Valentine’s Day has a habit of turning romance into a performance. Flowers, chocolates, cards, and a vague sense that something meaningful is supposed to happen, even if no one is quite sure what that is. The truth is that romance rarely comes from checking boxes. It comes from feeling noticed, desired, and a little bit surprised. Sometimes that means doing less, not more. A touch of playfulness, a break from routine, or a slightly unexpected gesture can do more to spark conn