I took a deep breath, looking down at the grimy subway floor, and shook my head. “No. I don’t want to press charges or go to HR or do anything else that would showcase him poorly.”

Silence followed until she finally spoke up and asked, “Do you have feelings for this guy, Cara?”

“No.”

“That was a little too quick. I’m not your mom, asking if you got into the liquor cabinet while I was out of town. I’m your best friend. I can tell when you’re purposely replying with the answer you think you’re supposed to give just so you can avoid the truth.”

“Am not,” I answered childishly.

“Are too. And, before you can follow with a rebuttal, another am not, let me just say, are too, and be done with it. So, can we move on now?”

Feeling the train come to a stop, I gripped the bar next to me and stood, following the rest of the morning commuters out.

“Fine,” I replied. “I might be slightly interested,” I confessed. “But interested how, I’m not sure. He intrigues me—that I’m sure of. And I would have to be blind not to notice his looks, but it’s more than that. And it could just be the simple fact that he’s attracted to me, and I find that odd.”

“You find the fact that a man is attracted to you… odd?” she said, repeating my words for her amusement.

“Well, yes, actually. I started dating Tyler when we were kids. The fact that he liked me out of all the girls in our school—”

“All the girls?” she questioned.

“Okay, there weren’t many, but still, that’s not the point. He liked me, and I found that adorable and charming. I wasn’t the most popular girl or the prettiest. I was just me. But I guess he was kind of the same, you know. We fit.”

“And Mr. Cavenaugh?”

“He’s just completely different than me. Worldly, classy, elegant, and I’m the strange girl who shows up with an outdated purse from Goodwill and says thank you way too much.”

“I still remember when we got that purse. Good day,” she said nostalgically.

“Stay on topic,” I warned.

“Right. So, here’s the deal, Cara. You know I love Tyler. I’ve only met him a few times, but I’ve known him for years now. What you two have is special, but that doesn’t mean it’s forever. I’m not saying you have to cut the cord or anything. But, just know that if your heart starts to lead you somewhere different, don’t be afraid to follow.”

“But Tyler is why I’m here,” I protested.

“No,” she argued. “Tyler is what brought you to New York. You are why you’ve stayed. Make this adventure what you want it to be. Sorry, I have to get to class.”