Page 37 of Only Lovers in the Building

“Does the pink toothbrush threaten your masculinity?”

“It did, when I was ten. Old habits die hard.”

With a bit of chitchat, Ben had lured her into his apartment and silently shut the door behind her. Damn! He’d figured out that the way to get her to do anything was to distract her with inane conversation.

He led her to the bathroom and produced a bright pink toothbrush. “Here you go.”

She snatched it from him. “Boys will be boys.”

With a goofy, childlike grin, Ben pointed out the toothpaste and mouthwash. He reached for a fresh towel in a basket stored under the sink and froze. “You have a bruise,” he said. “What happened?”

“A bruise? Where?”

He pointed to a minor scrape on her left knee.

“Oh, that,” she said. “Last night I banged into the nightstand. I don’t do well in new spaces.”

“Lily, I don’t like to see you hurt.”

“Don’t be silly,” she said. “I’m not hurt. I’m not even that bruised. It’s just a scratch.”

He moved some stuff around and tapped the vanity countertop. “Hop on,” he said. “I’ll take care of it.”

Lily did as she was told and watched as he tended to her scratch as if it were an open wound earned on a battlefield.

“Wait!” she said. “Will it hurt? Should I take a swig of whiskey?”

He glanced up. “Funny girl.”

Suddenly, the little bathroom steamed up. There was such a thing as too much kindness and attention. If he was going to do all this, he should back it up with action. She wanted him to carryher to his unmade bed. Yes, she’d noticed the rumpled white sheets earlier, and it was sexy as hell.

He applied a small Band-Aid and tapped her thigh. “I don’t think we have to amputate.”

“Oh, thank God!”

“If you need anything, holler.” He left her to brush her teeth in peace. She slid off the counter, turned on the tap, and splashed cold water on her neck.

Ben had coffee going when she came out of the bathroom.

“What did you rush over to tell me?” he asked.

“Right!” she cried. “Have you seen the reaction to our post?”

“No. I mute alerts at night.”

“Well, unmute them! We’re a hit, and people have lots to say.”

“This I have to see.”

He went for his phone, swiped, scrolled, and found the post. “Fuck. They love us.”

“They love you,” Lily said.

“There’s no me without you,” he said as he scrolled. “You bring out the best in me.”

Lily was grateful his eyes were glued to his screen because she was melting, turning into a puddle in his kitchen.

“Is the coffee ready?” she asked in a scratchy voice.