Page 139 of Only Lovers in the Building

“Sure thing.”

Kylie waited a beat then whispered, “He’s gone.”

“I’m not so sure I should tell you.”

“Are you kidding?”

It no longer felt right to snitch on Jeremy. The self-effacing young man from Small Town, USA, was probably too embarrassed to boast about a modeling career. Besides, he enjoyed a kind of attorney–client privilege she couldn’t ignore. “You two have a relationship. If he wanted you to know, he’d tell you.”

“What relationship? We’re just friends.”

“Who’s just friends?”

It was Jeremy again.

“Jesus!” Kylie cried. “Why are you back?”

“I forgot my wallet. Why are you so jumpy?”

“I’m not jumpy,” Kylie said. “I’m just yapping with Lily. Now, go.”

“Are you telling Lily that we’re just friends? Is that what you’re doing?”

“That’s what we are,” Kylie replied firmly.

Kylie didn’t have a nuanced take on life. Things were black or white. They weren’t friends-to-lovers or friends-with-benefits, they were just friends. But seriously, how many friends did a girl need?

“That’s not what I think,” he said.

“What do you think, Jeremy?” Kylie demanded.

“I think you’re smart, sexy, and so much fun,” Jeremy replied. “Your cooking is so good it makes me want to cry. I’ve been trying to paint the exact color of your hair for weeks. I think we’re good together. But if you want to be friends, we’ll be friends.”

Kylie must have dropped the phone, because the next sound was a loud thump.

Lily let out a silent scream. Kylie and Jeremy had a true connection. It was worth exploring. From the muffled sounds coming through her phone, she imagined they were exploring that connection right now.

Lily was in such a state she hadn’t realized that the elevator was still and likely had been for a while. Panic seared through her. She pounded on the big red button and screamed into her phone. “Kylie! Pick up!”

A moment later, Kylie was giggling into the phone. “Shoot, I forgot about you.”

“I’m stuck in the elevator!” Lily cried. “Between the third and fourth floors. Tell Jeremy! He knows what to do!”

“Does he, though?”

“Yes!”

Kylie relayed the message then resumed their conversation. “Jeremy is calling the building manager. Now you’ve got to tell me what’s up with him. If it’s something illegal, I need to know. Girl code.”

“You can’t invoke girl code in an emergency.”

“What’s the emergency? Everyone gets stuck in the elevator. It’s an inconvenience. That’s all.”

“Kylie, I’m trapped in a suspended box. Any second, I may plummet to my death!”

“Ugh! Drama queen.”

“I’m afraid of heights, and I have a touch of claustrophobia,” Lily explained between deep, rolling breaths. “We all have our issues.”