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As far as Valentine's Day celebrations went, this one was on its way to becoming the worst in Elain’s entire life. She would have gladly relived her awkward first kiss at the 9th grade winter formal over this hellish day.
She was tired, she was hungry, she was more than a little cranky, and she was driving home through the worst blizzard of the year. And to top it all off, her husband was currently out of town on a business trip, during what should have been their first Valentine's Day as a married couple.
It wasn’t his fault, of course. Lucien had seriously suggested feigning an illness to get out of it, and had only gone after Elain had practically shoved him into the Uber.
Still, she knew it was just a silly holiday, but she couldn’t help it- she loved Valentine’s Day. She loved the heart-shaped candies, and the decorations, and dinners in candle-lit restaurants. Or maybe she simply loved love, and any excuse to celebrate it. Lucien had promised they would celebrate when he got back, but she couldn’t help her disappointment.
“Are you sure you don’t want to do Galentine’s Day?” Vassa’s voice was barely discernible over the sound of the heat blasting in her car. “I can cancel our dinner reservation. You know how much Jurian hates Valentine’s Day anyway.”
Elain sighed, for perhaps the thousandth time that day. “I love you for suggesting it but no. I had a bad day and I’m just being dramatic.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, hun, but I’m going to stab my coworker to death and eat her heart for lunch sounds like a little more than a bad day.”
“That bitch probably doesn’t even have a heart anyway,” Elain mumbled darkly.
Vassa cackled, her laughter punctuated by the unmistakable sound of a bottle of wine opening in the background.
Wine. That was what she needed. Wine and a bubble bath, followed by a big bowl of popcorn and more wine.
“I”m fine,” she said again, as much to convince herself as Vassa. “I’m just going to put on some sweats, watch a movie and drown my sorrows in wine. Lucien said he’d facetime me if his meetings ended early, anyway.”
She didn’t add that Lucien hadn’t sounded convinced that he could make this happen, considering he was currently in a different time zone and his work days had been ending at 10 pm.
“Throw in a gin and tonic for good measure. And maybe a green vegetable.”
“Yes mom!”
“And Elain- please don’t stab anyone tonight! Although, Valentine’s Day Stabber does have a ring to it…”
Elain let out a puff of laughter, some of the day’s tension easing from her shoulders. “I promise no stabbing. Although I make no promises on strangulation.”
“That’s my girl. Love you.”
“Love you too. Go torture Jurian with lots of lovey-dovey stuff.”
“Hey! I heard-”
Vassa’s cackles were cut off as her friend promptly disconnected, and Elain could only laugh again as she pictured the look of exaggerated affront that would currently be on Jurian’s face.
Her briefly heightened spirits quickly fell, however, as she turned into her driveway and her little Honda skidded over the snow already accumulated there. She needed a new car. And a house with a garage.
Or maybe she just wanted her husband to be waiting for her inside, ready to wrap her in a bear hug and listen patiently to her whine about her shitty day.
No mopping. It’s just a stupid holiday, it doesn’t mean anything.
Her phone pinged, as if mocking her.
Heading into the afternoon conference. It’s BOILING hot here. Hope you’re not getting buried in snow! Shovel is in the shed if you need it.
Elain grumbled all the way to her front door, cursing both her husband and the snow sinking into her boots and soaking through her socks. She peeled her off her wet parka and boots and walked upstairs to her bedroom, deciding her priority number one was putting on her oldest, comfiest sweats. Her bedroom door was half open, and once glance inside made her stop dead in her tracks.
Somebody was in her house.
Not only was somebody in her house, but somebody had turned her bedroom into a giant blanket fort. Sheets and blankets were draped over the bed, looping over the ceiling fan to create a makeshift tent. String lights were strung over the headboard, illuminating the inside of the blanket fort.
Enough so that she could see the outline of someone lying on her bed.
Elain gasped and froze in shock, her heart jumping into her throat. She stood there for another beat, heart racing, as she mentally went through the list of people with a key to her house.
Lucien, who had just gone into a conference in California, thousands of miles away.
Vassa, who she had just spoken to on the phone.
And her sisters, who she knew for a fact were both occupied with their respective boyfriends tonight.
Elain turned and ran, practically tripping down the stairs as she went. Just as she was diving for her cell phone loud footsteps sounded overhead.
For one wild, hysterical moment she considered running to the kitchen and grabbing her biggest chef’s knife.
