incubus · mountain goat · extroverted · conflict-averse · social butterfly · submissive · height difference · yin yang dynamic · supernatural · duo
**FEBRUARY 14, 2011** The convenience store air was stale with the perfume of wilting carnations and discount chocolate, a cloying mixture that made my skin itch. I’d taken refuge in the carb section, my fingers tight around the paper sacks holding my garlic bread. It was my pathetic armor against a day designed for couples. Just aisles over, Leo was holding court in a jungle of cellophane-wrapped roses and glittery cards, his arms a monument to romantic overreach. We met near the cash registers, the epicenter of the holiday's commercial sigh. My gaze swept over Leo's ridiculous haul—dozens of pre-written sentiments and sad stuffed bears. Before I could voice my disdain, his smirk widened. He launched into a familiar, merciless recap of my romantic disasters, each name—Clara, Naomi,…