Page 35 of Only Lovers in the Building

The kettle started to gurgle and whistle. Ben dropped a tea bag in a cup and filled it with the boiling water. He brought it to her with the usual assortment of sugar packets.

“Thanks,” she said. “I’m adding sugar to our shopping list. You won’t have to stuff your pockets anymore.”

“I get them on campus, but that’ll stop soon. The summer term is nearly over. I still have to meet with students, but once I turn in my grades, I’m free.”

Why did she love the sound of that? His free time wasn’t hers to take. He likely had plans. Perhaps he’d join Frederico Costa on the Amalfi Coast.

“Will you travel?” She kept her tone light, conversational, even though her happiness and hope for the immediate future was riding on his answer.

Ben grabbed an iPad off his desk and joined her on the couch. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “Who would make your morning coffee?”

“And my filthy martinis?”

“Leave it all to me. I’m devoted to you until Labor Day.”

“Actually, August 31. I’ll be long gone before Labor Day. There’s nothing like autumn in New York.” Lily set the mug down on the low coffee table. “But whatever. I’m fine either way. It’s your life.”

“August 31. I’ll mark my calendar.”

His tone was flat without its ring of flirtatiousness. Lily tried not to read too much into it and returned to the book discussion. “I think we’ve skipped over one huge point. Justine is a highly successful Black woman from a wealthy family. Mike is . . . Mike.”

“So you agree it’s not about age.”

“Yup.”

“All right. Are we ready? Let’s get to it.”

BOOK REVIEW

BOOKTAP @LegalLyon in collaboration with @Ben_Romero

BLURRED LINES, by Kayla Clark

Couple: Justine and Mike

Trope: age gap, older woman/younger man

Review: The plot relies heavily on the age difference of the couple when, really, the difference in their tax brackets is the problem. In this interracial romance, Justine is the daughter of a famous Black artist and successful gallery owner. She is accustomed to the finer things, namely wine, taxis, trips, and Uber Eats. Mike is charismatic, Caucasian, and cocky. He is a basement-apartment dweller, surviving on a waiter’s salary while working the Windy City’s improv circuit. Mostly, they can’t seem to agree on who should pick up the check. They fight. They fuck. A vicious cycle, but a fun read.

Lily’s Rating: 3.5 stars

Ben’s Rating: 3 stars

P.S.: We loved the setting. Chicago comes alive in this novel. Although we think this couple doesn’t stand a chance in the long run, the steamy afternoons in the chilly basement apartment will live rent-free in our minds forever.

The next morning, Lily woke up to the exciting news that their joint review had gone viral. Unfortunately, the news was delivered by her father, which dampened the excitement a bit. Her phone rang at seven sharp. She could just picture her father at the breakfast table with the iPad that had replaced the morning paper.

“Hello,” he said. “I’m trying to reach my ungrateful daughter.”

Her father still had the Caribbean lilt to his voice that made even his admonishments sound lyrical.

“Good morning, Dad. How’s Mom?”

“Her blood pressure is under control. The new medication is working. But that’s not why I called.”

“What is it, then?”

“Your silly romance post is everywhere!”