Page 23 of Only Lovers in the Building

poolside, side by side on their lounge chairs, his long brown legs stretched out, hers crossed. Lily was not a body language

expert, but even the untrained eye could pick up on the way their bodies tilted toward each other. Ben’s expression was thoughtful.

The gears of his mind were always spinning, no matter how relaxed he appeared to be. She, well, was fucking gorgeous! There

was no subtle way to put it. Coppery, curvy, radiant. Miami had done her well.

“Could you send me that pic?” Lily asked Sierra.

“I tagged you on Insta.”

“Hmm... I might’ve missed it.”

“Check your notifications.”

Kylie examined the photo closely and declared, “If you’re not going to sleep together, start that podcast. That’s my advice.

Don’t waste the sexual chemistry. Put it to use.”

“Definitely,” Sierra said. “In or out of the bedroom, it’s time to level up. Tell me more about this podcast.”

“It would be about whatever the heck they’re doing in that photo,” Kylie said. “Sitting around, talking about books, and falling in love.”

“And giving advice,” Noah added. “So far, Lily told Sierra to quit her job, and she told me to give this guy I’m talking to

a second chance.”

“Not a second chance,” Lily said. “We don’t necessarily believe in those. All I ask is that you give him a chance before you

write him off.”

“I agree,” Sierra said. “Second chances are bullshit.”

“Any boy trouble we can help you with tonight?” Kylie asked her.

“Not really,” she said in her flippant way. “I don’t mess with boys anymore. I date high value men. I won’t settle for less. Boys are a waste of time.”

“Could you send some my way?” Noah asked.

“Wait!” Lily grabbed her phone and opened her Notes app. “Define high value , please.”

Sierra lifted her straw cup to her lips and thought it over. “The high value man has his act together,” she declared. “He

has a great job or his own business. Either way, his hustle is strong. He owns or rents—no roommates. He’s well-traveled.

If he doesn’t have a passport with lots of stamps, he’s not the man for me.”

“You got all that, Lily?” Kylie teased.

“Got it!”

The high value man is worldly, wealthy, and well-rounded. He is the antithesis to the podcast bro or bro of any kind. But

where does one find this most elusive species?

“I have one question. Where do you meet these men?”

“You’ve got to move in the right circles.”

“Right. What’s the equivalent of the high value woman?”

“Every woman is a high value woman,” Sierra answered. “But we can all agree that some men are trash.”

“When did you become so wise?” Kylie teased her. “It seems like only yesterday you moved in with a vlogging camera and a dream.”

“Maybe you should host the podcast,” Lily said.

Sierra slammed down her cup of prosecco. “Are you telling me you have a legit offer to host a podcast, and you’re turning

it down?”

“Not a legit offer,” Ben said. “A text. It means nothing still.”

“We’re flattered, obviously,” Lily said.

“Forget flattered,” Sierra said. “You should be interested. Get your social media manager on that text.”

“I don’t have one of those,” Lily said. “I’m a lawyer.”

“I’d hold your hand to say this, but you’re grown-up,” Sierra said. “No one cares. Do you know how much money successful podcast

babes make? I would jump on that.”

The more the idea took shape, the less Lily was inclined to accept. “It’s a cool offer, but a silly idea. I love to read and

to share that love on social media—and with you guys—but that’s as far as it ought to go. I’m not making a career out of it.

Ben is right. We’re professionals. It would only distract us from everything else we’ve got going on and likely be a lot of

work. Ben still hasn’t figured out how to apply his grant, and when would I find time to study Spanish? I’d like to return

home with some marketable skills.”

“Wow,” Sierra said.

“I’m a chef, and that was a word salad,” Kylie said.

Noah rolled his eyes and sipped his wine.

Ben reached for his phone and dialed a number. “Allison, it’s Ben. So you’re serious? You’d have to get in touch with my agent

to make it happen. On our end, we’d request total creative freedom. Okay? Okay. Let’s start there. We’ll wait for your call.”

When he set the phone down, everyone started talking at the same time.

Lily: “Ben, why?”

Sierra: “That’s a boss!”

Noah: “ Mec !”

Kylie: “I need another drink!”

Lily: “Why?”

“Because why the fuck not?” Ben said. “I was wrong. Our careers are fine. They’ll survive this summer.”

“Are you sure?”

He covered Lily’s hand with his. “It’s just a call. If we don’t like the terms, we’ll walk away.”

Sierra scoffed. “You people are soft! I’m twenty-two. How is it that I’m the most business-savvy person here? If I didn’t

make the most of every opportunity that came my way, I’d still be stuck in Tallahassee working at some outlet mall.”

“She’s right,” Kylie said. “A friend of mine, a chef, was stagnant. His career was going nowhere until he started a podcast.

Now he has a book deal and merch. You just never know. The exposure alone is worth it.”

Lily glanced at the others... at Ben... at his hand over hers on the glossy bar. “All right,” she said. “Why not?”

She was going to make the most of this summer if it killed her.

Everyone cheered. Ben lined up flutes and uncorked another bottle of prosecco. They toasted to the podcast and the books that

made it possible.