your water bottle?’ the sales assistant adds.
    ‘I’m sorry?’
    ‘We’re offering a free bottle with every shoe purchase.’ He gestures at a nearby poster.
    Well. This $400 seems more and more of a bargain.
    ‘I’ll just have a look. Thanks!’ I beam at him and head towards the display of bottles. Maybe if I’m carrying a cool bottle, Sage will notice that, too! There’s a whole wall of them – chrome, matt black, and all sorts of silicon colours. As my eye travels upwards, I spot a label:
Limited-edition print
. I squint, trying to see – but they’re on the fifth shelf. Honestly. Why would you put the limited-edition-print bottles on the fifth shelf?
    There’s a stepladder nearby, so I drag it over and climb to the top. Now I can see the bottles properly, and they’re amazing: all with gorgeous retro prints. I can hardly bear to choose – but in the end I narrow it down to three: one with red stripes, one with amber swirls, and one with black and white flowers. I’ll pay for the extra ones, I decide, because I can give one each to Minnie and Suze as souvenirs.
    I carefully put the bottles down on the top step of the ladder and turn to survey the shop. I have an amazing view from up here. I can see all the aisles, and I can see that the woman at the cash register needs her roots touching up, and I can see …
    What?
    Wait a minute.
    I stiffen in disbelief and peer more closely.
    In the far corner there’s a girl I hadn’t noticed before. She’s incredibly thin, wearing pale skinny jeans, a grey hoody up over her head, and dark glasses that hide her face. And no wonder she’s dressed so furtively. Because she’s stealing.
    I stare in utter shock as I see her putting a pair of socks into her oversized handbag (Balenciaga, this season), and then another. Then a third. Then she looks around, kind of shrinks down into herself and walks swiftly towards the exit.
    I’ve never seen a shoplifter in action before, and for an instant I just feel stunned. But next moment a