Page 60 of Only Lovers in the Building

“Have you received any interesting text messages lately?” she asked.

“I didn’t hear from Allison, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Of course it was. She didn’t point out that Allison had requested that he reach out to her. Ben was obviously pleased with the way it had played out, so she left it alone. She couldn’t blame him. Yesterday, at this time, if anyone had suggested she host a podcast, she would’ve laughed in their face. Allison must be incredible at her job because, as soon as she’d introduced the idea, Lily could think of nothing else. It thrilled and terrified her in equal measure. It could be fun, but her father could die of a stroke just at the thought of it.

“Any thoughts on our next read?” Ben asked.

“I polled our followers and . . .” Lily trailed off, feeling the weight of someone’s stare on her back. She glanced over her shoulder and saw a frantic Kylie charging at them from across the terrace. Kylie was often frantic, so Lily thought nothing of it. She waved. “Hey there!”

“Hey.” Kylie slid onto the seat beside hers. “I’ve got an axe to grind.”

“Grind away!”

“Or don’t,” Ben said, leaning forward on his elbows. “I don’t know what your complaint is, but can prosecco fix it?”

“Pour me a glass, but I won’t shut up,” Kylie said and held up her phone. “This is your take? Seriously?”

Lily was too distracted by the curve of Ben’s arms—and remembering how those arms had tightened around her—to pay attention. This pushed Kylie over the edge.

“Lily, I’m talking to you!” she cried.

“Me? What did I do?” Lily asked.

“You did Clive so dirty!”

“Clive . . . ? Is this about Spring Fever?”

“The book you made me read,” Kylie said.

That was a stretch. Lily hadn’t made her do anything. If memory served, she’d recommended books set in Italy. However, she was glad Kylie had read the novel and wanted to talk about it. Could this be the first meeting of the book club?

“So you liked it?”

“It was so good. I loved it.”

“That’s all that matters!” Lily said reassuringly. “It comes down to personal preference.”

“You were so tough on Clive, though!” Kylie cried. “Couldn’t you cut the guy some slack? He was just doing his job.”

Lily wasn’t having that. “Please! He killed her career.”

“Her boss was on Big Pharma’s payroll. She had to have known.”

“I stand by my review,” Lily said stubbornly.

Kylie turned on Ben. “What about you, Ben? Two and a half stars? Really?”

“I knocked off a half-star because Clive pissed Lily off,” Ben replied and uncorked the prosecco.

Lily beamed at him. How could she not love this man? As a reading buddy, obviously.

Kylie watched them like a cat. “You two are not beating the boning allegations.”

Ben placed a glass of sparkling wine before her. “We’re not boning.”

“Not yet! Who knows what the future holds?”

That was Noah, still in his navy work suit, a silk tie trailing out of his pants pocket. He took the seat next to Kylie and seamlessly joined the conversation. Arriving late and blending in was his true talent.