Page 87 of Only Lovers in the Building

Unbecoming of what? Lily wondered. First lady? Sierra was young and fun. She shouldn’t have to conform to wifey standards.

Sierra took another bite of her brownie and went on. “I tell him I’m a content creator, a successful one. He says all I do is pose in bikinis, and how can that last? At this point, I’m seeing red.”

Lily couldn’t take it. The so-called high value man was questioning Sierra’s value. The sickening irony!

“There’s nothing wrong with modeling,” Jeremy muttered.

“How am I supposed to know how these bathing suits look on real people if someone doesn’t post it online?” Kylie asked. “You’re doing a public service.”

“Thanks!” Sierra said. “He thinks I’m doing it for male attention.”

“We don’t care what he thinks,” Noah said. “He’s boring, and we’re done with him.”

“He’s coming for your bag,” Nicolas said. “That’s never good.”

“I’m done with him,” Sierra declared. “Done!”

“Sounds like he’s getting relationship advice from one of those podcast bros,” Nicolas said. “You know the type, right?”

“As the only actual podcast bro here,” Ben said. “I think his attitude is chauvinistic, and you can’t change that.”

“I don’t want to,” Sierra answered. “I’m done!”

“What did he do except take you out to a few parties, anyway?” Noah asked. “I can take you to parties.”

“He really thought he was doing something,” Sierra said. “Like I’d undo years and years of work just to hang out with him. But, guys, don’t worry. I’m good. I’ve got a brand trip coming up to the Maldives! I’m working with a dream brand. I don’t have time for this fuckery. Life is good.”

Life is good.

They ended the night on those words. After the dinner, and all the camaraderie and closeness it had brought them, everyone went home alone. Kylie took Sierra to her place for the promised leftovers. Nicolas said goodnight and took the elevator to the lobby; he had an early meeting and would not spend the night. Lily, Ben, and Jeremy shared an elevator to their floor. As usual, Ben walked Lily to her door, helped her with her keys, but did not linger.

Lying awake in bed, Lily reviewed the missed opportunities for love and romance: Kylie and Jeremy, Nicolas and Noah, Sierra and Mr. High Value Man, and her and Ben. There wasn’t much she could do to help the others. She had high hopes for Noah and Nicolas. Jeremy and Kylie had a shot. Sierra had to get her priorities straight, but she was young, she had time. Honestly, they all had the luxury of time to figure things out—the one thing she and Ben were in short supply of.

They’d wrap the podcast by the end of August, and Ben would have to pivot and prepare for the fall semester. She’d have to pivot, too. She wasn’t licensed to practice in Florida, and her best chance at getting a new job was in New York. However, her leaving didn’t spell the end. She wasn’t one of his spring break girls, the ones who left without a backward glance. She had frequent flyer miles and a gold American Express card. Long-distance relationships sucked, but for Ben, she would finally sign up for TSA PreCheck and fly the friendly skies. Did he doubt it? She had to tell him.

Next thing, Lily was kicking back her sheets, feeling her way to her door in the dark, and marching across the hall. She wondered what time it was. No matter, Ben was likely at his desk, reading or revising some piece of brilliant writing. She raised a hand to knock and froze. Bad idea. Go back to bed. Tell him in the morning. Tell him what, though? Announce that she was ready to continue their relationship long distance, a relationship that they hadn’t even started? He’d think she was losing her mind. Worse, he’d think she was desperate. Or maybe he’d start to wonder what she brought to the table. Bad, bad idea.

Lily backed away from Ben’s door, took the elevator to the tenth floor and knocked on Noah’s door instead. He opened without first asking who might be stopping by this late. “Lily,” he said, “welcome to the after-party.”

Noah wasn’t alone. Kylie was curled up on an ottoman, stuffing her mouth with the last of the brownies.

“There’s an after-party and no one invited me?”

“The real ones know to come by,” Noah said.

She moved past him and flopped onto an ottoman next to Kylie. Noah kicked shut the door, splashed the last of the champagne into a glass, and handed it over. “For you.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Lily asked.

“The Dow Jones,” Kylie said flatly. “What do you think we’re talking about?”

“Just asking,” Lily said. “Don’t get testy. Catch me up to speed.”

“First, tell me what you and Nicolas were talking about,” Noah said. “It looked intense.”

Lily sipped champagne and nestled deeper into the cushion of the ottoman. “It was intense,” she said. “Sorry. I can’t betray his confidence.”

“Oh, don’t give us that crap,” Kylie cried.