Page 6 of Tame Me

Chapter Two

Today was shaping up to be a brilliant day. First up was hours of quality shopping time with Lolita helping me buy clothes for my trip back home to Mildura, which I was totally dreading. After that, as if the day couldn't get any better, I had a date with Billy. I’d nearly fallen off my chair when he’d phoned reception yesterday. The sound of his voice had set my heart aflutter and I’m sure I’d been grinning like a crazy woman since he invited me to dinner.

I was buzzing with anticipation by the time Lolly pulled her Grand Jeep Cherokee into the drop-off zone and opened the car door.

She squealed, confirming her excitement matched mine. “Ready to shop till we drop?”

“Absolutely.” I slipped into the passenger seat and leaned over to give her a hug.

“Let’s go then.” She put the car into gear and pulled onto the quiet street.

“What time do you have to be back?”

“Well . . .”

It must’ve been the way I said it because she spun to me with wide eyes. “Well, what?”

“Billy called yesterday.”

“Oh yay, and?”

“I’m meeting him in his room at seven tonight.”

She put her foot on the accelerator, shooting us through a yellow light. “Goody! I’ve got you for the whole day before he shags your brains out.”

I giggled. “Correct.”

Because we arrived at the shops right on opening time, there were plenty of parking spaces. Lolly drove up a ramp and pulled into a parking bay next to the entrance doorway. I hadn’t been to Pacific Fair since they’d finished the multi-million-dollar renovation, so I was already disorientated.

We jumped out of the car, and Lolly hooked her arm into mine as we strolled toward the entrance and as we stepped onto a set of escalators leading down to the center, she said, “Give me a rundown of your plans in Mildura.”

“Okay. I fly in on Friday at about lunchtime. Nothing planned that night. I’m having morning tea with Aunty Ann on Saturday, and Dad’s party is Saturday night. I fly home on Sunday around lunchtime. That’s it.”

“Right.” She held out her thumb. “For starters, we need an outfit for the plane.”

“I’ll just wear my jeans.”

“Like hell you will.” She hit me with her long-suffering fashion-tragic look.

I chuckled. “Okay, no jeans.”

“No. I’m thinking of a stylish jumpsuit and heels to match. Then Friday night you need a couple of choices of clothing, just in case you go clubbing or something.”

I burst out laughing. “Lolly, it’s Mildura, not Melbourne.”

“A girl can never be too prepared.”

At the bottom of the escalator, she led me to the first shop on the left. The furniture was sparse, the decor bland, and the shopkeeper looked annoyed that we’d stepped through her door. I would have walked right back out if Lolita hadn’t strode to the nearest rack and started tugging clothes aside. I stood back, ready to witness the shopping master at work.

“Hold that.” Without looking at me, Lolita passed me a hanger holding a long flowing dress.

“And this.” She repeated the move with another dress.

Once I had five items of clothing, she turned with a grin. “Okay, let’s try them on.”

Obediently, I followed her toward the changing room. We passed the mirrored counter, and the shop assistant looked up as if she’d only just noticed us. “Would you like some help?”

Lolly showed her a palm. “No. We’ve got this.”

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