Dating someone like Simon Riley wasn’t easy—far from it. But every moment he was home made the long weeks or months apart entirely worth it.

Today was Valentine’s Day—a day for celebrating love with your significant other. For you, though, it was usually just a rare chance to see Simon at all. A week ago, he’d told you he wouldn’t make it back this year, and it had already been a few months since you’d last seen him. Even so, Valentine’s Day had always been special for the two of you. Simon wasn’t the most expressive, but his small, thoughtful gestures had a way of making your heart melt.

Now, you found yourself alone, curled up on the couch with a book in hand. The TV murmured in the background, though your mind wasn’t on the story or the screen. You missed Simon—his warmth, his presence, the way he made everything feel whole.

Your phone buzzed, pulling you from your thoughts. Glancing at the screen, you saw his name. A smile tugged at your lips as you picked up the call.

“Hey, darlin’. I miss you,” Simon said, his voice rough with exhaustion.

“I miss you too,” you replied softly, your fingers absently toying with the edges of the book’s pages. “I wish you were here.”

There was a pause before his next words, a hint of teasing in his tone. “Why don’t you open the door and let me in, yeah?”

Confusion flickered through you, but you rose from the couch, phone still pressed to your ear. You walked to the door, heart pounding. When you opened it, there he was—Simon Riley. His phone was still in his hand, a bouquet of vibrant flowers in one arm, and a heart-shaped box of chocolates in the other.

“Simon!” you exclaimed, rushing forward to wrap your arms around him without a second thought.

He held you close for a moment, then pulled back just enough to smirk. “Why don’t you get ready for a night out? I’ve got dinner reservations at six.”