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Ever since Ricky and Nini have started dating, they've gone out of their way to show that they appreciate one another. Sometimes it'd be through chocolates, and other times one would surprise the other with jewelry. Though they both loved exchanging thoughtful gifts, they both really adored one love language.
The gifting of flowers, but not just any flowers, daisies.
The origin behind their love of daisies always put a smile on the couple's face when they thought of it. It all started three years ago when they began dating. They had been dating for about a two months and were still learning about each other since they had only met a year prior.
They decided to make Friday date night, and both always looked forward to it since each date was a little different from the next. One particular night, Ricky took her to a cutesy French café he found in Provo. The date had already been a special night since it was her 25th birthday.
Ricky had paid the manager extra so that they could be alone on the balcony of the café since he knew Nini would love that. He also bought a special meal where they could be served a portion of each item off the menu with bottomless café crèmes for two.
Nini was thrilled with the very extensive and attentive gift and thanked him countlessly throughout the dinner. When they were done, they had taken a walk down a breathtaking park. Nini's birthday was in the spring, which meant flowers were sprouting everywhere in the grass.
Since the weather was delightful and the park was basically a ghosttown due to the late hour, the happy couple decided to dance around the empty fields. It didn't even matter that there was no music, as long as they were having a good time.
When Ricky got too dizzy, Nini had pulled him away to an area where a bunch of flowers were blooming. She wanted to be next to the flowers, so he laid out his jacket on the grass so that they could sit on the ground.
Nini plopped down on the ground and began admiring the flowers with a gleam in her eye. He always found that sparkle she gets so adorable because it meant she was intrigued by something. She lights up whenever her eyes landed on a certain flower.
She reached over and plucked a handful of some of the most ravishing daisies she's ever seen in her life. He noticed how invested she was in the flower and figured they must've been her favorite.
"Earth to Nini."
She seemed to have snapped out of a daze. "Oop, sorry about that. I just really like daisies."
He chuckles. "I can see that." He scoots an inch closer to her. "Any particular reason why?"
She smiles and nods as she pushes a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was raised by a flourist, so I know a lot about flowers. They were always around my household growing up, so I grew to be into them myself. Ever since I was a little girl, daisies would always appear right before something amazing happened in my life. It was almost like a symbol of happiness and that something incredible was gonna happen in the near future. I know it sounds silly, but these flowers have not failed me yet."
He was very fascinated by her story. "Really? When were some times it gave you happiness right after appearing?"
"Well, the first time was when I was 7. I had been very sick for a week with the flu and felt like death. My moms had been too focused on dinner to notice I snuck into my Momma D's garden just to get some fresh air. I was drawn in by white flowers I had never seen before at the back of the yard, and there they were. Being the curious kid I was, I of course took a handful and brought them to my room. I put some in my hair and some on my dolls. The following day, I wasn't sick anymore, and my moms were genuinely blown away that I had just healed overnight."
Ricky's eyebrows raised in amazement. "That's incredible, and you're telling me there were other times too?"
"Yep! There was the time they appeared next to a bench I was crying on after my first break up, and the next day I found a $100 bill on the sidewalk. Then, there was another time in high school when I had just finished the opening night of a musical and spotted a daisy on the floor for some reason. The next morning, I got a call from a scouter from my dream school. The list goes on."
"Damn, maybe I better start collecting daisies."
"That's not how it works. It has to find you, or else it doesn't work its magic."
"I won't question you since you're clearly more educated on the subject." He tapped on one of the flowers in her hand. "Where do you think these daisies will lead you?"
She shrugs as she twisted them in her hand. "No idea, but that's part of the adventure. All I know is that something wonderful will happen soon."
"Well, I hope I'm able to witness it. I'd love to see these magical flowers in action."
"I hope so too." She hands him one of the daisies. "Here, take it for good fortune. Maybe we'll both get some good news soon."
He smiles and happily takes the flower. "With pleasure."
Surely enough, that same week Nini had gotten an impressive promotion at work while Ricky had won two free tickets to spend a weekend at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Vegas. Ever since then, Ricky had also been attracted to daisies.
