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"Well, shit" He straightens up and perches on the corner of the desk "There’s a checkbook in the top right drawer I have the funds Pay whatever bills are outstanding And get uys still owe and how much I’ll talk to them personally"

I continue to look at him On the outside, I probably looktoattention Instead, I keep wondering: Why him?

Why, after all this tiravitational pull? He’s just a guy Why do I like the way he smells? Why do I touch myself and think of him? Why did I jump on the chance to come work for him?

"Your florist called," I say aardly

Link’s face pales He stands up and fishes his cell phone from his pocket The expression on his face is so pained, so distraught My stohtens in response

"Hi, Taylor Yeah, I’er slowly replaces his sadness "I forgot" He almost whispers the word His lips flatten into a thin line "Yeah Two dozen today Red" He rubs at his forehead as if in pain "Yes, send a picture of delivery You too"

When he looks back at et my Monday flower order It’s…important"

I nod

He stares

I stare back

I’ to ask It’s notthe details

"They’re for her," he ain and he turns for the door

"You’re doing a good job Thank you"

"You’re welco else that hasn’t happened in a long ti well

Link stops, his hand on the doorknob He doesn’t turn around or atteo by, and then he drops his head "Do you ever think about killing him?"

I blink, surprised by his question A shiver dances down my spine as I realize he knows about hts run through my mind I don’t express any of them

"Yes"

He nods at the floor "How often? How often do you think bout it?"

"Always," I breathe

He pivots slowly, peering back atelse Appreciation

I think he’s going to say more--he looks like he wants to--but he pulls the door open, leaving without another word

And then I understand the draw It’s not that we’ve both been daed Or that we both have suffered, or lost, or hurt

It’s that we both survived it

Seven

Link

It’s late by the tiet hoy drink I’ to need it

I drop my jacket on the chair and thu on the string of the overhead light The naked bulb illu me to turn the combination on the padlock

As soon as I pull the door open, the ammonia scent of piss fills my nose I turn my head away and take a deep breath And then I rip away the duct tape covering Aaron’s eyes He lue are still stuck to his face,his eyelashes closed Not that he can really see out of his swollen eyes anyway

I lean down and s His nostrils flare with each pained breath, but he’s unable to move Kept secured to the chair I strapped him to

"Are you ready to cooperate?"

It takes him a moment, but then he nods I pry the tape fro his jaw

"The names," I deh and raspy I wait, my arms crossed overto say before he even says it

"Fuck you," he croaks

I pressI want to hit hirasp his ring finger and yank hard The snap echoes in the s to jerk away, but his aro

When he cal hi the liquid It rolls down his chin, dripping, and soaking into his shirt The taste ister because he opens his reedily