Page 51 of Only Lovers in the Building

“I should go,” Lily said, hovering at the entryway. She didn’t want to intrude.

“Go where?” Ben asked.

“Across the hall.”

“Don’t go.” He relieved her of her soggy tote bag. “I’m making us breakfast.”

“If you leave, he’ll never forgive me,” Roxanna added.

“I still don’t know why you’re here so early,” Ben mumbled, heading into the kitchen.

“I’ve got the day off, and I’ve got some news.”

“What’s the news?” Ben rummaged through the fridge and produced eggs and butter. “Did Oscar say his first word? Is it Benito? I’ve been coaching him.”

“It’s not about Oscar.”

“It better not be about Slick Rick.”

“It is about Ricky. We’re getting married.”

“No!” Ben dropped the word in Spanish.

Roxanna raised her brows in surprise. “I’m not asking for your permission.”

Lily took a seat at the breakfast bar, no longer concerned about intruding. They’d roped her in, and she was fully invested. Who was this Slick Rick person, and why would Ben react this way? Not everyone was cut out for marriage. What if he was abusive, or miserly, or lazy, or one of those undecided voters who pissed everyone off come election time?

“I’m sorry, but I’m not cosigning this,” Ben said.

“No one is asking you to, asshole!” Roxanna retorted. “But you’ll have to walk me down the aisle, like you promised. There’s no getting out of it.”

“Oh, fuck that!” Ben scoffed.

“No, fuck you!” Roxanna fired back. She collected her things off the couch and marched to the door. “The wedding will be sometime this summer. We haven’t pinned down a date, but the sooner, the better. That means you won’t have long to get your head out of your ass.”

Roxanna left, slamming the door behind her.

“Ben!” Lily cried. She had never thought him rude. Regardless of how he felt about this wedding, whether he liked Ricky or not, the only thing to do was congratulate his cousin and support her choices.

“Lily,” he said, weary, “there’s a lot of history you know nothing about.”

Now wasn’t the time for a history lesson. “Go and get her! You have to apologize!”

As if on cue, the door swung open. Roxanna, who likely hadn’t gone far, strode back in. “Yeah!” she shouted. “Apologize!”

“I’m sorry you think marrying that guy is a good idea,” Ben said smoothly.

Lily could hit him over the head with this prized moka pot.

“What kind of bullshit apology is that?” Roxanna demanded.

Ben shrugged. “I’m being honest. You don’t have to do this.”

“My son deserves to grow up in a two-parent home. I shouldn’t have to rely on my cousins to step in as father figures.”

“We don’t mind,” Ben said.

“I know you don’t, but Oscar deserves more.”