Page 44 of Only Lovers in the Building

Ben had her back against a wall. There was no nice way to put it, no chic and tasteful turn of phrase to convey what he was

doing to her. He was fucking her brains out. Lily, breathless, scratched his back and cried out his name. “Ben! Oh my God,

Ben!”

“Am I your buddy? Is that what I am to you?”

Shocked, she went still. “Is that what this is all about?”

The pettiness! He’d played the long game, and she loved it. How long had it been since they’d recorded that podcast? He’d

been ruminating on it like the vengeful Virgo he was.

“Well played, friend !”

Those were the last words she managed to utter. He bent her over the couch and had her crying out to God. When the knock came

on their door a while later, Lily didn’t know if it was their dinner delivery or a disgruntled neighbor coming round to complain

about the noise.

It was Noah.

“If you’re going to talk about me on your podcast, you should at least buy me dinner,” he said.

Lily and Ben stared at their friend, standing in the hallway with a pinched expression on his face.

“Don’t even bother denying it,” he continued. “I’m that guy in your book club who’s digging a tunnel with a spoon or whatever. I know it.”

Lily turned to Ben, who simply shrugged and said, “Defend yourself, Counselor.”

Karma had come for her tonight. She was going to pay for everything she’d said on that episode.

Lily drew Noah inside and had him take a seat at the kitchen island. “I apologize,” she said. “I should have asked you first.

It wasn’t premeditated. We don’t rehearse these things, as much as I would like to. It felt so natural to bring up examples

of real relationships. Sometimes, I forget they’re recording. Sometimes it feels like Ben and I are chatting about books by

the pool.”

“You could’ve mentioned me by name. No one at work believes I’m the guy in the podcast.”

“Your coworkers listen to us?” Lily asked, surprised. She couldn’t imagine his sophisticated sales associates listening to

her and Ben rattle on about tropes and stuff.

“A few of them,” he replied. “They read the books, too. Everyone loves you guys, but you still owe me dinner.”

Ben opened a bottle of wine. “We ordered Peruvian. Want to stay for that?”

“Sure.”

Noah got comfortable and rolled up his sleeves, flashing a new watch. “I see you staring,” he said to Ben. “It’s a vintage

Santos de Cartier . Trendy now, but it’s a timeless piece.”

“I have a vintage watch that I’m looking to sell,” Ben said. “Could you help me with that?”

“Sorry,” Noah said. “I don’t handle Timex or Casio.”

“Hey, Casio is cool,” Lily protested.

Ben took the insult in stride. “I’ll grab it,” he said. “Take a look and give me your honest opinion. Fair enough?”

“Cool.”

Ben set aside the bottle to let the wine breathe. He went over to the bookcase and returned with the leather box. He set it on the kitchen island. After some rummaging, he pulled out the watch that Lily had glimpsed that time he’d showed her his father’s notebooks and letters.

Noah let out a low whistle. “ Mec ... That’s a Patek Philippe 2499 in rose gold. It could be worth something.”

“I’m not sure it even works,” Ben said.

“It likely needs to be serviced, that’s all.” Noah’s voice was soft with admiration for the timepiece. “Why would you want

to get rid of it?”

“It’s not mine,” Ben replied. “It belonged to my father.”

“He left it for you,” Lily said. “He must’ve wanted you to have it.”

Ben came around the island and kissed her hair. “Don’t get sentimental, Lily. It was probably a gift from one of his wives.”

Lily caught him by the waist and held him close. “Don’t you want to keep it?”

“I’m never going to wear it,” he said. “Do I look like a rose-gold Patek Philippe guy to you?”

“No,” she said with secret delight. And thank God.

“You’d have to get it insured and keep it safe,” Noah recommended. “You can’t leave it in an old box on a bookshelf. Anyone

could get at it. Either buy a safe or leave it at the bank. Every year, get it serviced.”

“That’s a lot of upkeep for something you won’t wear,” Lily admitted.