He made sure to never seek them and let them find him as she advised. When he did come upon them, he'd always make her a bouquet and never stopped. That's what made them so special to her. She knew that fate had chosen him to gift her them, which always made her heart glow.
Years later, the daisies were still an important part of their relationship.
At the moment, the thriving couple had been in the midst of moving into their new townhome. They figured it was time for the next step since it was clear they wanted to share a future with each other. Nini was placing the plates into the cabinets while he was bringing in some of the last few boxes into the living room.
"Ricky darling, did you bring in my treasure chest yet?"
He looked around the kitchen area and noticed it wasn't there. "No, maybe it's still in the truck. Let me go get it."
She just nods before he makes his way out of the door. He rummaged through the last five boxes in the back of the U-Haul and was confused when the treasure chest she requested wasn't there. He double checked to make sure he didn't miss it somehow but came up empty-handed.
He tried to recall where the hell he put it since he remembers picking it up. Suddenly, his face goes pale when he realizes where he left it. He may or may not have placed it on top his car before following Nini to his place, and he may or may not have totally not put it in his backseat due to getting distracted by a phone call.
"Fuck."
He dragged his feet with his head hanging low as he entered their home. She didn't spare him a glance as she continued cleaning and putting up the dishes.
"Did you find it?"
"Um Neens, about that..."
His tone got her to look up at him. "What's wrong?"
He sighs and bounces on his heels as he always did when he felt guilty. "I'm not even gonna bother asking for an apology since it was due to my carelessness."
She rested the plate she was scrubbing in the sink before facing her body towards him. "Babe, you're worrying me. Where's my treasure chest?"
He couldn't meet her eye. "I lost it."
A moment of silence goes by, and he thinks this was the worst few seconds of his life.
"You what?"
"I may have left it on top of my car without realizing and well...you can fill in the blanks."
She went silent again, but she was quiet for a little longer than before. He finally looked up from the floor and saw that she wasn't even looking at him. She had returned to her dish washing with a stone expression. He waited for her to yell or scold him, but nothing comes out.
"Neens?"
"Hm?" She says through gritted teeth.
"Aren't you gonna say something?"
"What's there to say?"
"You're clearly upset."
"Me, upset? No. It's just a silly little trunk, right? No biggie."
Judging by how aggressively she was scrubbing that poor plate, it very much was a big deal.
"Neens, come on. Just admit you're mad at me."
"Why would I be mad? It's not like that chest held all of my most cherished irreplacable items from childhood to now or anything. It's whatever. I guess tangible objects weren't meant to last anyways."
He felt his guilt rise in his gut. "Babe, I had no idea that's what was in it."
She forms a fake smile and shrugs. "It's fine. It's not like you knew."
"Nini, I-"
Nini drops the plate in the sink, making a thunderous noise that startled him. She takes a deep breath and grips onto the counter. She closes her eyes tightly as she ducks her head down.
"I think you should go get the take-out. It's almost dinner time."
He scrunched his brows in confusion. "We didn't order-"
She gives him a face that he knew meant he was on thin ice. He takes the hint and grabs his house keys.
"Yeah, of course. I'll get the food. How about Thai?"
Nini just shrugs before returning to her task.
"I'll be back in a bit. I love you."
She doesn't respond, and he frowns when he registers that she's not gonna speak. He gives her a fleeting look before exiting. The streets of Salt Lake were rather chilly tonight, which seems to be the mood of the night in general.
He was mentally kicking himself for being such a fucking idiot. How could he have missed the huge chest with fake jewels on it? Red just had to ask about their plans on Sunday at that exact moment. He knew it was unfair to blame his best friend either since it's still on him for being negligent.
When he makes the ten minute walk to the Thai restaurant, he makes sure to request extra mangoes to her sticky rice. After he leaves, he starts practing his apology and how he plans on making this up to her. He definitely knew he was in for one tense evening.
Unfortunately, he didn't notice a pebble on the sidewalk and tripped on it. He felt his heart drop as he almost dropped the takeout bag.
"Shit."
He noticed one of the fortune cookies fell out and groaned. He carefully ducked down to retrieve it, but he saw something in his peripheral vision. Only a few inches away stood a white daisy in the cracks of the sidewalk.
