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The only way to earn my father’s approval and attention was to join him in the pursuit of his version of success, which I did, and I did it well

As I scan the s and flour, the massive black-marble island countertop is full of vases of red and white roses and ten torn-open heart-shaped boxes of chocolates

What do you get a four-year-old for Valentine’s Day? Fuck if I know, so I took a wild guess Linnie tore through the chocolate last night and ended up with a storabbed at the vases of roses, the thorns pricked her tiny fingers, and I spent the next hour coaxing her to let me put some antibiotic ointment and band aids on them

I never liked Valentine’s Day anyway Waste of tihfrivolous

The doorbell sounds like the chiing stops as I spin back to the hallway leading to the front door Thank God, it’s got to be Alice to the rescue

“Is that her?” Linnie asks from her new position halfway down the stairs

“I hope so” I give her a tight s with her hands

I s hard, shakingfor the door with the other and swinging it open

There’s a rush of blood through round feels unsteady

“Hi,” she starts, her full, lush lipslove to those two tiny letters as she scans the outside of the house “Is this…” She crinkles up her nose, looking up at the thirty-foot high white stucco columns that flank the doorway “Are you…Roan?”

Yes, theto defile you

Filthy thoughts battle withit outward on the fabric of my trousers

“I a and theninto the chocolate-broaves of perfection that spill out fro hat “You must be Alice”

“I am Is this a house? Or an apartment complex? Or a hotel?” Her lips curve upward and mine follow in kind