“This watch is a loaner,” Noah said, pointing to his Santos. “I belong to a watch club. That takes the trouble out of it.”

“Would you like to buy it?” Ben asked Noah.

“Even with my promotion, I can’t afford it,” Noah said sadly. “If I were you, I’d sell it and pocket the money.”

“That’s the plan,” Ben said.

“If you want me to help you out, we’d have to act fast. I won’t be around for long.”

“Oh no...” Lily said, knowing what that likely meant.

“I accepted the job offer,” Noah said. “It’s much more generous than I thought. Relocation expenses are included, a lease

on an apartment, too. I’ll have a year to sort myself out and find a place of my own.”

“That’s a good deal,” Ben said.

“It’s a great deal,” Noah said. “When I moved to Miami, I lived in a hostel for a month. My clothes kept getting stolen.”

“Get ready for houseguests,” Lily said. “I caught Sierra searching flights.”

Noah narrowed his eyes on her. “How about you, Lily? What are your plans?”

“I’m not sure when I’ll visit, but it’s on my bucket list.”

“I meant when will you start looking for a new job?”

“Soon,” Lily stammered. The last person she’d expected to get a lecture from was Noah.

“Let her enjoy her last couple weeks,” Ben intervened.

He rubbed her lower back, tracing wide circles, coaxing her to relax. It only made Lily tense up more. Last couple weeks . He made it sound so definite. As if they had no other option except to separate. In her mind, there were no hard limits.

Couldn’t they work out an alternate ending? Was there no possible future for them? Would they ever talk about it? Or was the

plan set in stone? Once he dropped her off at Miami International in his beloved BMW, would that be the end of it? Hadn’t

he said he loved her? No, he hadn’t. He’d said he loved everything about her , which wasn’t the same.

Lily closed her eyes. She was better than an ostrich at burying her head in the sand.

She intended to enjoy these final few days, regardless of the outcome.

She hadn’t done all this work just to fall apart over some guy.

Once she left this building for good, she might never know true happiness again.

Noah was off to a bright, sparkling future, a dream job in a dream location.

Lily had found those things here. There was no use looking for it anywhere else.

In a city known for its artificiality, she’d found her authentic self.

Too bad she’d have to leave that girl behind.

Pop Shop

A Pop Culture Podcast

Category: Arts

Rating: 4.95 stars

*RATED #1 Podcast in Arts & Culture*

August 23: Arm Candy by Vikki Ong

with Lily Lyon and Ben Romero

Lily: At last, we have a classic romantic comedy! Our book of the week is Arm Candy by Vikki Ong. Beyond obsessed!

Ben: I was not as obsessed as you, but I enjoyed it.

Lily: Don’t you miss the simple rom-coms of the nineties? And the usual cast of characters? Julia Roberts, Nia Long, Meg Ryan,

Angela Bassett, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts—

Ben: I miss Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco, and once again, De Niro.

Lily: Our nineties nostalgia could not be more different. That’s a subject for another podcast. Let’s focus on this super fun,

fast-paced romance set in beautiful Singapore. Ben, could you give us a brief synopsis?

Ben: Jon Tan is a notorious womanizer and major fuckup. Desperate to prove to his dying grandfather that he deserves to inherit

the family business, his plan is to hire a so-called nice girl to accompany him to a reunion. He’s willing to shell out a

quarter of a million dollars.

Lily: I’m nice enough. Should I lend out my services? In this economy, it’s all about multiple streams of income.

Ben: I’d love to swim in that stream.

Lily: Put your money where your mouth is, honey.

Ben: That’s essentially what Candace Song says to Jon. They’re in the same boat, rowing upstream, desperate to run family businesses.

Lily: She’s watching, helpless, as Candy’s Sweet Shop, the confectionery business that’s been in her family for decades, is losing

ground. They’re no longer competitive. No banks will lend to them. She needs an infusion of cash. Before you say anything,

Candy’s Sweet Shop is on the nose. It’s meant to be cute, but it ain’t.

