Page 27 of Only Lovers in the Building

“Of course it is.”

“That’s not what I wanted to tell you, though.”

“What, then?”

“I had a chat with Roxy last night. She told me what she told you.”

“You had a very eventful night, Mr. Romero.”

“She was worried. She said you left the bar looking upset.”

“I had a headache,” Lily said, jaw tight.

“Is that all?”

“She warned me not to fall in love with you,” she said. “The shock gave me a headache.”

He brought his fingertips to her left temple and massaged gently. “Roxanna can be so blunt. She was out of line. It won’t happen again.”

“Just so you know,” Lily said bluntly, “I have no plans to fall in love with you or anyone else. Summer love is for suckers. I’m looking for something with longevity.”

Ben studied her in his quiet way.

“Even if that weren’t the case,” she continued, “I’d never catch feelings for a man on the rebound. That way lies madness.”

“I’m not hung up on my ex, if that’s what you’re saying.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“It’s over,” he said quietly. “Still, not catching feelings—your term, not mine—is probably a good idea. I’m a mess. The breakup was rocky, plus there’s other stuff I’m dealing with.”

Suddenly he looked every bit the tortured poet, the fourteen-year-old boy who honed his craft in his bedroom.

“Roxanna said your father is the issue. She says you have some trauma to unpack.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“How far would you go?”

They were doing it again, that delicate dance.

“His death brought back a bunch of stuff.”

“That’s normal. I think.”

After a bit of silence, he said, “The morning we met out in the hall, I’d decided to dedicate the summer to figuring this out. No fun, no games, no distractions, just unflinching self-inspection.”

“We can’t have that on my watch,” Lily quipped. “We’ve got books to read.”

“And reviews to write,” he added.

“Seriously, though, have you considered therapy?” she asked.

“There’s little I haven’t considered.”

“If you ever want to talk, free of charge, I’m across the hall. Just knock.”

“You’re sweet, Lily.”