She could feel the love in the air, for everyone else except herself. Even as she exited the office building on the Upper West side of Manhattan, love smacked her in the face. An older couple strolled by with their arms wrapped around each other. Her heart sank.

You will not feel sorry for yourself. It's not your fault your ex was an asshat.

Meredith started down the street towards the A train, hoping it wouldn't be a long wait. She couldn't wait to get home and take a nice warm bubble bath. She hoped that her kids were fast asleep.

Thankfully, the subway ride to Penn had gone much smoother than her day at work. The thought of her ten year relationship going down the drain plagued her mind. All because her so called best friend couldn't keep her paws off what was hers. It had been two months since it all went down and the pain was still fresh.

Meredith sent a quick text to the babysitter to let her know she was on the way home. A smiling emoji was the response she received back, followed by, the kids are sound asleep.

Meredith rested her head on the sticky seat of the LIRR train. She smiled, thankful to have some peace and quiet when she got home. She needed some time to herself after the wild day she had. She loved her kids, they were the only thing keeping her together, but sometimes silence was a blessing.

Thank you! She typed back.

Meredith closed her eyes but giggles from across the aisle caught her attention. A couple that looked no older than eighteen were getting a bit handsy. There was a time when that was her and Ryan. Young, in love, and hopelessly devoted. If only she'd known what ten years of marriage and two kids would bring, she would have never gotten that far.

The train's automated speaker called out the name of her stop. She grabbed her belongings and exited with a few stragglers. Below her the town was brought to life by small restaurants and happy couples wandering about.

Her heart squeezed in a way she wasn't expecting. She didn't love him anymore that would be ridiculous. Meredith sighed as she pressed the remote to unlock her dark gray minivan. A weird cackle escaped her lips. Who would want her? She drives a minivan, wears her hair up in that weird mom bun, and is literally a "mombie" before her daily consumption of caffeine.

As she drove past the pizza parlor on Main Street she noticed the tiny hearts plastered in the window.

"Shit!"

How could she have forgotten about valentine's day? Maybe, it was the fact that she caught her husband in her bed with her best friend. Just the thought made her want to bang her head on the steering wheel.

She wished she had remembered, not for love but for her kids. Jake and Amy would be expecting candy in the morning, but all she had was some leftover Halloween candy stuffed in the back of her closet.

It was well past ten, so she swung into the nearest 711. She must have looked crazy as she entered in a panic. She strolled down the candy aisle and scooped up skittles, starburst, and m&ms into her arms. The clerk at the front had her eyes plastered on Meredith.

By the time she had finished she had a wide array of candy, two small heart balloons on a stick, a small pink stuffed mouse, and a tiny matchbox car she'd found while at the register.

The woman raised a brow.

"I forgot it was valentine's day," Meredith sighed. "I am the worst mom in the world."

The woman's silent intense stare confirmed her suspicion. Without another word she gathered the items and raced for the van. She threw the plastic bag onto the passenger seat and only allowed one tear to fall before wiping it away and heading towards home.

She pulled into the driveway of her one story ranch. The siding was starting to fall off, but she hadn't had the time nor energy to find someone to fix it.

Something seemed off. If the kids were asleep like she had been told then why would all her lights be on?

She grabbed the bag of goodies and when she popped back up all the lights turned off. She stood there for a moment. Maybe she was even more tired than she thought. Trudging up the cement walkway she pulled her keys from her bag. Her hand slipped and her keys dropped to the ground.

Meredith cursed under her breath. She leaned down to grab them when the plastic bag in her hand ripped.

Just breathe.

She started to gather everything attempting to hold it all together - more herself than the candy.

"Let me help you with that."

Meredith gasped at the dark warm voice that thundered behind her. She spun and came face to face with her neighbor Josh. He moved in recently just prior to the incident, so he heard everything.

"Josh."

A weird giggle passed her lips. She could feel her cheeks warm and hoped the darkness covered it.

"Hey, Mer. You look a little frazzled."

She surprised herself with another laugh.

"Frazzled isn't even the right word."

His soft warm chuckle made her pulse race. This man was beyond gorgeous, nerdy but her mind couldn't help wonder what he would be like in bed.

Her cheeks grew hotter, if that was even possible.

Josh paused and placed a hand on Meredith's back. She stopped grabbing at the candy and glanced over at him. His wide gray eyes watched her. For a moment all the sound was washed out. Her eyes darted down to his perfect pink lips and then back up. She shivered, he had been doing the same.

