Chin Up, Buttercup

Elena’s tearing the couch apart looking for her phone when her stepdad walks in with it. Thanks, she mutters, already swiping. Nothing. No texts, no missed calls, nada. Her boyfriend’s gone ghost for two days, and of course it’s Valentine’s. She sulks, asking out loud what the hell she did wrong. Nate tells her to chin up, Buttercup, and drops the bomb that his wife’s been too busy for him too. They can have their own little Valentine’s right here. She brightens, thinks it sounds fun. He swears he’ll make it special. They settle in for the rom-com she’d planned to watch with her guy. It backfires. Every sappy line just twists the knife. Nate starts rubbing her shoulder, then her thigh—little comforting touches that linger a beat too long. He hands her a box of chocolates and watches, eyes hungry, while she licks melted chocolate off her bottom lip. Out of nowhere he asks what else she had lined up for today. She blushes and says it’s something you only do with someone special. After some squirming she admits it: she was gonna lose her virginity. Nate offers to do the honors. Her boyfriend clearly bailed, he says, so why not give it to someone who actually gives a damn? Someone she can trust—like him. She stares, mouth open, heart hammering, but he’s already pulling her closer, fingers sliding under the hem of her skirt like the answer’s already been decided.