Beauty's relief quickly turned into anger as she gestured to the bed, where the crumpled note lay like a slap in the face.
"What's this, Bruno?" she demanded, holding it up with a trembling hand. "You left me a note and just disappeared."
She dried her face with her palms, putting on a serious expression.
Bruno blinked, his mouth opening and closing like a fish as he struggled to keep up.
"Wait, what? I didn't-"
"You didn't leave this?" she snapped, waving the note in his direction.
"What is this supposed to mean, huh? 'Thanks for a great time'? Explain..."
Bruno's jaw dropped, his face flushing bright red.
"What? No! That's not-"
He ran a hand through his hair, the bouquet wobbling dangerously in his other hand.
"Oh my God, Baby, no! That's not what I meant at all!"
"I am waiting for a good explanation," she demanded, her hands now on her hips as she glared at him.
Bruno looked utterly flustered as he set the flowers and gifts down on the nearby table. He held up his hands in surrender.
"Okay, first of all, let me explain before you kill me with those eyes. That note was supposed to be romantic. I just... I didn't know how to say it properly! I can't leave you alone without a word or something... I am not good at this..."
She folded her arms, trying not to melt at his cuteness and also trying not to scream happily.
"He really came back! I was so scared he wouldn't come back!"
"You've got thirty seconds, Romeo," she replied.
Bruno took a deep breath, his cheeks still tinged pink.
"Last night was my first time. That's what I mean by 'first time experience'... as you know."
"Got it," Beauty replied.
"And it was amazing. You were amazing. I wrote that note because I thought it'd make you smile when you saw it. I just didn't want you to wake up and feel bad that we didn't wake up together. I wanted to thank you for making it so perfect."
"Why didn't you write on the note that you went to get something and would be right back?"
"Because I wanted to surprise you, Baby. I'm sorry. I'm an idiot. I made you think I ran off. The note can be misinterpreted... I just don't know... Next time, I'll think about the right words to use."
Beauty's lips twitched, the corners of her mouth betraying a hint of a smile.
"So... you didn't run off? You just went to get flowers to surprise me?" she sniffed.
"And gifts!" Bruno added quickly, holding up a small box from one of the bags.
"Fancy ones! Chocolate truffles. The kind in gold wrappers. I didn't even look at the price, Your Majesty."
She let out an unbidden laugh, wiping the lingering tears from her cheeks.
"You really are clueless, aren't you?"
"Hopeless," Bruno corrected with a sheepish grin. "But I'm really good at flowers. Look at these!"
He grabbed the bouquet and held it out to her dramatically.
"For the most beautiful woman in the world, who is now probably thinking of killing me slightly less."
Beauty laughed despite herself, taking the bouquet from him.
"You're lucky I like roses."
"And me?" he asked, his voice soft now, his eyes searching hers.
She sighed, her smile growing.
"You? You're lucky you're adorable. I love you."
Bruno beamed, his confidence returning.
"So... are we good? Because if not, I've got more backup gifts in these bags. I went a little overboard."
Beauty shook her head, laughing as she threw her arms around him.
"You're impossible."
"And you're perfect," he murmured, pulling her close.