How would you interpret ‘you’re taken’ here? February 14 Dear Shep, What’s tickin? Be my valentine? Oops—you’re taken! I read all about it in the papers. Well, hats off to you pal, I’ve thought of bagging an older pigeon for myself. She wouldn’t ask for a lot in the boodle department and it throws everyone else off the scent. But the hell you yell. One of the hearts you cracked north of the Mason-Dixon was mine. Did I have to read about it in the Echo? How would you interpret ‘you’re taken’ in the letter? I think it means his friend have become other’s valentine, right? PS: his friend Shep was involved in some romance story. Thanks! This excerpt is taken from The Lacuna by Kingsolver.