Page 84 of Only Lovers in the Building

He leaned in and asked her, “What’s going on between Jeremy and Kylie?”

Who cares?! she wanted to scream. What’s going on between us?

To play along, Lily glanced around the table. Noah and Nicolas were talking, fully engrossed in conversation, and Noah did not look bored. Jeremy and Kylie were swapping stories and laughing, a half-empty bottle between them.

“They’re having fun. It’s summer.”

“I keep telling you, that’s no excuse,” he said. “This is Miami. It’s always summer.”

Ben went quiet for a bit before asking, “Remind me when you plan on returning to New York?”

“August 31,” she replied and regretted it instantly. His question had heft, loaded to test a boundary. Her answer sounded so definitive, as if she had a plan and a purpose when in fact that was the date her lease was up. She’d gladly move her things across the hall and extend her stay if he asked.

Ben didn’t ask. He just nodded curtly and turned away.

Chapter Twenty-Three

By the end of the night, the books doubled as trays and coasters. Noah suggested they head down to their clubhouse, an unfamiliar spot to Lily, Jeremy, and Nicolas. The clubhouse was a pergola by the pool with enough seating for all of them if they paired up. Kylie passed around a container of fresh baked brownies, an after-dessert treat. The night stirred with sounds, the roar of speeding cars, and rowdy music, and the chatter from the streets below reached them on the pool deck two floors above ground. The pool glowed under the city lights.

Ben told the story of the chilly February night he’d stumbled across Kylie and Noah in their so-named clubhouse, drinking and commiserating on Valentine’s Day.

Lily listened intently, recording the sound of his voice. There would be a day when Ben and his stories would no longer be accessible to her, and she would have to rely on memory alone. She took in the entire scene, while the others appeared to hang on to his words. His simplest, most mundane stories were peppered with thoughtful observations. Everyone knew how special he was; to be in his company was a gift. Lily could not believe her luck to have found him and these amazing friends in this chaotic new city.

Then things got even more chaotic.

They heard the slam of the door, and the furious tap of heels on the pool deck before they ever saw her. Sierra, in a pink shimmery minidress, showing off long glossy brown legs, emerged from the darkness. She crossed the terrace, heading straight to the edge, gripped the rail, and screamed into the void, “Fuck!”

“Whoa!” everyone cried in unison.

Sierra startled, swiveled around, and screamed. “You scared me!” Her back to the partition, she took them in with wide eyes. “What are you all doing here?”

“The better question is, what are you doing?” Kylie asked.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” she retorted.

“I don’t know,” Noah said. “Losing your mind?”

“I’m venting. I’m just . . . so frustrated!”

“Talk to us,” Kylie said. “We’ve got brownies.”

She came limping toward them in her stiletto heels. Jeremy hopped to his feet, gave her a quick hug, and found her a seat. Kylie handed over the container of brownies. Lily studied Sierra’s sullen face, makeup intact despite it all, and her slumped shoulders. Sierra had turned down their dinner invitation for a date, but dating was not for the weak. She should’ve come to dinner. Kylie’s lobster ravioli had been divine.

“It’s over,” she said.

“With the high value man?” Kylie asked.

“Yep.” Sierra bit into a brownie. “And we can stop calling him that. He’s worthless.”

“What happened?” Noah asked, on the edge of his seat.

She looked him straight in the face. “You won’t believe what he asked me.”

“Hold on,” Ben said. “I need context and a bit of background.”

“You want background? How much time do you have?”

“We’re in no hurry,” Kylie said. “Relax. Take your shoes off. Get comfortable.”