Page 46 of Only Lovers in the Building

Sierra had reserved a poolside cabana at the famed Fontainebleau. A flat-screen TV was on to the sports channel. A complimentary

bottle of champagne sat in an ice bucket.

“Does this work for y’all boomers?” she asked, after showing them their digs for the day. She was obviously pleased with herself.

“I approve,” Noah said.

Lily approved as well. She was in a party mood. Rebecca was actively negotiating a publishing deal. Evenings, she worked on

her essays. Lily Lyon, essayist. That had a nice ring to it. She wouldn’t abandon her legal career, but the book advance could

buy her some time, give her an opportunity to revamp her career to her liking. She only needed time to figure it out. For

now, though, she’d enjoy the last days of summer, prepare for the one remaining podcast, and pretend her love life wasn’t

on the edge of a cliff.

There was nothing wilder, more carefree, than a summer pool party at a Miami resort.

Everyone was having fun. Even Ben appeared to be enjoying himself.

With the brim of his baseball cap low over his eyes and a beer in hand, he swapped stories with the others.

Roxanna had joined them. Lily knew he’d been looking forward to spending time with little Oscar.

When a DJ started her set, Roxanna protected his delicate ears with noise-canceling headphones.

Jeremy, Nicolas, and Sierra’s date, a guy named Ted, rounded out their group.

“He’s in real estate,” Sierra said, referring to Ted.

“Which means he’s making bank or broke. There’s nothing in between. He’s cute, though.”

Lily agreed. “Yes, he is.”

Ted had a handsome face, a sandy-brown complexion, and the tricky smile of a master salesman. No way he was broke.

“He’s been stalking my social media for weeks. I decided to give him a try.”

Lily admired the younger woman’s can-do spirit. At her age, she’d have been sobbing over her last relationship for weeks.

Ben and Roxanna left with Oscar for the kiddy pool, just when Kylie came rushing back from her swim. “You won’t believe this.”

Lily, stretched out on a sunbed, looked up from her e-reader. “What is it?”

“Frederico is back!”

“From Italy?”

“Yes! He cut his trip short.”

Kylie showed her the text message she’d received seconds earlier. No pressure, but if you want to come back to work early that would be amazing. I’m home today.

“Hold on. When were you scheduled to return?” Lily asked.

“In two weeks.”

“Ha!” Lily settled back down. “Tell him Nice try. See you in two weeks .”

“I can’t do that.”

“Oh yes, you can,” Lily said. “What are you doing?”

Kylie scrambled around the cabana stuffing her personal items into her beach tote. “Leaving. I’ve got to stock his refrigerator.”

“Are you serious?” Lily asked, dumbfounded. “Look at where we are! We’re celebrating.”

Kylie tucked her damp locks behind her ears. “I don’t have anything to celebrate. This job is all I have.”

This wasn’t true, not by a long shot. However, she knew better than to argue with someone in that state of mind. Lily recalled

how lost she’d felt the night she quit her job, crying into a eucalyptus-scented towel in the sauna. She’d relied on her position

to shape her identity for far too long. Her ideas and creativity stretched beyond the corporate cadre. Yet she’d allowed them

to move her around like a pawn. The night she walked out, she was ready to walk away for good. Then again, she wasn’t in love

with her CEO, which had made walking away that much easier.

“Kylie, don’t do this. You’re settling for crumbs.”

“I don’t have time for your food analogies!”

Lily tried a different approach. “Don’t you see? He’s the black cat, and you’re the golden retriever.”

Kylie shoved a bottle of sunscreen into her tote. “I don’t understand you.”

“I think you do,” Lily said, flatly.

“I can’t get into this now, Lily!”

“What’s the rush? Can’t this wait until Monday?”

“He won’t be home then. If I want to see him—” Kylie caught herself saying the quiet part out loud. She could return to work

anytime, but Frederico was home now. This was her chance to see his golden face again.

“All right,” Lily said. The kind thing to do was to let it go.

“Could you do me a favor?” Kylie asked. “Tell the others I had a work emergency or something.”

Lily made a face. “Jeremy, too?”

“Yes, Jeremy, too,” she said. “It’s work. He’ll understand.”

Without meeting her eyes, Kylie waved goodbye. She hoisted the beach tote onto her shoulder and stomped away on soggy flip-flops.

Lily watched her go with a heavy heart. She wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news to Jeremy, just as she wasn’t looking

forward to day drinking without Kylie. But she was a big girl, getting used to life’s minor disappointments. She put away

her e-reader, adjusted the ties of her bikini, and went off to find Ben and Roxanna.

Watching Ben splash around the kid’s pool with his baby cousin lifted her mood for a while. However, when they returned to

the cabana to find Jeremy sitting alone, her mood tanked.

“Have you seen Kylie?” he asked.

“Kylie had an emergency.”

He ripped off his sunglasses. “What kind of emergency? Is she okay?”

“I’m fine!”

That was Kylie, red-faced, making her way back to the cabana on her soggy flip-flops. “I just had to make a call. It’s sorted.”

She dropped her tote and peeled off her bathing suit cover-up. “Want to head out to the beach?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Give me a sec to grab a water. Want one?”

“Very much. Thanks.”

Jeremy jogged off. Lily didn’t budge, waiting for an explanation. Kylie approached, looking sheepish. “I don’t have to stock

his refrigerator.”

“No, you don’t.”

“And I’m no golden retriever.”

“ You’re the black cat,” Lily said, nodding.

“I got as far as the lobby when it hit me,” she said.

“This is bullshit. What did I think was going to happen? I’d fill the fridge with organic vegetables, and he’d fall in love with me?

I’ve worked for this man for two years, and we’ve never had a serious conversation.

I’m just another high-tech accessory in his smart home. ”

Lily went over to her. “Why not stock my fridge, instead? Ben and I would so appreciate it.”

Kylie showed her the message she’d sent Frederico before turning back. Nice try. See you in two weeks. He acknowledged it with a thumbs-up emoji.

“I’m proud of you, sweetie.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Jeremy came jogging back, his long hair flopping behind him, and off he and Kylie went.

Ben showed up next to her. “What did I miss?”

“Shh... I’ll tell you tonight.”

“I’ll hold you to it,” he said. “What can I get you from the bar?”

“Aperol spritz.”

He dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “Coming up.”

Finally, Roxanna came to say goodbye. “I’m heading out. Oscar’s had enough. It’s too hot out here for him, he won’t wear the

hat, and he hates sunblock.”

The baby squirmed in her arms, making angry little sounds. Any minute, he’d blow.

“I’m just glad you came,” Lily said.

“I wouldn’t miss it. Ben says you’re leaving next week.”

Lily kept an even smile on her lips, neither confirming nor denying the statement.

“That’s too bad,” Roxanna said. “I would’ve liked to get to know you better, but with the baby, it’s tough.”

“What else did Ben say?” Lily asked.

Roxanna had her back to her, inventorying her mommy paraphernalia. “Nothing much.”

Ben returned with her spritz, but Lily’s celebratory mood had fallen flat.

He took Oscar from Roxanna and offered to carry him to her car.

With his cheek pressed against Ben’s chest, the baby instantly relaxed.

Roxanna wasn’t swayed by this. She gave Lily a brief hug.

“I better go before he screams his head off. This better not be our goodbye!”

“It won’t be,” Lily said.

“Anyway, you’ve got to come back to visit us. Maybe next summer?”

“Sure,” Lily said. Though, she knew full well that if she left Miami with her heart in her hands, she’d never return.