Valentine’s Day Stabber; Woman Stabs Intruder with Kitchen Knife!
The footsteps had started down the stairs. Elain clutched her cell phone in her hand, fingers poised over the emergency call button, and yanked her front door open.
“Love? Where are you going?”
The male voice trickling down the staircase was deep and rumbling, tinged with humor.
It was also very, very familiar.
Elain whirled on the spot, her heart still racing with adrenaline, and came face to face with the sight of her husband grinning at her. His white shirt was rumpled, his long red hair falling out of a messy bun, his lips curved into an infuriatingly playful grin.
“Lucien!” Elain clapped a hand to her chest, willing her racing pulse to slow down. “God! You scared the shit out of me!”
“Sorry!” He held up his palms, grin widening, not even looking a little bit sorry. The little shit.
“It’s not funny! I thought you were an intruder! I almost went to the kitchen to grab a knife!”
Lucien was trying not to laugh now, his chest heaving as he suppressed his chuckles. Elain had a sudden urge to throttle him. Maybe she hadn’t been wrong about the strangulation thing.
“Not the Imarku! That was a wedding gift!” He was full-on laughing now, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Elain growled in frustration and ran up the stairs, unsure if she wanted to tackle him and kiss him or tackle him and punch him. Before she could make up her mind Lucien laughed again and bounded up the stairs two at a time, disappearing into their bedroom.
“Come back here you little shit!”
“I can’t believe you thought an intruder had made you a blanket fort!”
“I will murder you!”
Elain reached the top of the stairs just in time to see Lucien dive-bomb into the mass of sheets and blankets over their bed.
“Get in the blanket fort!”
“No. I’m mad at you.” She crossed her arms over her chest for emphasis, even though he couldn’t see her.
“Get in the fucking blanket fort!”
“No!”
“Come pay attention to me, I’m cute and needy.” Lucien stuck his head out of the fort, pouting at her. His hair was even more mussed, his eyes still shining with delight. Damn him. Damn him and his stupidly beautiful face.
In three rapid steps Elain had crossed the room and launched herself into his arms, tackling him backwards onto the bed.
“I’m cute and needy,” she whined, face pressed against his chest. His familiar spicy, musky scent filled her nostrils. “And I had a shit day and I missed you.”
Lucien’s arms tightened around her as he buried his face in her face. “I missed you too, my love. So much.”
There was nothing but sincerity in his voice now, and all of Elain’s anger melted away. She lifted her hair and peered around the blanket fort, giggling as she took in the sight. The bed was piled high with pillows and cushions, forming a little nest underneath the canopy of sheets and blankets. The string lights draped over the headboard gave the space a cozy, warm glow. A laptop was plugged in and opened to the Netflix romantic comedy section, and next to it sat a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, and a large bowl of buttered popcorn.
Lucien smiled sheepishly. “The conference ended a day early and I thought it would be fun to surprise you. I’m sorry I scared you.”
Elain squeezed him tighter, burying her face against him again. “I’m sorry I almost stabbed you with our Imarku.”
Lucien’s laugh vibrated against her cheek. He dipped a finger under her chin and Elain angled her face up for a kiss, sighing at the familiar feel of his lips against hers.
“Hi,” he whispered, his breath ghosting against her lips.
“Hi.” She giggled again as he nuzzled her nose. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Me too. Tell me all about your shitty day.”
“It’s not a shitty day anymore. Now it’s a great day.”
“Indeed. The day you almost stabbed an intruder for making you a blanket fort.”
Elain punched him in the shoulder, shaking her head at him.
“We can go out for dinner, if you’d rather,” Lucien added. “But the weather is so bad I thought it’d be fun to have a cozy night in.”
“No!” Elain exclaimed, reaching for a handful of popcorn. “I love my blanket fort. We should leave it like this. Although…”
“Yes?” Lucien asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Elain glanced at his rumpled dress shirt, then at her own wrinkled top, feeling her strapless bra digging into her skin.
“Can we change into sweats?”
Lucien grinned again, wickedly this time. “Yes, after.”
Elain bit her lip. She knew that grin. “After what?” she asked, blinking up at him innocently.
She yelped as Lucien smoothly flipped them so he hovered over her. “After you pay attention to me. I’m cute and needy, remember?”
“You’re also an idiot.”
“Ahh, yes, but you love me.”
Elain hummed noncommittally.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” Lucien whispered.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, you big dummy.”