Ben: It’s a form of virtue signaling. Why not say she wants the money? Instead, she needs it to save a candy shop, of all things. If it wasn’t a cute shop, it would be a dog shelter or a charming B and B, anything

to tug at our heartstrings.

Lily: I agree. Let’s be the greedy capitalists that we are! Who in their right mind would walk away from a quarter-million dollars?

Not me.

Ben: Me, neither.

Lily: That kind of money could change your life. It could put you through school, help you start a business... In some cities,

it could buy a house.

Ben: Not in this city. Let’s get into the tropes.

Lily: Fake dating, obviously. How did we get this far without running into it? It’s one of the most popular tropes around.

Ben: Maybe because it’s the least realistic. Not having a date for a wedding or whatever is no reason to rope someone else into

your misery.

Lily: Ben Romero, I specifically remember you roping me in on more than one occasion. I was your arm candy.

Ben: Those dates were not fake. You know it.

Lily: I’m so glad this is a podcast. No one can see me turn into a ripe tomato.

Ben: More like bright red cherry hard candy, if we’re staying on theme.

Lily: Speaking of themes, this story centers around family, which I like.

Ben: A daddy’s girl through and through.

Lily: Who? Me?

Ben: Yes, you!

Lily: I won’t deny it. I’m working on it.

Ben: Candy’s job was to look pretty, but she successfully brokers a peace treaty between three generations of the Tan dynasty.

It’s remarkable.

Lily: She missed her vocation. Candy is a natural-born diplomat. She should close shop and head to Singapore’s version of the State

Department.

Ben: I was on the grandfather’s side. His son ran the family business to the ground. It took decades to rebuild. Now his no-good

grandson wants to take the helm. I don’t know about that.

Lily: Jon Tan is the consummate party boy. He barely made it through the elite British private school he was sent to. He wrecked

the sports car he was gifted at sixteen. He’s been spending the family fortune in London, which is where the couple meets.

Ben: He’s pulled himself together, but it’s a case of too little, too late.

Lily: I resent that it’s a woman’s job to get him over a line.

Ben: She was compensated fairly.

Lily: He offers Candy an insane amount of money to accompany him on an all-expense-paid trip to Singapore. Most people would just

take the trip! No further compensation required. This makes me think his grandfather is right. Jon is not a good businessman.

Like his father before him, he will ruin the family business.

Ben: What does this business involve?

Lily: It’s not important. Two charming people fall in love in a breathtaking setting. There’s food and culture and family drama.

Those are the main points.

Ben: This is a book about men. Interesting how the women do all the emotional heavy lifting.

Lily: The men would crumble without the support of these women.

Ben: I’d crumble without you.

Lily: Somehow, I doubt it.

Ben: I’m crushed. We’ll sort this out later. What else do you like about this book?

Lily: Am I the only one who liked it?

Ben: You’re not alone. The food descriptions made my mouth water. The banter was great.

Lily: You know how much I love banter.

Ben: The bantering we do over good banter is insane.

Lily: What exactly didn’t you like?

Ben: The willful ignorance of the characters. They were clearly falling in love. Candy is so observant, and yet she couldn’t pick

up on this? It was beyond clueless.

Lily: Nice nineties reference! Except, it might’ve seemed too good to be true. Remember, they have very different backgrounds.

She didn’t belong in his world. She was only pretending.

Ben: You know who wasn’t fooled? Jon’s grandmother. She knew the deal from the start. I loved her.

Lily: She was sharp! I loved her, too!

Ben: Let’s wrap this up with a cute bow for our listeners.

Lily: Jon and Candy think they’re pulling something on Grandpa Tan, but the joke’s on them. In this bighearted rom-com, three generations

come together to bring these hopeless lovers together.

Ben: Well said, Lily. Now I like it a little more.

Lily: Then, I’ve done my job.

Ben: That’s it for us.

Lily: See you next week. Until then, give love a chance.

Comments:

@fr33spirit: Who’s going to tell them? This is love. Duh!

@Dylan22: Don’t crush his heart, Lily!