“Yeah well, I just can’t see it. I’m a realtor and he’s a song writing, surfer boy. Those two things don’t really equate to a match made in heaven Em. Kyler is cute but he just isn’t my type.”

“What is your type? I don’t think I’ve even been able to nail down what you like in a man besides them being emotionally unavailable. And there is nothing wrong with him being a songwriter.” I threw in for good measure, a hint of resentment in my voice.

Finley and Kyler were both song writers for big time musicians in the Los Angeles area and—from what I’d heard—they were on the fast track to possibly winning some awards for their work. Finn had been playing the guitar since he was a young kid and his parents passed away in a car accident. That’s when he moved in with Kyler, and the two of them became inseparable. Writing was more of Finn’s thing but Kyler started writing with him and he turned out to be pretty good at it.

“Relax Emilyn, I’m not passing judgment on him… or Finn. I’m just saying that Kyler and I wouldn’t fit well. Besides, we fight all the time and he’s a total fucktard to me!”

I put my hands in the air and giggled. “Well that fucktard still has it bad for you. And speaking of Finn,” I hesitated. “What happened with him last night?”

“Nothing really, he just carried you out of the bar when you couldn’t hold yourself up, just held your hair back when you were puking, just put you in the car, and just carried your ass up here to your bed.”

She was obviously being sarcastic.

I put my head in my hands as I felt my headache behind my eyes. I couldn’t believe I’d been that drunk last night and Finn had acted as my savior. I had a feeling there was more to the story but I couldn’t remember and I just wanted to get up, get cleaned up and brush my teeth.

“I’m sorry I was such a shitty date Harper. I’m going to go take a shower and we can shop our little hearts out. I’ll even let you dress me in whatever you want tonight.”

“You weren’t horrible Em, you’ve been worse. And hell yes you’re going to let me dress you. If you had it your way, you’d show up in some little cardigan and tan pants with pleats down the front.”

“Ha ha, no I wouldn’t… I would wear black pants thank you very much,” I laughed, walking out of my bedroom and into the bathroom. I honestly wasn’t looking forward to tonight after my little debacle with Finn. I see him for the first time since he left that fateful night and I act like a boozed up floozy that can’t control her liquor. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach that I was in for a night with some eye opening exchanges between Finn and me.

Harper and I took her car and drove towards some of the little boutique shops in town that usually carry the kind of clothing that I found to be too expensive. The street was lined with decorative Fourth of July ribbons on the street lamps, and the windows of the store fronts all showcased their very best along with some sort of red, white, and blue paraphernalia. Harper parked her car outside of a cute little shop called ‘Mingle’. Getting out of her of black Toyota Camry, I stepped up on the sidewalk and raised an eyebrow at Harper.

“What?”

“Mingle?” I said while softly giggling, “If I didn’t know that this was a clothing store I’d think you were taking me out to pick out a man.”

Harper rolled her eyes and said “Oh shut up and get in there. I think your plate is full enough with men at the moment and your wardrobe is in serious need of fixing.”

What on earth did she mean ‘my plate was full of men’? I was married. I had Weston and that was it. I decided to ignore her comment, and followed her into the oddly named store. We walked through the front door and a little bell jingled overhead, probably to let the sales people in back that there were people out front to harass. Just another reason I loved shopping at my large chain stores; nobody bothered me when picking out clothes. These smaller places there was always some stuffy, stuck up person pushing their products on you, telling you how fabulous you looked—even though you probably looked like a fat hippo stuffed in a size six dress when you really wear a size ten—all because they work on commission and need the sale. I tended to be the most gullible person on earth, and I hated that they spent so much time with me that I ended up buying something I didn’t want or need purely because I felt guilty for taking their time. As if on cue, a petite little woman with bright red shoulder length hair walked out of the back with a smile on her face and a look in her eyes that said ‘you are mine!’

“Hello, my name is Sarah and welcome to Mingle! What can I help you ladies with today?”

Oh Jesus, her voice was too perky and she was overly friendly. Fuck a duck I was totally going to spend too much money in here, just what I didn’t want! But I had promised Harper I’d play along, so I guess I’d have to suck it up.

Harper was the first to respond, telling her that we needed a cute cocktail dress. She told her we wanted it in red and she wanted it to be a fitted—but not too short—dress with a flare on the bottom. Sarah said she had a few options for me to try on. Hmmm… maybe I needed to take Harper shopping with me from now on. She knew just what she wanted and didn’t hesitate to ask for it. Sarah began pulling dresses off the rack and putting them in the fitting room while Harper was mingling over by the shoe section. Ha, okay maybe I could see the reason for the name.

“Ok Miss, I have a few for you to try on.”

I followed Sarah into the fitting room and she briefly showed me the dresses she had pulled before exiting, closing the curtain behind her. I turned and began removing my clothes but stopped to take in the selections in front of me. My first thought was that none of the dresses would fit me. But as I took the first dress off the hanger and slid it over my body, I realized that it fit me like a glove. I turned around in the mirror while reaching on the side of me, and zipped the dress up. Yup, just like a glove. Okay so maybe Harper was on to something. The dress was a deep red, almost burgundy, color. It had rouching all around it—making me appear slimmer—and a heart shaped neckline. It was sleeveless and stopped just below mid-thigh. At least I wouldn’t feel like I was being scandalous wearing something this length.

“You ready? I’m not sure I want to try on anymore dresses. This one feels pretty good.”

“Well, get out here and let me see then.” Harper replied.

I pulled the curtain back and took my first step out of the dressing room and moved up on to a platform in front of three mirrors designed to give you a full view. I watched Harper in the mirror and she looked all over my body as I stood in front of her.

“Well?” I pleaded for any sort of reaction from her. Maybe I will be trying on more dresses.

Harper let out a low whistle and gave a motion with her finger for me to spin around. I obliged and stopped when I faced her again. Her face lit up with a huge smile of approval. “Holy shit Em, wait until everyone gets a load of you in that dress.”

“Really, you like it? I mean I love the way that it feels and I don’t think I look so chubby in it. Ow!” I reached up to rub my forehead. Harper had thrown something at my head.

“You shut your filthy mouth! You are not chubby and you never have been. Now try these shoes on and we’ll see if you are a total disaster in heels.”

“Ugh, heels Harper? Can’t I wear flats or something? Heels hurt my feet!” I was seriously whining now.

“Jesus you really are trying to kill me aren’t you?”

I giggled and took the shoes out of her hands and slid them on. They were black with three inch heels, a strap over the toes. Another strap ran over the top of my foot, up to a clasp that wrapped around my ankle. Once again, Harper had picked out perfect shoes. I tended to take off any heels I wore within the first hour of having them on, but these felt so comfortable that they just might make it through the night.