A prompt a week - 55. Chris's Valentine's Day - 817

It was cold and Chris was tired from a long day at work. All he really wanted to do was go home, curl up on his couch in a blanket, and watch an old movie. Being single on Valentine’s day really didn’t mean all that much to him.

Hurrying up the walkway to the apartment building’s door he heard a high-pitched yip. Pausing to look, he spotted Mrs. Calloway out walking her chihuahua.

“Evening, Mrs. Calloway. Rambo behaving?”

“Rambo is being his usual self. I swear Ollie has a warped sense of humor. Only my husband would name a tiny noisy dog, Rambo.”

Chris smiled and looked away. The Calloways lived two doors down and were the sweetest couple. Rachel was a Doctor of English at the local college and her husband Oliver owned the local radio station. Their love was so apparent that Chris felt lucky to be around them.

“Do you have a date, Chris?”

“Um, no. Just going home and catching a movie.” Chris smiled and began to make his break for the door.

“Evening to you, Mr. Ruiz.” Antonio the building security guard stood holding the door for him.

Chris tried not to stare at Antonio's muscular body, square jaw, or deep chocolate eyes as he squeezed past him.

Antonio smiled and waved to Ms. Calloway as he closed the door behind Chris.

“Thanks, Antonio.” Chris made his way over to the mailboxes and checked his. Taped to his mailbox was a slightly crushed blue rose. He peeled it off, sniffed the faint scent, and opened his mailbox to find it was empty.

“Oh, geez,” Antonio hurried over carrying an Amazon box. “Nearly forgot, Mr. Ruiz. This came for you today too. I signed for it.”

Chris blushed as his hand grazed Antonio’s. He took the box and headed to the elevator trying to stay calm as he purposely focused on his phone. While in the lift he opened the door dash app and ordered a sandwich and slice of cake for dinner.

“Well, at least dinner is taken care of.” He opened his door and hit the intercom button.

“Yes, Mr. Ruiz,” came Antonio’s deep voice,

“Chris, Antonio. You can call me, Chris.”

Antonio’s laughter could be heard. “Yes, Sir.”

Chris sighed. “I ordered from the deli place around the corner. Door dash is delivering it. Just send whoever it is up when they arrive.”

“No problem, Chris, Sir.”

Chris laughed as he headed into his apartment. He set the rose down and looked at the Amazon box. It was addressed to him, but he didn’t remember ordering anything. Taking a pair of scissors out of his junk draw he opened the box. Inside was a pale blue shirt and a gift note from his mother wishing him a Happy Valentine’s Day.

Chris looked at the clock and seen it was just after seven. Knowing his father would take his mother out for dinner and a movie he called the house and left a message on their answering machine.

He was just heading into his bedroom to change when the intercom buzzed. “Food is here, Sir. The dasher is on his way up.”

Chris headed toward his door. “At least it is all paid for,” he sighed as he walked over to the door, opened it, and waited for the guy.

The elevator door opened and out walked an ebony god. He stood wearing an open black jacket, with a tight tan shirt that clung to his six pack, and a killer smile. He glanced at the sign showing where the different apartments were and smoothed his shirt out. Before Chris could even say a word, he turned and headed down the hallway in the opposite direction. Chris was about to call out when a short blond guy stepped out carrying a large bag with the distinctive red logo on it.

“Hey, you must be waiting on me.” The guy walked over, opened his bag and handed me the paper bag from inside. “Here you go, bud. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled almost automictically. He took his bag, closed the door, and went to find something he could lose himself in for the evening. Just as he was about to sit down, he noticed the rose. There was a card attached.

He expected it to be a rose from the apartment co-op. Instead it read, “Happy Valentine’s Day, To a Sweet Man, A.”

Chris sat down and happily munched on his sandwich as he tried to figure out how to get the only person, he knew with the starting initial A up to his place. Maybe, just maybe, Valentine’s day wouldn’t always be spent alone.

Chris smiled and took a sip of wine from his glass as he thought about his future