Page 121 of Only Lovers in the Building

Those were the last words she managed to utter. He bent her over the couch and had her crying out to God. When the knock came on their door a while later, Lily didn’t know if it was their dinner delivery or a disgruntled neighbor coming round to complain about the noise.

It was Noah.

“If you’re going to talk about me on your podcast, you should at least buy me dinner,” he said.

Lily and Ben stared at their friend, standing in the hallway with a pinched expression on his face.

“Don’t even bother denying it,” he continued. “I’m that guy in your book club who’s digging a tunnel with a spoon or whatever. I know it.”

Lily turned to Ben, who simply shrugged and said, “Defend yourself, Counselor.”

Karma had come for her tonight. She was going to pay for everything she’d said on that episode.

Lily drew Noah inside and had him take a seat at the kitchen island. “I apologize,” she said. “I should have asked you first. It wasn’t premeditated. We don’t rehearse these things, as much as I would like to. It felt so natural to bring up examples of real relationships. Sometimes, I forget they’re recording. Sometimes it feels like Ben and I are chatting about books by the pool.”

“You could’ve mentioned me by name. No one at work believes I’m the guy in the podcast.”

“Your coworkers listen to us?” Lily asked, surprised. She couldn’t imagine his sophisticated sales associates listening to her and Ben rattle on about tropes and stuff.

“A few of them,” he replied. “They read the books, too. Everyone loves you guys, but you still owe me dinner.”

Ben opened a bottle of wine. “We ordered Peruvian. Want to stay for that?”

“Sure.”

Noah got comfortable and rolled up his sleeves, flashing a new watch. “I see you staring,” he said to Ben. “It’s a vintage Santos de Cartier. Trendy now, but it’s a timeless piece.”

“I have a vintage watch that I’m looking to sell,” Ben said. “Could you help me with that?”

“Sorry,” Noah said. “I don’t handle Timex or Casio.”

“Hey, Casio is cool,” Lily protested.

Ben took the insult in stride. “I’ll grab it,” he said. “Take a look and give me your honest opinion. Fair enough?”

“Cool.”

Ben set aside the bottle to let the wine breathe. He went over to the bookcase and returned with the leather box. He set it on the kitchen island. After some rummaging, he pulled out the watch that Lily had glimpsed that time he’d showed her his father’s notebooks and letters.

Noah let out a low whistle. “Mec . . . That’s a Patek Philippe 2499 in rose gold. It could be worth something.”

“I’m not sure it even works,” Ben said.

“It likely needs to be serviced, that’s all.” Noah’s voice was soft with admiration for the timepiece. “Why would you want to get rid of it?”

“It’s not mine,” Ben replied. “It belonged to my father.”

“He left it for you,” Lily said. “He must’ve wanted you to have it.”

Ben came around the island and kissed her hair. “Don’t get sentimental, Lily. It was probably a gift from one of his wives.”

Lily caught him by the waist and held him close. “Don’t you want to keep it?”

“I’m never going to wear it,” he said. “Do I look like a rose-gold Patek Philippe guy to you?”

“No,” she said with secret delight. And thank God.

“You’d have to get it insured and keep it safe,” Noah recommended. “You can’t leave it in an old box on a bookshelf. Anyone could get at it. Either buy a safe or leave it at the bank. Every year, get it serviced.”