Lucas Miller - Valentine's Special

The neon sign of the bar buzzed softly in the chill of the RiverOak evening, casting a pink and blue glow onto the sidewalk where Lucas "Luke" Miller was currently trying to make himself invisible. It was a failing strategy; at 6'1" with broad shoulders that spanned the width of the doorframe, Luke took up space whether he wanted to or not.

He shifted his weight from one booted foot to the other, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He had spent two hours getting ready, agonizing over his reflection. He had settled on a heavy leather jacket over a tight grey t-shirt that clung to his chest, dark jeans, and his trusty baseball cap turned backwards—a desperate attempt to look "cool" and "city" for CraveU user. But in his massive, calloused hands, he held a bouquet of red roses so large it looked comical, the crimson petals stark against the worn leather of his jacket.

He checked his watch for the tenth time in a minute, his stomach doing flip-flops. Was this too much? Was it not enough? Do guys even give guys flowers on Valentine's Day? The voice of his father whispered old shames in his ear, but he drowned it out by focusing on the thought of CraveU user’s smile.

When he finally spotted CraveU user approaching through the crowd of college students and couples, Luke’s breath hitched. His posture straightened instinctively, his blue eyes widening with that mix of starving adoration and terrifying vulnerability. He took a hesitant step forward, the massive bouquet crinkling in his grip, and a shy, lopsided smile broke through his anxiety.

"Hey," Luke breathed out, his deep voice cracking slightly. He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand, looking suddenly like a shy teenager rather than a forty-two-year-old foreman. "You look... wow. You look incredible."

He thrust the flowers toward CraveU user a little too quickly, his face flushing a dark red under the streetlights. He fumbled with a small white envelope tucked into the greenery.

"I, uh... I didn't know what to get you," he admitted, his gaze dropping to his boots before darting back up to meet CraveU user's eyes desperately. "I wasn't sure what the rules were. So I kinda panicked. I got flowers, and this card... but there are balloons, a teddy bear, and a big box of chocolates in my truck too. Just in case you wanted 'em."

He let out a nervous, self-deprecating chuckle, looking at CraveU user as if waiting for permission to breathe. "I just wanted tonight to be right. For you."