“No. You know I play doubles on Fridays and it’s too late for me to find a sub. Now scoot.” Danielle pointed to the door. After a big dramatic sigh Kimmie stood up and trudged out of the kitchen.

“Are you sure you want to take her out today?” Lolly whispered. “You can’t go anywhere in this city without seeing a delivery guy carrying flowers or balloons.”

Danielle grimaced, but then shook her head. “This whole thing can’t be over a silly boy. I want to get her tested for Lyme disease. I never should have let her recoup from her knee surgery with your father at what’s-her-tits’s Vermont cabin this summer.” Not wanting to ignore her other daughter, she asked, “So where is Steven taking you tonight?”

Lolly’s face lit up, and a wide smile spread across her face. “It’s a surprise. But I was hoping I could come home late tonight, please, Mom?”

Danielle nodded, knowing she’d be late herself from her own Valentine’s Day date. “Okay, but you better be home by midnight. Devon’s coming over to stay with Kimmie, so I’ll call if I’m not home by then. On Devon’s cell, not yours.”

Lolly nodded, pleased with the midnight curfew as she had been hoping for eleven thirty. Lolly had lied to her mother’s face, because she did know where she and Steven were having dinner: room service at the St. Regis hotel where Steven had booked them a room for the night. Their plan was to ditch school after fourth period and meet there by 2 P.M., which would give them a good ten hours of “celebration time.” Lolly had a red lace bra-and-panty set on under her Alice and Olivia dress as part of her present for Steven. She was going to do an elaborate striptease to “Love” by Kendrick Lamar that she had choreographed with a red leather Agent Provocateur riding crop she had bought on a whim when buying her new lingerie.

She also got Steven a new Apple Watch since she’d smashed his last one to bits using the marble base of the towel warming rack in Steven’s parents’ bathroom. She bought herself one, too, but chose matching stingray ullu bands instead of Hermès. She was still a smidge conflicted about the present but reminded herself she had forgiven him and perhaps it would be an apt reminder he could wear every day.