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Nina loved Valentine’s Day. Commercialism be damned, she liked the idea of having a day to shower people with affection and, mostly, edible gifts. Her co-workers could always count on her to bring cupcakes to the office on Valentine’s Day, and this year was no different. Sure, it would go towards four people, with one of them hating her guts and the other being so moody it was hard to tell how she’d react, but it was the thought that counts, and she was not about to be deterred.
“Ding-dong! Special delivery.”
Nina knew she sounded too cheerful for the people she was visiting,g but she didn’t care. Nobody could dampen her mood on this Valentine’s Day. As she stepped down from the ladder, she adjusted her hold on a container she was holding. Stu was the first to come out wearing that lazy smile that was always on his face.
“Hey, Nina. What’d you make this time?”
“Take a look for yourself.”
Nina took the lid off the container and held it up for Stu to see. He gazed down at cupcakes decorated with swirls of pink and red icing with white sprinkles atop them. Stu hummed in appreciation.
“They look nice. Can’t wait to try one.”
“I can’t wait for you to try it either!”
Stu chuckled as he leaned down to kiss her forehead and inhaled the scent of green tea and flowers from her. He had always loved how Nina smelled, and today was no exception. He moved to stand beside her, wrapping an arm around her, and then walked over to the table. As Nina set the container on the table, Murdoc strolled by, pausing to glance inside the container, and then rolled his eyes as he grabbed one.
“Fuck me, you celebrate Valentine’s? The sad excuse to hawk heart-themed, low-quality shit?”
Nina tensed up but relaxed as Stu moved his hand to rub her lower back. “Yes. I like showing people I care about them.” She hated that she felt so on edge about having to defend what she liked.
Murdoc placed a hand over his heart, “Oh dear Nina, you do care about me. How very kind of you to open your heart to me.” He smiled at her, showing all his teeth.
Nina had nothing to say to him, knowing that whatever she responded with would be met with the same sickeningly sweet false kindness that Murdoc chose to portray. She watched him take a bite of the cupcake as he went back to his room, her shoulders relaxing when he disappeared. Stu brought his hand up to massage the base of her neck.
“Don’t let what Muds says get to you. Think he does it just to get a rile outta you.”
Nina let out a sigh, “I know you’re right. Just wish he didn’t make it so obvious that he doesn’t like me.”
As they sat down, Stu grabbed a cupcake and took a bite. Nina knew the exact moment that he tasted the lemon filling as his eyes widened at the unexpected gooey sensation. She couldn’t help but giggle. “Bet you weren’t expecting that, were you?”
Stu swallowed before answering, “No. You always come out with somethin’ new.”
“Do you like it?”
“I like it so much I’m gonna get another right after this one.”
Nina couldn’t help the giggles that bubbled up inside her. Suddenly, there was a hand reaching into the container, making Nina jump, but as soon as she realized who it was, she let out a relieved sigh.
“Russel, you’ve really got to learn not to sneak up on people.”
“Sorry, Nina. I’ll try to remember for next time.”
Nina watched as Russel held up the cupcake, turning in to look at all sides of it. The way he handled taking off the cupcake liner was with great care, slowly peeling it away from the cupcake, making sure none of it was stuck to the paper. She felt as if she was sitting on the edge of her seat as Russel took a bite, his face neutral as he chewed. When he swallowed, he nodded in approval.
“It’s good.”
“I’m so glad that you, as the cook of the shelter, like it.”
Russel nodded his head again before taking his leave. All that was left to have a cupcake was Noodle. Nina grabbed a cupcake, stood up, and headed towards the girl’s room. If she was to stay here and wait for her to come out, she’d be here all day. As she got closer to the shut door, she could feel the uneasiness settle into her. She just had to hope that Noodle was in a decent mood today. Nina knocked on the door and waited. It didn’t take long to hear the shuffling sound of feet crossing the floor before the door cracked open.
“What?” Noodle hissed out.
“Hey, Noodle, it’s me. Nina.”
“I can see that.” Noodle’s voice lost the sharpness from before, but now she just sounded annoyed.
Nina nervously laughed as she held out the red cupcake, “I brought cupcakes and wanted you to have one. For Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh.”
Noodle glared at Nina for a few seconds before she eyed the cupcake, and within a few seconds, the cupcake was out of Nina’s hand, and the door slammed shut on her. Nina let out a breath that she didn’t realize she had been holding and then turned around to walk away. Stu was sitting on the couch with the remote in his hand as he idly flipped the channels. Nina joined him on the couch, resting her head on his shoulder, and without thinking, Stu brought his hand up to start petting her buzzcut hair.
“Oh, they got a Jackass marathon goin’!” Stu exclaimed.
“Let's see what they put themselves through this time.”
Everybody enjoyed what she made, and she was spending time with Stu. Her Valentine’s Day couldn’t be better.