Page 30 of Only Lovers in the Building

“I’m not licensed to practice in Florida. Is he in jail?”

“God, no! He’s an artist on your floor.”

“I never see anyone on my floor,” Lily said.

The fourth floor was hers and Ben’s private retreat, as far as she could tell.

“That’s because you’re at that weird dead end near the elevator,” Kylie said. “Anyway, back to Jeremy. He could use some help with a contract. I think they’re taking him for a ride.”

“I’ll help if I can.”

“Thanks.”

The conversation was fizzling. Lily grappled for something to say. “Is it tough being a private chef? Long hours?”

“Not this summer,” Kylie replied. “My client is spending eight weeks in Italy.”

“Nice.”

“He’s on a family vacation in Lake Como. I’m so jealous.”

Lily raised her glass to the lucky bastards currently sipping Aperol spritz at posh beach clubs across Europe. Screw them!

“I recommend reading a book set in Italy,” she suggested. “God knows there are so many to choose from. It’s not like traveling to Europe, but you’ll get the vibes.”

Kylie tapped the menu. “I recommend the lemon spaghetti.”

“Perfetto.”

“If I make tiramisu, could I join your book club?” Kylie asked. “I’m bored out of my mind.”

Lily was low-key impressed. Noah’s briefing had been thorough. However, she thought of Ben, of their cozy club for two, and how much she would’ve loved to keep it that way. But Roxanna was right. She was courting trouble.

“I make an amazing tiramisu,” Kylie added. She’d likely picked up on Lily’s hesitation.

Oh, what the hell. “You’re in!”

“Awesome.”

“My loves!”

The familiar voice had them twisting around, searching for a familiar face. They spotted Noah making his way toward them. He wore a slim-fitting dark suit, as was required at the jewelry store where he worked as a sales assistant. He sailed to their table, pulled up a seat, and poured himself a glass of sparkling water from the bottle on the table.

“You made it!” Kylie cried.

“I told you I would!”

“No, you said you had a date.”

“An appointment,” he said, correcting her. “A client called last minute. Nothing I could do. Before you give me a hard time, he bought a fifty-thousand-dollar watch. It was his first time. He was nervous, and I had to hold his hand. For that commission, I’ll hold whatever he needs me to hold for as long as he needs me to hold it.”

“I bet,” Kylie said.

“I thought I’d find you here alone, crying at the bar.”

“I’ve been crying on Lily’s shoulder instead.”

“Hi there,” Lily said, feeling like a prop in their two-person play.