Eyes closed tight, Serena deeply inhaled the aroma of her coffee, then took a sip. Only too once again be disappointed.
"Sorry," Mina voice cracked. "I tried really hard to get the one Darien gets, but this is closest I could find. The barista at the coffee shop said it was very comparable."
Serena, just looked at the coffee cup. It looked the same. It smelled the same. She took another sip, hoping she could be more convincing to Mina. "It is fine Mina, I love it I do."
"You're lying and I know it." Mina said grabbing a mug from the cupboard.
"I am not, the coffee is great. I am just not sure what Darien, does to his, to make it ..." She became lost for the correct adjective.
"Maybe it was just because Darien made it, that makes it so special." Mina simply replied, adding creamer to her cup. "Serena, it is Valentine's Day, wouldn't you rather just be with him?"
"He is working anyways." Serena quickly answered. "And for the record I am really not mad about that fact.
"I know you're not." Mina confirmed.
"I know what I got myself into, and honestly I was okay just having a night, watching my movies, and eating junk food without him judging me." She laughed to herself. He didn't actually judge her. He just always teased her, and she would simply reply, 'that's what made her so sweet.'
"Look Sere, I know you know you jumped the gun and overreacted."
"And..."
"So, go home. I am sure he wouldn't even cared if you apologized or not. You being there would be enough for him." Mina gave her the side eye. "I know that is the only really reason you are avoiding him. You hate the idea of apologizing."
Serena just rolled her eyes. She wasn't going to argue, she had known Mina all her life, and she was right. Serena hated apologizing. Not that she would never do it. It just was not her favorite thing to do. Most the time it was other people that would take advantage of her kindness that would have to apologize, so it was not something she was really used to doing.
"But again Sere, he knows he overreacted with the movie thing too, so maybe take this whole thing as a wash. You two are even."
Serena opened her mouth to speak, but before she could even make a peep.
"Yes, it is that easy." Mina stated. She took her cup and gently placed it in the sink. "Look, I am not going to question whether or not he is really the guy you want to be with like other people do. You love those fairy tales, and happily ever afters. I know that. But, I see how happy you are with him, and the type of person he is with you. You guys are your own romantic story." She grabbed her purse that was draped over the couch. "I am going to be late."
"I can't believe we have to work today," Serena took one last gulp of her coffee, put the mug in the sink. Turned on the faucet, so the coffee did not stain the cups.
"Not everyone loves love the way we do. Come on!" Mina ordered. And the two both got into their separate cars, and drove off.
The car ride felt longer than any other car ride to work, and it was actually a shorter distance from Mina's place, than it was from Darien's condo. Every station had a song about love playing, and she sang along like she was apart of the group performing in front of a large crowd. Had she not locked eyes with the car next her at the previous light, she would have continued dancing.
She arrive at her office, parked her car, locked her car door and walked in, to see all her coworkers standing around admiring each other gifts.
Serena just smiled.
"Here comes the queen of love herself." One teased.
"Surprised you aren't dressed like a giant heart." The other added.
"I am almost certain dressing like a giant heart, will making driving a little difficult." She walked directly up to a bouquet of roses. "These are gorgeous." She took a big whiff of one of them.
"Now that you say that, I am glad you didn't, you already have hard enough time driving as is."
Serena shot a death glare to her coworker, as he sat down at his desk, hiding behind a small object hoping she didn't throw something at him.
"Ignore him," Her focus turned back to another one of her coworkers, "You still just going to watch your movies tonight? You know can always come to our house." She said smiled from ear to ear.
"Yeah...it has kinda been my tradition for like ever, and I really look forward to it." Serena replied.
"I know, you love your movies. But, if you change your mind."
"Thanks, I'll talk to you in a bit." Serena did a quick wave, and headed towards her desk. "Good morning!" She greeted to every person she walked passed, before she reached her office.
"Oh...Sere,"
Serena turned around, to see her secretary.
"Someone dropped off something for you, I put it on your desk. Let me know if you need me to do anything."
"Thanks Molly." She replied, unlocking her office door and being instantly hit with a floral smell. She slammed the light switch to see a large bouquet of flowers and coffee thermos.
