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Humming a slow melody, Penelope pointed her phone at a yellow building with a pink and white sign that read Monica's Flowers. She turned her phone toward her and grinned as she stepped out of Esther, walking toward the shop. She smiled at a burly, dark-skinned man who was looking at roses, and walked toward the counter where the owner was.
The walls were light pink and decorated with red and white heart and flower stickers, the floral displays adorned with red, pink, and white rose bouquets lining nearly every inch of the inside of the building.
"Hi! Welcome to Monica's Flowers! What can I do for you?" A girl about Penelope's height with brown curls grinned, her hands clasped together in front of her chest. She was standing next to a taller man with black hair and a name tag that said Daniel, who was preparing a bouquet of red roses with a grin on his face.
"Um, so I wanted to get flowers for my boyfriend, Luke." Penelope started with a smile.
"Aww, ok." Monica's smile grew at that.
"Yeah, I saw this TikTok, and a girl said most men don't receive flowers until their funeral, and that made me really, really sad," she continued, laughing softly as she made the taller man aww and clutch his heart. "So I wanted to get him flowers and write a note for him for Valentine's Day."
"That's so sweet! Wait, now I feel bad because I don't do that for my boyfriend." Monica pouted. "I just- when I close for the night, I'll have to take home flowers for Charlie." She nodded decisively.
"I'm taking home flowers for Michael!" Daniel agreed.
"That's a good idea, hon."
Penelope snickered into her hand, biting her lip. "So, Luke really likes Gerbera Daisies. Could I please get some pink, orange, and red ones?"
With her hand already reaching to grab a handful of pink flowers, Monica's eyes widened as her jaw dropped.
Daniel stared at her with an amused look, his eyebrows now in his hairline. "Wow. Pink, orange, and red, huh? You really love this Luke."
Penelope blushed deep red and ducked her head with a smile. "Yeah."
"That is so sweet."
"Ooh, now I'm curious. What do all those Daisy colors mean?" The dark-skinned man asked, his voice deep.
Monica snickered, pressing her lips together. "So, uh, pink Gerbera Daisies are a symbol of admiration, adoration, or high esteem for someone."
"Oh, my god."
Penelope bit her lip.
"Orange Daisies mean the recipient is the sunshine of your life." Daniel grinned.
"Ohh."
Penelope squeaked and hid her face behind her sweater, her face warm.
"And red Daisies mean," Monica giggled, her and Daniel both putting on their best teenager in puppy love looks, "everlasting love."
"Girl, you better marry that man if that's how he makes you feel."
"Well," Penelope twirled a blonde and pink curl around her finger. "I want to." She said softly.
"Oh, my God. That's so sweet." The grin on Monica's face grew, and she grabbed more flowers, arranging them carefully.
"Oh, Luke's favorite color is sage green." Penelope said. "Do you have any sage green tissue paper, and maybe white ribbon to tie it?"
"I'll go look in the back!" Daniel grinned and rushed to the back room, coming back with sage green paper in a few seconds. "Found it!"
After Monica handed Penelope a note card and pen, she wrapped the paper around the bouquet and tied it with a white lacy ribbon. "This is so pretty. I hope your boyfriend enjoys his $70 dollar flowers."
Penelope giggled and paid for the flowers, gently placing the note in between two pink flowers. "Thank you, sweethearts!"
Now in the driveway, Penelope grabbed the bouquet and walked to the door, pushing it open slowly. "Oh, my sweet carame- Oh." She stood silently in the doorway as she took in the red rose petals on the floor leading to the dinner table, which had a white cloth topped with Caesar salads, Beyond Steak, and Pinot Grigio. "Honey…" She stared at her boyfriend in shock, revealing the flowers behind her back.
"Hey, mi amor." Luke grinned brightly, leaning against the dinner table. He frowned when he saw the bouquet and straightened up, walking toward her. "Oh, baby, did you buy these for yourself because you thought I forgot when I didn't say anything this morning?" He asked softly, his eyes filled with guilt as he wrapped Penelope in his arms.
Penelope blinked, wrapping her arms tightly around Luke's neck. Her eyes fluttered closed, breathing in his cedarwood cologne.
"Honey, I'm sorry. I didn't forget. I had this planned for two days." Luke said softly, pressing kisses to Penelope's jaw. "Happy Valentine's Day, Penelope. I love you."
"Luke, I love you." Penelope sighed when she remembered how to speak, kissing his lips softly. "Lovie, I bought these flowers for you." She said as she pulled away and placed the flowers in his hands, watching him react.
"What?" Luke tilted his head as he examined the flowers, his lips parting as his brain registered the type of flower and the colors she bought. "Oh." He whispered, gently holding the flowers in his hands. "No one's ever bought me flowers before."
A giggle escaped Penelope's lips as Luke sniffed the flowers, a smile growing on his face. "You got me gerbera daisies."
"Yeah." She smiled, gently cradling Luke's cheek.
"You remembered my favorite color." He whispered, his eyes sparkling.
"The worker had to look in the back room because everything in the front was pink and red." Penelope admitted with a blush.
With his lips pressed tightly together, Luke sniffled as he processed the information, a tear falling from his left eye. "Penelope."
Penelope gasped, gently grabbing Luke's hand. "Baby, I didn't think you were gonna cry!"
Luke sniffed and wiped his tears away, hugging Penelope again.
"I wrote a note for you, too." She smiled, watching him gently sift through the flowers to find the note.
Dear Luke,
Hi, mon amour. I've been thinking about something I read recently. That love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. That's something I love about love. That's something I love about you. You never give up on anything. You never gave up on me, even when I was being stubborn and stupid for no reason. I hope it stays that way. I never want you to give up on me, because I'll never give up on you. I promise. I love you. Happy Valentine's Day, my darling.
Love, Penelope ♡
Penelope bit her lip as Luke read the note, holding his hand. She blushed as he squeezed her hand three times, squeezing his hand back three times. She smiled as he hugged her again whispering in her ear.
"Baby, I love you so much. I'll never give up on you. You're the love of my life." Luke kissed her passionately, taking her breath away.
Penelope squeaked as she slowly pulled away, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked back at Luke as he clutched the flowers in one hand and hugged her tightly from behind, staring at her phone in shock. "Guys, he liked the flowers. I have decided I am doing this all the time from now on. Ok, bye."