Page 72 of Only Lovers in the Building

“You know what I mean.” She didn’t have the flowery language, but he should get her point.

“I know your heart, or I’m trying to,” he said. “If you want to fling into your future, no one should stop you. It’s your birthright.”

“And yours?”

“Me?” he said, brows knit. “No. I don’t think so.”

Lily sighed. “We’re so different, you and I.”

“Us?” he said, confused.

“You read fast. I don’t.”

“Yes, but we’re reading the same books. That’s what counts.”

“I’m impulsive and make stupid mistakes. You don’t.”

“I don’t see that as a problem.”

This line of examination was going to lead them straight to trouble. She returned her attention to the iPad on her lap. “This review isn’t going to write itself.”

“No,” he said. “It’s not.”

“Plus, I really think we should take some time to outline our first podcast episode.”

“Outline? Don’t suck the joy out of it, Lily. That sounds like work.”

“How do you prep your lectures?”

“I don’t. A few notes, that’s all.”

“Oh, I see. This is going to be fun.”

“Trust me. It’s going to be fine. Now, let’s knock this out.”

They sat, shoulder to shoulder, like an old married couple, passing the iPad back and forth, finessing the synopsis. Ben first jotted his thoughts on a scrap of paper before typing a final draft into the app. Lily confirmed her five-star rating and added a final note.

BOOKTAP @LegalLyon in collaboration with @Ben_Romero

AROUND MIDNIGHT, by Charlotte Mitchel

Couple: Liz and Austin

Trope: one-night stand/one bed

Synopsis: Solo travelers Liz and Austin meet on a tour of central Italy. Liz, an artist, has recently lost her mother to illness. Austin, a winemaker, is coping with the aftermath of divorce. These hastily planned trips were intended to give each one time to focus inward. Instead, they find each other. On the tour bus, they share snacks and snippets of their lives. When the bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere, the group checks into a B and B for the night. Naturally, there are not enough rooms to accommodate the group. As on the Titanic, women and children take priority. Liz and Austin pair up. Their suite is spacious but, no surprise here, there is just one bed. And the things they get up to in that bed have made Ben blush. I would’ve clutched my late great-aunt’s pearls if I had them with me.

Around Midnight is a scorcher from the beginning to end. Add the lush Italian countryside, Aperol and limoncello, espresso poured over a scoop of gelato, a serving of pasta, ripe tomatoes drizzled in olive oil, and what you have is a tale of sexual exploration and emotional liberation under the Tuscan sun.

Lily’s Rating: 5 stars

Ben’s Rating: 5 stars

P.S. We’d like to take this opportunity to share big news! Some of you have suggested we start a YouTube channel. However, we’ve been offered to host a podcast over the summer, and that’s where you’ll find us. Follow Pop Shop wherever you get your podcasts for our discussions on modern love and the romance genre. Our next selection is Boss Babe by Gloria Hernandez, a sapphic romance with Latine rep. With love, L & B

That night, before bed, Lily found a new hiding place for Ben’s notes. Then, with the lights turned low, she slipped on headphones to listen to his latest radio interview. She had bookmarked it for a night like this, when she was feeling restless and needed to hear his voice.

Your local public radio station from Palm Beach to Key West presents Sunday Matinee, a news and culture program, with host Grayson Mills.