"Are you feeling better?" Kyle asked me as we sat in a coffee shop. "I know you were in a pretty lousy mood when I first met you."

After I finally met up with Cam and bartender guy, introductions were made. Of course right after that I needed to explain why I was late to Cam. I told her my subway broke down, but I left the kiss out of it.  After we had talked for awhile, the three of us decided to go get some coffee. So far I had to admit, I liked Kyle.

I knew when he asked how I was feeling, he was referring to our first meeting at the bar when Cam took me out after my breakup. It was actually nice that he remembered. "I'm feeling better. Thank you."

Turns out having a heated, passionate kiss with a stranger on a subway train you could really make your night more enjoyable.

Kyle wrapped his arm around Cam's shoulders and I didn't miss the pink that highlighted her cheeks. "So, do you start back at work tomorrow, Ally?" Cam asked.

My frown alone was answer enough, but I still said, "Yes. I work a closing shift for the next few days, unfortunately." 

Even though I knew it was time for me to stop hiding out in my apartment, it was good to start back at work. Besides, if I was home, I was wallowing and depressed. I didn't want to start the new year off being depressed. I wanted to start it fresh and try to have some semblance of normalcy.

"I know how that is," Kyle chided. "I've worked closing shifts at the bar for months now. They keep saying they'll hire a new closer to take some of the stress off of me, but you know how managers are."

I scoffed. "Oh, yes. It's the same way at my job. Once I told him that I could work some night shifts, he started working me all closing shifts."

"Do you need me to talk to him?" Cam asked like a big sister would. "Because I'll go down there and--"

"No!" I laughed. "Please don't do that. It won't help anything."

"Fine," Cam huffed, "but if he keeps on treating you this way, I'm going to come up there and do something about it. I don't care what you say."

My only response to that was a smile and a shake of my head. I really loved Camille. I didn't know where I would be in my life without her. To be honest, I didn't want to think about where I would be without her.

There have been a few times when I worked at different jobs that Cam had tried to come to my rescue when I had a terrible manager. It either ended with me getting more stuff piled on to my duties, or fired. I know she meant well and she always tried looking out for me, and that's why I never got mad at her for it.

Kyle laughed along with me and nodded his head in Camille's direction. "This one's a firecracker, isn't she?"

My eyes shot to Cam at the mention of her full name. No one ever called her Camille. I only called her that when I was pissed at her or trying desperately to get her attention. But bartender guy was calling her Camille?

She knew that I noticed and gave me a look that told me not to bring it up. At least not right now. Clearly she liked this guy and I didn't want to embarrass her. So she was off the hook...for now.

"Yeah," I said to Kyle, "she is definitely a firecracker."

Cam clapped her hands together. "I don't know about you guys, but I have had enough of coffee for tonight. Why don't we go out and get some drinks? Maybe do a little dancing?"

Kyle shrugged. "As long as it's not the bar I work at, then I'm all for it."

They both looked at me and cam gave me a look that said she wasn't taking no for an answer. "Okay," I sighed. "Let's go dancing."

When we all stepped outside of the cafe, Kyle told us he was going to use the restroom and then he was going to be right out. Just like I knew she would, my best friend used this time to interrogate me about my thoughts on bartender guy.

"So, what do you think?" she asked with nervous excitement. 

I smiled back at her and shrugged a shoulder. "So far-- I like him. He doesn't seem like the usual douche bags you date. He seems to actually be interested talking to me, which is a plus."

"He seems...good, right?"

I frowned at her tone of voice. She was extremely nervous. Nervous and hopeful. Nervous and hopeful was not who my best friend was. My best friend dated like-- well, she dated like most guys did. She just wanted to have fun, scratch an itch, and move on. This was so out of character for her. Wow. I guess I wasn't the only one who was acting differently. I was kissing strangers on subway trains and Cam was considering actually dating. 

"Yes," I answered. Now I wanted to ask her a question of my own. "Has he taken you on an actual date yet? Just the two of you?" 

She pulled her jacket closed in front of her. "He asked me."

"And?" Boy, this was becoming a bad habit. I remember having this conversation with her about tonight. She kept saying that tonight was a date, but it wasn't. Not with me and some other friends here. 

She refused to meet my stare. "I said yes."

My eyes widened. "That's great! Oh, my God. Cam, I'm so proud of you." 

She looked at me with complete fear. "How am I going to do this? I'm scared. I'm thinking about cancelling." 