"They really are gorgeous. Has to be the best flower arrangement I have seen today. Not too crazy in colors. Simple, but you can tell a lot of thought was put into them." Molly complimented behind her. "Why did you turn the lights on? You're wasting electricity."
"I don't know why I turned them on, for some reason, I needed them on to confirm what I was seeing?" Serena answered, hoping she did not sound stupid.
"That coffee smells even better." Molly relayed, as she went around Serena's office opening her blinds.
"Coffee?" Serena asked confused.
"In the mug silly... what did you think it was?" Molly giggled.
Serena threw her things on a chair, and went behind her desk. She opened the lid of the mug, and like this morning she took in a deep breath to draw in the smell of the coffee. She was about to take a sip, then stopped. Looked at Molly, "Wait this is just coffee right? I am not about to be poisoned?"
"Serena, those movies of yours have you thinking you really are someone worth poisoning! Just drink the dang coffee!" Molly ordered.
If anything Molly would be there to resuscitate her, she convinced herself, as she took a sip of the coffee. Comfort washed over her, as she sunk in her chair.
"That good huh?"
Serena just nodded.
"He was worried it would get cold, so I wrapped the thermos up until I saw you pull up. Here is a cup, so you can drink it slow and keep the rest warm."
"When did he drop it off." Serena asked handing her the thermos. "Not too long before you got in. He wanted to stay but you were running late, and he needed to get to rounds. Such a sweet and handsome man, that one."
"Let me guess, you're going to tell me to go home too?"
"Nope, I want you to do whatever makes you happy. Just know, I know you, and you don't like, or need, big extravagant gift or gestures to make you happy."
"I am sorry Molly, I am so rude, did you want any?" Serena offered her her cup.
"I am okay, he brought us extra." She headed towards the door. "Whatever he does to his coffee is amazing. Does he add like nutmeg?"
"I really don't know, I have been trying the last couple days, but cannot seem to get it." Serena answered, pulling out her daily calendar. "The one thirty cancelled?"
"Yeah, I tried to move up your last meeting too, but they have not replied yet."
"Thanks Molly."
The rest of the morning Serena was in and out of conference calls. Every now and then someone would interrupt her offering her chocolate. She could never resist a piece of chocolate. She had almost one of every flavor before lunch had occurred, so despite eating all that chocolate, she still felt empty.
"Molly" She called.
"Yes, Serena." Molly replied.
"Have you eaten? I wanted to order food."
"Melvin actually packed my lunch today... I am not sure what it is, but it is too sweet of him not to eat." Molly smiled. "But what can I order for you. Pizza? I hear they are heart shaped today."
"Nooo.. I think I am going to order one for tonight..." Serena said pulling out some take out menus out of her desk.
"Serena can't you look online like a regular person?" Molly asked. "Those prices aren't even up to date!"
"Yeah... but the places are so good, I don't care." She smirked.
"So you're just going to order one pizza tonight." Molly tried to pry.
"It is just going to be me... even if we were talking, he still has to work, and it wouldn't have been fresh." She just shrugged. "Order from here, please." She handed Molly a the brochure. "See if anyone wants anything."
Molly just stared at her, then to the flowers. "You could always save him some, you know, it is Valentine's day and all."
"Cold pizza taste like cardboard, no matter what anyone says. And I know he agrees with me on that one." She sighed. One thing that brought them together was food. She loved to eat and he always knew the best places. He didn't care so much about dessert, but food, especially late night spots when he would take her home, after Mina would leave with Malachite. All the new things she tried. Street foods, hole in the walls, and the fine dining. "Sometimes we would try new foods and pretend to be food critiques. I have no idea why we would did that, we would never insult someones food to their face."
"Serena, please go home tonight. It is Valentine's Day, and you don't even know why you got so mad. Just... I know you will be happier." Molly simply gave her a half smile, turned around and walked to her desk. "Anyone want lunch? Sere is buying let me know in 15! Chinese!" She shouted.
Serena just laughed to herself and tried to go to back to her emails.