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And anyway, you'd barely been dating. Jacob would take you for dinner and movies and keep you up late at his place before driving you back home. But you'd never talked about it. You'd never acknowledge it. You almost felt like a fool for perusing the Valentine's sales at this market. But you felt worse at the thought of letting this dumb ass holiday pass without letting Jacob know somehow, that he was on your mind as more than just a friend.

Frustrated, you left the market with nothing and stormed home to manage your very conflicting feelings. Wasn't now the perfect opportunity to get a bundle of flowers and chocolate to prove your love? Or was that the most risky and ridiculous idea of all time?

You watched the clock tick by, time getting closer to the hour Jacob usually popped over without an invitation. It was inevitable he'd be here tonight, right? There was every possibility he had another girl or two or three to woo on this made up holiday. But he was always popping over around this time. It had become an unspoken tradition. You felt like a fool for waiting up for him. But still, you did.

You made dinner and watched another hour pass by. You turned on the telly and tried not to think to hard about how much time had passed.

When the sun had long set and all those late night talk shows started to air, you realized it was probably time to call it... time for bed. You had been right to not get your hopes up for Jacob's probable appearance. But despite your efforts to not care, you did. And you were kind of majorly bummed.

And then there was a knock at your door.

Casual and calm as possible, you twisted the handle and tried to pretend your heart wasn't in your throat.

Jacob was stood before you, smiling wide and seemingly catching his breath. In his grasp, a basket full of heart shaped goodies.

"So sorry I'm late. I spent too long trying to make this perfect." Jacob explained, stepping inside your place as you backed up to let him.

"Here, love, happy Valentine's day!" Jacob extended the basket of gifts your way, waiting patiently for you to shut the door and take a step closer toward where he stood.

"Oh, my goodness I really wasn't expecting all this." You admitted, marveling over the gifts you saw inside the basket. There was a bundle of flowers, a loose card, a pair of candles and a box of chocolates.

"Jacob this is so sweet, I can't believe-" You looked up to him shaking your head in shock. He was biting his lip, smiling despite that. He waved you over to the living room, insisting you sit at his side on the sofa. You followed his lead, leaving the basket on the coffee table. But before you sat you hurried to the kitchen to find a vase for the flowers. Quick as you could, you arranged the roses into the vase by the basket and moved to rest at Jacob's side.

"I feel awful. I didn't get you anything. I'm so sorry. I wasn't sure if you'd even be here. I wasn't sure if you thought of me like this at all." You admitted, waving toward the gifts before you.

Jacob was still grinning as he shook his head and extended a hand to rest on your thigh.

"Read the card, darlin'." He prompted. You studied his expression for a moment before reaching to grab the paper from the basket.

The outside of the card was a simply doodled heart. The inside was blank besides Jacob's unique scrawl. It read,

'To put it simply, you're the most special person in my life. Forgive me for not making it clearer before now. I love you. I hope you feel the same. But these gifts will still be extended with care even if I get turned down after you read this.'

"Jacob... are you saying-"

"I know we haven't talked about this. About us. I'm not sure if you want there to be an 'us' but, I do. I want you in every sense. I'm asking if you'll be my girl, officially, undoubtedly." His voice was soft but his words were assured. His hand was still on your thigh, thumb rubbing circles there. "But it's really okay if you don't-"

"Today, I stood picking through cards to buy you. But I didn't because I was afraid you didn't want anything this serious." You interrupted Jacob, trying to ignore how quickly your heart began to beat. "I see now that I should've bought a card. And that I was right to hope you would've wanted it. I love you too, you silly boy. I thought you'd never fucking ask."

"Really?" Jacob breathed, letting his grin hidden. You nodded fiercely and let your smile grow too, just as Jacob leaned in to plant his lips on yours.

You kissed him like your life depended on it. He kissed you like he may never get the chance again. But if it were up to you, he'd be giving many many more chances.

That night went on into the early morning while Jacob pulled you closer on that couch and asked if you'd share the chocolates he bought you. That night went on even better than you imagined it might've. Feeling sorry you didn't by Jacob a token to prove your love, but feeling gratful that hadn't needed too after all.