Ren hadn't planned to overthink it but of course he did.
He sat on the edge of Noelle's couch, watching her flip casually through a streaming menu, her head resting against his shoulder. It was familiar. Comfortable. Something they did almost without thinking these days. His place or hers, takeout or leftovers, movie or game night. Cozy, domestic, safe.
But lately, Ren had been feeling this quiet tugging, like he wanted something more with her again. Not bigger, not dramatic. Just… something that reminded him of all the fluttery, breathless feelings from when they first started dating. Something that wasn't just routine.
He swallowed, suddenly aware that his heart was thumping loud enough to echo inside his ribs. "Noelle?" he said, his voice sounding too formal for someone who currently had his arm around her.
"Mhm?" She didn't look away from the screen yet.
Ren hesitated. He'd rehearsed this in his head at least seven times today. "I was thinking…" he began. "It's been a while since we went out. Like… out out. On an actual date."
That made her turn. She looked up at him, eyebrows raised just slightly, curiosity softening her features. "Yeah," she said thoughtfully. "It has been a while, huh?"
Ren took a breath. "I want to take you somewhere," he said, trying to sound confident instead of jittery. "A real date. Just us. Not the sofa, not pizza boxes, not deciding what movie to watch for forty minutes and then watching none."
Noelle smiled, slowly, gently, with that warmth that always crawled under Ren's skin and stayed there.
"I would love that," she said, without hesitation.
The relief that surged through Ren was intense enough that he had to stop himself from audibly sighing. "Really?"
"Ren," Noelle said, nudging him playfully, "you're my boyfriend. I like going out with you."
He laughed, slightly embarrassed. "I know. I just wanted it to feel special again."
"It already does," she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Where are you thinking?"
Ren's brain blanked for a full two seconds. He had a list; he always had a list but suddenly all of it evaporated.
"Uh… movie?" he blurted.
"A classic," Noelle said with a grin. "Consider me officially interested." But then, as if sensing his growing anticipation, Noelle threw him a curveball and suggested, "Just a thought: maybe we don't meet up before the movie. I've been thinking about it and... absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?"
en blinked, his brain stalling for a solid five seconds. He had a mental checklist of things to do, all these little pre-date preparations, but now it felt like he'd completely forgotten them. Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Wait, was she playing hard to get? Was this some kind of test? Not talking to her for a whole week? He hadn't done that since… well, since they'd started spending time together.
And just like that, Ren felt that familiar spark, the fluttery one he'd missed, ignite again.
He squeezed her hand. "Okay. Friday. I'll pick you up."
Noelle beamed at him, and Ren felt like he'd already won the night before it even happened.
"Can't wait," she said.
Ren couldn't either.
Over the next few days, they both played their parts. They avoided each other, deliberately giving the space that Noelle had suggested. But with each passing day, the absence grew heavier, until it became clear how much they missed each other. There were moments when Ren found himself reaching for his phone to text her, only to stop himself. He caught himself wondering if she was doing the same thing.
When Friday rolled around, Ren spent an absurd amount of time in the florist shop, long enough that the florist started giving him sympathetic looks usually reserved for people making emotionally difficult decisions. But Ren wanted something right. Something with meaning.
He finally settled on a small, stunning bouquet of blue delphiniums and white ranunculus. The florist had told him delphiniums symbolized openness and positivity, and ranunculus meant I am dazzled by your charms. That part nearly made Ren walk into a display table, but it also made his choice easy.
So now, standing outside the theater with the bouquet tucked behind his back, he hoped Noelle wouldn't notice how hard he was trying not to crush the delicate petals in his nervous grip.
When he heard her footsteps approach, Ren turned and the entire world rearranged itself into just her for a moment.
It was then that Noelle stepped into view.
She was wearing a simple black dress, the kind that looked effortlessly chic on her but it was her smile that truly took Ren's breath away. It was the same smile that had lit up his entire world when they'd first met.
"Hey!" Noelle said, bright and warm.
Ren swallowed. "Hi," he squeaked, betraying every ounce of cool he pretended to have. He cleared his throat. "So, um… I got you something."
He brought the bouquet forward.
Noelle's eyes widened. "Ren…" she breathed, stepping closer. "These are beautiful."
Ren felt a rush of warmth. "The blue ones are delphiniums," he explained, suddenly sounding like a botanist who studied exactly one article. "They're supposed to represent openness and… positive energy." His voice softened, shy. "I thought of you."
She looked up at him, expression softening in a way that made his heartbeat skip. "And these?" she asked, gently touching a ranunculus bloom.
"Oh. Those mean…" Ren hesitated, cheeks warming. "They mean I'm dazzled by your charms."
Noelle blinked, then her smile grew slowly, like sunlight spreading. "Ren," she said, voice gentle, "that's… really lovely."
Ren's chest untensed, relief washing over him. "I wanted to pick something with meaning. Something you'd like."
"I love them," she said, holding the bouquet against her. "They're perfect."
Ren's heart promptly melted into a puddle. Then, in classic Ren fashion, his brain hit him with a new emergency.
"Oh no," he said suddenly.
Noelle looked up. "What?"
"I didn't think about this," Ren said, gesturing helplessly. "You're going to have to hold these for the whole movie. I didn't plan the… flower logistics."
Noelle laughed softly. "It's fine," she said, hugging the bouquet closer. "I'll keep them right beside me. That way they get to enjoy the movie too."
Ren stared. "Are you seriously bringing metaphorical flower audience members into this situation?"
"Absolutely," she said.
Ren couldn't help but laugh. And the way she looked at him over the tops of the flowers made his heart do that ridiculous gymnastic routine again.
"Ready for our movie?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said, smiling for real now. "Definitely."
And with her beautiful, meaningful bouquet cradled in her arms, they walked into the theater together.
As they walked in together, Ren tried to play it cool, but the second he reached for his wallet, his brain short-circuited. Instead of pulling out his card like a normal human being, he produced a chaotic bundle of coupons that fluttered out like confetti of misfortune. None of them were even remotely relevant.
One free donut coupon. One coupon for 15 percent off pet supplies. And the pièce de résistance: a coupon for free cat treats with any purchase of five more bags of cat treats.
Ren stared at them in silent horror.
Noelle leaned in, eyebrows lifting with amusement. "Prepared for what? An emergency situation involving ten very hungry cats?"
Ren stuffed the coupons back into his pocket so fast he nearly ripped the seam. His face burned, but he managed a shaky laugh. "You never know," he said, forcing confidence into his voice. "I like to be prepared for… all possible scenarios."
"Clearly," Noelle said, her eyes sparkling. "I like a man with a plan."
Ren wasn't sure whether she was teasing or complimenting him, but either way, her smile made his brain go pleasantly fuzzy.
They reached the concession stand, and Ren tried again to regain some dignity. He opened his mouth to offer to pay for the popcorn, but before he could get a single word out, Noelle held out a hand like an air-traffic controller signaling him to halt.
"I've got this," she said firmly.
Ren laughed despite himself. "At least let me—"
"Nope," she said, waving him off with exaggerated authority. "You brought me beautiful flowers. I'm buying the carbs."
He couldn't argue with that.