York City. But I didnât say that to Heather.
We walked out the door and I felt like I could breathe better when we got out of the penthouse. The hallway was quiet and the buildingâs lobby had a few people entering and exiting. The doorman pulled open the door for Heather and me, and we stepped through, smiling our thanks.
At just after nine, the city air was chilly, and sunlight found its way around the tall buildings and filtered down to us.
âWhich wayâs the subway?â I asked, looking in both directions. Iâd ridden the subway once with Paige over the summer. Weâd told her parents we were using a car service, but Iâd begged Paige to take me on the subway and sheâd agreed. It had been so much fun. I stood stillâfrozen in the memory. Weâd bought single-ride MetroCards and had ridden the F train to a stop close to Paigeâs before using a car service.
I jolted out of my thoughts when I realized Heather was standing in front of me, staring at me.
âThe
subway
?â she asked.
âOoh,â I teased. âSorry. Is the subway not a Park Ave thing to do?â
Heather glared, but I saw a hint of a smile. âThe subway is
never
the thing to do,â she said. âYouâre so lucky Iâm actually willing to teach you about how to really live in NYC. Otherwise . . .â She just shook her head.
âSo we hail a taxi?â I said it with a straight face, knowing sheâd use a car service.
Heather groaned and spun away from me. She punched numbers on her phone, and then slid it shut.
âWeâre using the familyâs car,â Heather said. âWe will
not
beââHeather took a breathââriding the subway or sitting in the back of some disgusting taxi.I canât believe youâd ever even think Iâd do those things.â
I laughed to myself and pretend bowed to her. âI apologize, Miss Fox, for expecting you to do something, oh, I donât know, normal.â
Heather started to say something back, but as she opened her mouth, the sleek car weâd ridden in yesterday appeared. The same driver got out and hurried to open the door to the backseat.
Heather got in first and I started to climb in after her, expecting her to move over.
âI. Do. Not. Slide,â Heather said. âWalk around.â
âOookkaaay.â I held up my hands and walked to the carâs other back door. The driver was already waiting with the door open. âIâm Sasha,â I said. I figured Iâd be seeing a lot of him this week, so he should at least know my name.
âAnd Iâm Paul,â he said, tipping his hat to me.
I smiled and climbed into the car. Paul got into the driverâs seat and looked back to Heather.
âWhere can I take you?â he asked.
âLetâs start with Barneys,â Heather said.
âTo Madison Avenue it is,â Paul said. He turned back around and the car rolled forward smoothly.
Barneys. Wow.
I didnât want to say that out loud andlook like a total loser to Heather. But
wow
! Iâd never been to Barneys. That was a store that required serious glossing before entering.
I reached into my purse and dug around for a lip gloss. I put back two before finding the one I wantedâKiss This Gloss in Smooch. It was shimmery with a tint of rosy pink. I applied the glossâmaking sure it wasnât smearyâand had just snapped my compact shut when Paul pulled the car to the curb.
âIâll text you when weâre done,â Heather said, leaning forward. âThanks, Paul.â
Paul nodded. âHave fun, ladies.â
Heather turned to me. âIâm going to open my door since itâs away from the street, and this time, you
can
get out after me.â
She got out of the car and I followed her, closing the door behind me. Paul pulled back into traffic, and Heather and I were alone on Madison Avenue. I glanced up at the