Page 111 of Only Lovers in the Building

Ben rubbed her back and mouthed Do it.

“If you want to entertain the offer or any other that will surely come your way, you should have an agent. If not me, someone else.”

Lily had heard Ben say too many good things about his agent to pass on the offer of representation. Besides, Rebecca was the only one with a vision for the project. If she was going to take the leap, she’d need someone competent to guide her.

“Rebecca Blackwell, will you usher me to literary stardom?”

“I’d be honored.”

Ben threw his arms around her. His phone came so close to plunging into the water, but he didn’t seem to care. “Baby,” he whispered into her hair, “I’m so proud of you.”

Lily closed her eyes. Each day in his arms got better and better. Each day, an unknown dream came true.

Pop Shop

A Pop Culture Podcast

Category: Arts

Rating: 4.7 stars

August 2: Crushed Hearts by Kenya Parker

with Lily Lyon and Ben Romero

Lily: We’re back with a great read by one of my favorite authors. This is the third installment of a series set in enigmatic New Orleans with lush depictions of Black life and culture. In Crushed Hearts, Madelyn’s boyfriend of seven years, Henry, abruptly ends their relationship. Not long after, she meets successful jazz musician Wyatt. Can she learn to love again? Of course she can! Ben and I were more intrigued by Madelyn and Henry, the early years.

Ben: Seven years is a long time to let anything drag on.

Lily: They started dating in high school. This is the classic teenage-sweetheart setup.

Ben: We bring you this episode with apologies to my high school sweetheart, to whom I was a world-class jerk.

Lily: In that case, I’d like to take a moment to extend my sincere apologies to the boy in middle school who passed me a note asking Will you be my girlfriend? with answer options Yes, No, or Maybe (Let’s meet at the bleachers after class and talk). A clever, well-crafted note to which I replied New phone, who dis?

Ben: No, you didn’t!

Lily: Yes, I did. What can I say? He wasn’t my type.

Ben: What was your type at thirteen?

Lily: The class president, funnily enough a guy named Wyatt.

Ben: That tracks.

Lily: Anyway, to the boy whose heart I broke, I’ll just say you dodged a bullet, my friend. I wish you well.

Ben: Same.

Lily: With that bit of housekeeping out of the way, let’s move on.

Ben: I’d like to play devil’s advocate.

Lily: Go ahead.

Ben: You already know I have a soft spot for Henry. We’ve talked about this.

Lily: We have.