Page 114 of Only Lovers in the Building

Lily read the messages and moaned. She felt torn. Ordinarily, she was a Sunday-brunch devotee, but she did not want to break free from this cocoon. Ben slipped a hand under her T-shirt and rested it on the flat of her belly. The simple contact sent warmth through her body. She moaned again, miserable.

“What’s wrong, baby?” he asked.

“We have to go to brunch.”

“Says who?”

“Kylie, Sierra, Noah . . . everyone.”

Ben yawned. “That can’t be right. I don’t do brunch, and everyone knows it.”

“Check your phone. They must have sent you messages.”

“I’m almost certain they haven’t, but you can check if you’d like.”

His phone was next to hers on the nightstand. The only notification was the weather: seventy-eight degrees and sunny. If anything, the rain had tamped down the summer heat.

She looked down at his sleepy face with longing and regret.

“Don’t look so sad,” he said. “I’ll be here when you get back. Actually, I’ll be at my place. Come by when you’re done. We’ll end the day at the bookstore if you’d like.”

“I’d love that,” she said. “And don’t worry. I’m not usually this clingy. It must have been the rain.”

“Cling all you want. I don’t have you for long.”

Lily showered, brushed through her hair, and slipped on a brunch-appropriate outfit, a white linen matching set and sandals. His words followed her around the apartment. I don’t have you for long.

Ben kissed her goodbye at the elevator.

“Wait!” she cried, clinging to him yet again. “Where’s brunch, anyway? They didn’t say.”

“Across the street at Lulu’s Café,” he answered. “Bottomless mimosas and a new DJ every Sunday. It never fails.”

On her way over to the brunch spot, Lily’s mood brightened. It was a fresh Sunday morning. The recent rain showers made everything new. She was starving and coffee-deprived and missed her crazy friends. In the end, there was nothing as exhilarating as breaking out of any cocoon.

Lulu’s Café was exactly as Ben had described. A DJ played house music, and mimosas flowed. The hostess asked if she had a reservation.

“No,” Lily answered. “I’m meeting my friends.”

Somehow she knew exactly which friends Lily was referring to and led her to a round table near a window. They were all there, all dressed for different events. Sierra had slipped gold barrettes into her afro, elevating an ensemble that looked suspiciously like sleepwear. Kylie and Jeremy were casual in T-shirts and jeans. Noah looked as though he were going yachting later, in a white polo shirt and boat shoes.

“There she is!” they cried when they spotted her.

Sierra moved her purse off a chair and invited her to sit. A waiter was taking their orders. Kylie gave her two options: waffles or pancakes. “Stick to the basics. Don’t get cute,” she warned. “Don’t even think about the avocado toast. It is way overpriced for what you get.”

Jeremy nodded. “She’s right.”

“Waffles, then,” Lily said, taking her seat between Noah and Sierra.

Noah grabbed her face and planted a kiss on her cheek. “You’ve finally come up for air,” he said.

“And you’re glowing,” Sierra added.

“Well, I’ve got news!” Lily announced.

The chatter came to a halt. Four pairs of eyes were pinned on her face.

“Don’t make us wait for it,” Kylie said.