"You cannot cancel on him. That is not an option." 

She glanced inside the café and let out a shaky breath. "Ally, I've never done this before. I'm scared about what could happen." 

I've never known Cam to be scared. I tended to be the one that would get afraid of new things. She was always so fearless and that was one of the many things I envied about her. "Cam, listen to me. We never know what can happen. That's why it's called a leap of faith. For all we know, this might work out and it could turn into a real relationship."

"That's what I'm scared of." She turned towards me. "What if it works out and I end up getting hurt down the line? Everyone I know who has been in a relationship has either been cheated on or worse. I don't think I'm strong enough for that." 

I knew what she was talking about. It didn't take a genius to know that she was thinking about what happened between Adam and I. I didn't know if I was just blind to it all along, but I thought Adam and I were happy. Happily engaged and getting ready to be married. Then, all of a sudden, it was over. I get why Cam was scared. Hell, I was still reeling from my subway kisser. But we  couldn't keep living our lives in fear. 

I glanced into the cafe and saw Kyle heading towards the exit. "Cam, we can't keep doing this. If we do, then we'll never be happy. You need to give him a chance. He may surprise you." I pushed my shoulder into hers. "Besides, if he hurts you, he'll have to deal with me." 

We both laughed as Kyle rejoined us. "What's so funny?" 

I beat Cam to the punch. "Nothing, Kyle. Just girl stuff." 

He arched a brow and gave Cam a knowing smile. "Girl stuff, huh?" His look told us that he knew we were talking about him. Neither of us confirmed or denied that. He rubbed his hands together. "Who's ready for dancing?" 

"We are," Cam and I both answered at the same time. 

As the three of us started walking down the sidewalk, I couldn't help but think of the man I kissed a few hours ago. I wondered where he was and what he was doing. Did he enjoy the kiss as much as I did? As far as I could tell, he seemed to. He also had asked me if he could see me again. As I saw Cam smile up at Kyle when he grabbed her hand, I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if I had told him yes. 

Ryder
LEWIS

"Hello, earth to Ryder!" 

I looked over at my friend DJ who was waving his hand in front of my face. "Sorry, what did you say?" 

He rolled his eyes at me. "I asked you if you wanted to go to the bar and get some drinks." 

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. I knew DJ way too well. "Get some drinks? Don't you mean go to the bar to pick up women?" 

DJ was always chasing after girls. When I told him my cousin Harper invided me to the city for New Years, he invited himself along with the hopes of meeting some. I wasn't surprised. To him it was a whole ocean full of available women. 

DJ scoffed at me. "Maybe. Maybe not. But it wouldn't hurt." 

He had a point. We were both single and were free to hook up with girls or date whoever we wanted. But if it was so true, then why did my mind keep going back to the woman from the subway? When I first saw her board the train, she definitely caught my eye. She had beautiful long brown hair and emerald eyes. The short red dress she was wearing under her coat showed off her curves extremely well. But there was something else about her that held me transfixed. There was a longing in her eyes that I've noticed in my own lately. Longing for true love and companionship. Joy and happiness. 

When I heard her bitching into her best friend's voicemail, I smiled to myself. She had a sharp tongue and a witty personality. It was something I was attracted to. When the idea came to me to kiss her at midnight, I didn't think she would say yes. Well, technically she didn't say yes. She just kissed me. And what a kiss it was. 

I have kissed a lot of women in my life; but it has never felt like that. When the subway started moving and we stopped kissing briefly, I was relieved. It allowed me a second to think. Or try to think. Apparently with her, whoever she was, thinking was nonexistent. I was so confident when I first threw out that fun fact about New Years. It was true, as it turns out. But once her body melted into mine and she deepened that kiss; all my confidence was gone. 

I felt exposed. Vulnerable. As scary as that was, I just wanted more. More of her. I wanted to know her name. I wanted to know what she did for a living. I wanted to know what her favorite kind of ice cream was. Everything. When the subway doors closed before she could answer me, I thought maybe it was a sign. Maybe it was a sign that we were only supposed to have that one moment. 

"Well," DJ prodded me, "are you coming or what?" 

I already knew the answer to his question. And it was simple. "Nah. I'm good here. You go if you want to." 

DJ frowned at me and put his hand to my head. "You never turn down a night of lady prowling. You sick or something?" 

"Or something," I whispered. More to myself than DJ. 

I didn't know what I was exactly. I just knew I was sick...or something.