Everything faded into the background. Josh had been so friendly and kind the past few months, she always figured he had someone. He didn't look like the single kind of guy. Maybe she was wrong. If she was not mistaken there had been lust pulsing behind his eyes.

Her lips parted ready to taste his when the door pulled open and a loud noise startled them both.

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

Meredith glanced up. Brie the babysitter stood there with Jake and Amy beside her. In their hands they held homemade cards made of glitter and Batman stickers.

Josh stood first, not at all shocked by the surprise. He lent his hand down to her, a wide smirk on his scruffy face. She took his hand and he lifted her up. She had almost forgotten the fallen candy when her kids burst out in a chorus of hoorays and is this for us?

"Well if you guys are all set here I really should get home to work on some homework with my boyfriend. If you catch my drift?"

Her small freckled face scrunched into a broad smile.

"Yes. Please go enjoy your night. I've got it covered from here."

"Great!"

Josh helped gather the candy and her fallen key, while she shuffled the kids inside. She wasn't expecting there to be dinner on the table. It wasn't fancy but they still set candles in the center and used one of the hand made tablecloths her Nonna made.

She allowed the kids one candy each before they brushed their teeth and got ready for bed. Josh helped read to them. It wasn't unusual that he offered to help. He'd just built a snowman last week with them while she finished up her bills for the week.

Afterwards they went downstairs. Dinner wasn't homemade, but set out in tiny white chinese cartons. Her absolute favorite.

"I ordered chicken and string beans, sauce on the side, dumplings, fried rice, the works," he said.

"It's perfect. I hope you're eating with me. As hungry as I am I doubt I can eat it all."

His laughter filled her with a joy so deep it made her sweat.

He sat across from her a candle stick blocking her view. The table was small and under it she felt the brush of her foot against his.

"Thank you." She said. "I'd forgotten all about Valentine's Day. It was kind of you and Brie to make something nice for the kids."

"Us?" He arched a brow. "It was all them. I just paid for the food."

"Oh josh, please let me repay you."

He moved the candle out of the way and stretched his arm across the table. His hand covered her own, sending shocks of electricity through her veins.

"Please. It's on me."

In the soft light of her dining room she knew Josh could see the blush that formed on her face.

"Thank you, for being so kind to us. It really means a lot."

She shivered as Josh ran his pointer over each of her five fingers.

"Yeah. Of course."

Meredith glanced up at him. She slouched back in her chair. It had been a while since she felt something. Even though she loved her husband their flame had definitely burned out.

"Meredith," he said, his voice full of passion.

She met his eye and for a brief second and watched his tongue dance across his lips.

"Yeah." She cleared her throat and it felt dry.

"I know things have been rough on you the last two months, but..."

He hesitated. Why did he hesitate? Was she really that frightening? Josh was a bachelor, so he probably started having second thoughts about even looking at a woman with kids.

"I like you."

Eyes wide she just stared at him. She enjoyed the way his fingers rubbed the underside of her hand and how his feet tangled with hers.

"Would you want to maybe go on a date?"

"Oh, this one doesn't count?" She smirked.

Josh's face lit up. Eyes wide he stood leaning in over the table. He pushed aside his food with his free hand, then leaned further.

"So, is that a yes?"

His brow raised.

She nodded standing as well.

"That depends on what you had in mind?"

Meredith leaned in too. They were so close she could feel his warm breath on her trembling lips.

"I was thinking maybe Brie could babysit, while you and I can indulge in some Netflix at my place. Under the blankets."

He whispered every word and it made her heart race.

"Keep going," she said.

"More takeout, maybe something Italian. Strawberries covered in dark chocolate. You covered in..."

She didn't allow him to finish his sentence. Just the sound of his throaty voice made her stomach explode with fireworks. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

"So, is that a yes?"

She could feel a slight tug in her cheek and it actually hurt to smile, but it felt amazing at the same time.

"Yes."

Josh smirked and leaned in to kiss her again.

"He's a vampire! Mommy run!"

She and Josh pulled away fast, almost knocking over the candles. They stared at a bleary eyed Jake watching them in horror.

"Baby, he's not a vampire."

"I know," he shrugged. "Brie let us watch Twilight."

Josh chuckled as he came around and placed a hand on Jake's shoulder.

"Let's get you to bed little man. Maybe we could read another story while your mom finishes her dinner."

Josh led Jake towards the stairs but looked back at Meredith. He smirked at her and her entire body melted into a puddle.

"To be continued?" He questioned.

Meredith nodded and then flopped back into her chair. She closed her eyes and images of their kiss played back in her head. She touched her bottom lip to remember the taste.

Forgetting valentine's day wasn't such a bad thing after all.