“I’m not nervous,” I lie and square my shoulders. “It’s just shoes.”
“Exactly.” He leans through the open window and kisses me in that way he does that makes my toes curl, then pulls away and waves as I drive away.
I’m still not sure that this is a good idea. I’ve only officially met his sisters and Kate once, and intruding on their shopping time feels… odd.
But then again, there will be shoes, so who am I to say no?
I find a parking space quickly and knock on the locked door of Head Over Heels. Charly has pulled curtains over the windows to block the view of us drooling and making asses of ourselves over shoes, I’m sure.
“Hey!” Charly says as she opens the door. “You came! I’m so glad. Come on in, we have wine and food and shoes.”
“You just said my three favorite words,” I say as I follow her inside. “Hi, everyone.”
“Welcome! White or red?” Kate asks as she holds up two bottles.
“Red, please.”
“You got it.”
“It’s good to see you again,” Gabby says and pulls me in for a hug. For such a little woman, she sure is strong. Savannah waves with a big smile on her pretty face and then points down to her foot.
“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.