Page 102 of Only Lovers in the Building

“What do you dream about?” she asked. “Since my dreams are so vanilla, let’s hear yours.”

“I’d like to get out of my rental and buy a place, something similar, maybe even in the building. I like the neighborhood. I can see myself staying there a while. I’d like a residency in Europe at some point, a year or two at a university. I wouldn’t stay longer than that. I don’t want to miss out on Oscar growing up. I want a kid of my own, no more than one, but I’d have to do it right. If the pressure to do it right is too much, I might not do it at all. I want to publish all my life. It’s what I love. When I’m gone, I want students everywhere to curse my name when forced to write critical essays of my work. That will be my gift to the world.”

Lily had never heard anyone articulate future ambition and dreams in such a nuanced way. What was the house on a cul-de-sac and a vice presidency compared to a life full of books, study, and travel? Instead of the standard 2.2 kids, one exceptional child who would be loved beyond measure.

“You are a gift to me,” she said.

“And you are a precious thing of rare beauty who arrived dressed in cashmere and turned my life upside down.”

If this was how he felt, he’d held his cards close to the chest. Could it be that she’d tormented him as much as he’d tormented her?

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes.” She was swooning, that was all.

He removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders; then, taking hold of the lapel he pulled her close and kissed her. Lily snaked her arms around his neck and sank into him. The first time she’d kissed him, he was a stranger. The second time, he was a riddle she couldn’t solve. This time, she knew him inside and out, his past, present, and a glimpse of his future. It was overwhelming. In the circle of his arms, the coil of mixed emotions sprang free. Tears welled in her eyes, even as happiness swirled inside her, and she couldn’t suppress a laugh. Ben drew his head back and looked at her through the veil of his lashes. Moonlight lent a sheen to his dark hair. “That laugh,” he whispered. “God, I love it.” Lily drew his mouth back to hers. His jacket slipped off her shoulders as he tightened his hold on her and lifted her, barely, a half inch off the ground. He’d literally swept her off her feet. No hot-air balloon could ever take her higher.

“Hey! Sorry to break this up, but they’re gonna cut the cake.” It was Jose, summoning them with snapping fingers, ruining the perfect moment. “Only Roxy would turn her wedding into a marathon event. I’ve got work in the morning. Let’s wrap this up.”

Ben turned on his cousin. “Give us a second, will you?”

As soon as Jose was gone, Ben kissed her again. “It’s a good thing I let them believe you’re my girlfriend, or I’d have some explaining to do,” he said.

She caught his lower lip between her teeth and tugged. “Let’s go get cake.”

“Or we can just skip it,” he suggested.

“Not on your life!”

She took hold of his wrist and dragged him inside to join the others. A moment later, with a mouth full of French vanilla frosting, she kissed him again.

“We can leave now,” he whispered in her ear.

They were standing among the others but in their own little world.

“No way,” she whispered back. “I have to catch the bouquet.”

“If you catch it, they’ll try to marry you off to Logan. It’s tradition.”

“I’ll risk it,” she said and fed him another bite of cake. “He’s kind of cute!”

“You’re cute,” he said, leaning close to kiss away frosting at the corner of her mouth. “But you’re not marrying Logan.”

A while later, when her feet started throbbing, they snagged two free chairs in the back of the room and sat together.

“Want to hear something ridiculous?” he asked.

“Always.”

“I’m jealous of Darren.”

Lily startled. “Darren?”

“Yes. Darren.”

“Careful, he’s like Beetlejuice. Say his name three times and he’ll appear,” she cautioned him. “Anyway, he’s married. I saw his wedding pictures the night I quit.”

“You quit your job for the guy?” Ben cried.