“What do you think of these wedges?”

“Hmm.” I study them as I take my first sip of wine. “Too clunky for your foot.”

“Told you,” Kate says smugly and clinks her glass to mine. “Van, you should stick with the classic heels. Your feet were made for them.”

“Maybe I don’t want to be classic,” she says with a frown. “Maybe I want to be daring and unusual.”

“Those wedges don’t say daring or unusual,” Charly says, but pulls a red box out of a stack. “But these might work.”

Van takes the box and smiles widely when she pulls out a pair of black peep-toe heels with little white skull and crossbones all over them.

“These are adorable!”

“The style fits you much better,” Gabby agrees and we all sigh when she steps into them and walks around the room.

“Those are sexy,” I say and sip my wine.

“Good. I’m going for sexy,” Van says with a firm nod. “Put these in my pile.”

“You got it,” Charly says and sets them aside. “Callie, what are you looking for tonight?”

“Nothing specific,” I reply. “I’m gonna poke through and I’ll know it when I see it.”

“Good plan,” Kate says with a nod and sips her white wine. “I’m looking for something sexy to wear in bed.”

“You wear shoes to bed?” Van asks in surprise. “Why?”

“Because they’re sexy,” Gabby says. “I never had before Rhys, but let me tell you, he’s very thankful when I do.”

“I don’t have anyone to wear sexy shoes for,” Charly says with a sigh.

“What happened to Harrison?” Kate asks, her nose wrinkled as if she smelled something bad.

“Not dating him again,” Charly replies dryly. “I mean, he didn’t even tap a toe when we heard Dec play.”

“He was pretty uptight,” Kate says with a nod. “Not really your type.”

“What is your type?” I ask and pull a pair of pink patent leather sling backs out of a box and almost die at how pretty they are. “Oh God, these are hot.”

“Put them on!” Gabby exclaims.

“My type doesn’t seem to exist,” Charly replies, eyeing the pink shoes on my feet. “Those, however, are your type.”

“Oh yeah,” I breathe and walk around the store in them, already in love. “These babies are going home with me. Now, back to you.”

“Charly likes the assholes,” Gabby informs me unabashedly.

“I do not,” Charly disagrees with a frown. “I just seem to find the assholes.”

“Tell me about this Harrison guy,” I urge her. “What’s wrong with him?”

“He wore khakis and a tie to your bar to watch Dec play,” she begins and I automatically don’t like him.

“Maybe he thought it would be a fancier place,” Van says reasonably, but Charly shakes her head no.

“That’s just what he always wears.”

“Always?” Kate asks and frowns when Charly nods yes. “I didn’t like that he wasn’t very gentlemanly. I mean, it was a first date, and he didn’t hold one door for you or offer to pay for dinner or your drinks.”

“I was mortified that Eli paid for everything,” Charly says with a sigh.

“He didn’t care about that,” Kate says and pulls out a pair of royal blue heels, then passes them to me. “These would look great on you. He just didn’t like Harrison.”

“Well, then it’s unanimous, no one likes him,” Van says and zips up a super hot pair of black leather knee-high boots. “We do, however, like these.”

“Indeed,” Charly says, admiring the boots. “I’ll sell out of those real quick.”

I drain my glass and walk to the counter to pour more. “Does anyone else want more wine?”

“Me!” Gabby says with a giggle and joins me. “This wine is pretty strong.”

“I hope you’re not driving home,” I reply with a smile.

“Nah, she’s staying with me tonight,” Van says and holds her glass out for more too. “We’ll call Uber.”

“Or Eli,” Gabby adds. “He can take us home when he takes Kate.”

“Yeah, that,” Van says and takes a sip of wine, then waves a hand. “Oh! I forgot! I brought food.” She runs into the back room, then comes back with a bag of chips and three containers full of different dips. “This will soak up some of the alcohol.”

“Good idea! I still have some paper plates back here somewhere,” Charly says as she disappears and comes back with a stack of plates and utensils.

For the next hour, we proceed to eat, drink and try on shoes. When all is said and done, I have four pairs picked out, but Van leads us all with six pairs.

“Now I need a man to impress with my new shoes,” Van says with a pout.

“You’re not ready for a man,” Charly says.

“How do you know what I’m ready for?” Van asks, slurring her words and pointing to Charly’s left. “Which one are you?”

“Over here.” Charly moves Van’s finger in front of her. “You told me you’re not ready.”

“I’m ready.” Van sniffs, her nose dripping from the hot jalapeño dip, and flips her dark hair over her shoulder. “I haven’t gotten laid in a long time, and maybe I just want to get laid. Laid.”