He felt his heartbeat through his chest at the sight of the symbol of their love. Just like all the previous times, he knew this was fate telling him something good was coming and knew he had to take it. He just hopes it involves Nini.
He plucks it from the ground and marvels at it for a moment before putting it in his hair. The second he touched the daisy, he felt a surge of hope go through his body.
He arrived back a few minutes later and took a deep breath before letting himself into their home. He saw that Nini wasn't in the kitchen anymore, and that the lights were off. He sets the food on the counter and walks over to their bedroom. He feels his phone vibrate in his pocket but didn't bother to check who it was since she was more important.
He sees her resting under their comforter in the dark, staring blankly at nothing. He hates when she's like this, especially since he's the reason for it.
"Babe, I got your food."
"Not hungry."
He knew it was a lie, but he knew there was no point of getting her out of bed. He crawled over to his side of the bed and faced her. She had her back to him.
"Nini, I'm really sorry. I know apologizing with words won't bring your belongings back, but I promise I'm gonna find a way to get it back to you."
"You can't make promises like that."
“If it means this much to you, I'll find it."
"It's impossible, Ricky. Just let it go."
He removes the daisy from his curls. "I'm not letting it go, and you know why?"
"Why?"
"A daisy found me on my way home."
Those words got her to turn around to see if he were lying. Her eyes lit up when she saw he was holding a small daisy. She grazed her finger over the petals.
"Neens, I think this is fate trying to tell us we'll find it. Just trust in the daisy and me, okay?"
She stares at him with an unreadable expression before finally nodding. He lets out a sigh of relief.
"Now, will you please let me hold you? I really miss your touch."
She tried her best to maintain her poker face, but eventually she cracked a grin.
"Fine."
He smiles and pulls her into his arms. She buries her face into his chest as her arms wrapped around his frame. He begins rubbing her back since he knew that soothed her. Nini makes some form of noise into his chest that he assumed must’ve been a sigh.
“I’m sorry.”
“Hey, don’t be. I’m the one that was irresponsible.”
“Yeah, but I was being a bitch.”
“No, you weren’t. I’d be royally pissed if someone lost my prized possessions too.”
She doesn’t say a word before kissing over his heart. Her action gave him the urge to kiss her, so he pecked her forehead. He felt her smile against his rib cage, and she rested her chin on him.
“I love you, Ricky.”
He beams at her words and reaches down to close the distance between their lips but was interrupted by his phone ringing again. Ricky groans and rolls his eyes as he releases his girlfriend.
Ricky checks the caller ID and saw it was Red. “Of course it’s him. He’s the king of interrupting us kissing.”
Nini chuckled and pulled him closer. Ricky pressed the answer button. “This better be good dude.”
“It might be. Have you by any chance been missing a weird looking treasure chest?”
Ricky froze. What kind of godlike powers do these daisies have?! “Does it have golden jewels and the initials NSR on it?”
“Yep!”
“Oh my god, Red found it babe!”
Nini perked up. “Really?!”
“Yeah, he did! Where the hell was it?”
“In your old driveway. I stopped by because I forgot it wasn’t your place anymore, but I’m glad I did! I can drop it off first thing before work.”
“Sounds good to me! Thanks dude. You’re a life saver.”
“Anytime! See you two tomorrow.”
After they hung up, the couple smiled from ear to ear. “See? I told you it’d work out.”
“Those damn daisies did it again.”
“Mm hm.” He slowly rolls her over onto her back, cups her face, and then kisses her.
She kisses him back but broke off the kiss before it got too graphic. He was about to peck her cheek instead until she blocked his mouth.
“We never got to eat.”
He actually forgot about the food he bought. “Oh now you’re hungry?” He teases.
She flicks his forehead. “Hush, let’s go.”
He surprised her by swooping her up from the bed and carrying her in bridal position to the kitchen.
“You’re so extra!”
“Only for you babe.”
She pecks his cheek & stares at him adoringly. She loved him and would never trade him for anything even if he was stupid sometimes.
That night when he was asleep, she took out an old daisy she stored from the treasure chest and smiles.
“Thank you for leading me to him. I’m forever in your debt.” She whispers before putting it back. She gently placed it back in its case before crawling into his arms, wondering where daisies would guide her next.