Page 28 of Only Lovers in the Building

“Don’t go falling in love with me,” she cautioned. “Braver men have tried and failed.”

“Lucky bastards.” He smiled wanly.

“I wouldn’t be so sure. They’re dead to me, and look at us, hanging out, drinking in sunshine.”

“Guess I’m lucky we’re friends . . . We are friends, right?”

He seemed so earnest, as if his well-being hinged on the answer to that question.

“We’ll see,” Lily said and slipped into the pool.

She’d have to get back to him on that. How could they be friends if he couldn’t keep pace with a buddy read?

Chapter Nine

Blurred Lines by Kayla Clark is an age-gap romance with a significant plot hole. #mindthegap

Back at her place, Lily threw herself onto the couch, finished the novel, and posted an update. Then she reached out to her brother. Her call went straight to voice mail, which was only right, considering she’d ignored three of his calls. However, Patrick was decent enough to follow up with a text.

Pat: Can’t talk now. At a conference. What are you up to? Dad says you’re on sabbatical.

Lily imagined her serious brother concealing his phone like back in high school, texting from under a conference table, while someone droned on about mortality rates or MRSA.

Lily: I quit my job.

Pat: No shit. Who goes on sabbatical? That’s not a real thing.

Lily: Are you shocked? Surprised? Disappointed?

Pat: I’m none of those things. You hated that stupid job.

Lily: How do you know?

Pat: That’s what you called it. My stupid job.

Lily: I had enough.

Pat: I get it.

Lily: Dad doesn’t.

Pat: He won’t. Mom won’t talk to you until you come to your senses. She didn’t raise a beach bum.

Lily: 🙄 Can you work your magic on her?

Pat: Not this time.

Lily: Could you ask her to check in on Monster?

Pat: What?

Lily: Just do it!

Lily chucked her phone. She went to the kitchen to eat crunchy peanut butter out of the jar, then to the bathroom to file her nails. When there was nothing left to do but sit in silence and replay her earlier conversation with Ben, a knock on the door saved her. She opened to a stone-faced brunette with raging green eyes.

“You’re Lily, right?” she asked. “I’m Kylie from the third floor. Noah sent me your way.”

Any friend of Noah’s was a potential friend of hers, so Lily studied the woman’s unsmiling face. Kylie was pretty with short brown hair and pale freckles scattered over the bridge of her nose. She was taller and curvier than Lily and more direct.