Real talk: February 14 doesn't always go off without a hitch. So if you've suffered through a V-Day that was more cringe-worthy than cute, you're not alone. Share in the misery of these 14 survivors:
Textual Harassment
"I had been dating a guy for about a month, but neither of us had brought up V-Day plans, so I went out with a bunch of girlfriends instead. Around 9:30 that night, I got a text from him asking if I wanted to come over. Then he added, 'Not for Valentine's Day or anything.' Really, could he be more obvious that it was just a booty call? Clearly, I decided to stick with my friends." —Danielle*
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The Doctor Will See You Now
"I've never been one to focus on Valentine's Day when I'm not in a relationship. Well, maybe I should have. One year, I accidentally scheduled my annual gyno appointment that day. So yeah, that's who I spent February 14 with." —Sarah
Growing Pains
"I was dating this guy whose birthday was on February 13, so I took him out on Valentine's Day to celebrate and spent $300 on dinner. That night, he insisted we stay at his place. The only problem was, he had recently moved back home with his parents. The best part: He asked me to chip in for gas on the way home! Did I mention I was an assistant at the time making no money, and he was five years older than me?" —Lea
The Group Date from Hell
"One year, I went out for a casual V-Day dinner with a group of single friends. Well, what started as a huge group got smaller and smaller as some people backed out. It ended up being my friend, her ex, my other female friend, and the guy who was not-so-secretly in love with her. And me, the most awkward fifth wheel ever. The waiter didn't know what to make of me, and neither did the guys, who actually begged me to give them space at the end of the night so they could make their moves." —Katie
Not-So-Big Spender
"One time on Valentine's Day, this guy I wasn't really into presented me with a locket from Macy's…that was 75 percent off and purchased two years prior. I know this because he left the yellowed receipt in the box. But it's the thought that counts, right?" —Jane
Seriously Love Sick
"The first V-Day I spent with my boyfriend was a disaster. I woke up with a horrible stomach bug that morning, but my thoughtful new guy insisted he come over to take care of me. He showed up with chicken soup, which I gratefully sipped despite my overwhelming nausea. I kept it down for a while, but then had to sneak away because I felt sick. Eventually it got so bad that I actually had to run to the bathroom to barf…door wide open in my tiny apartment. He heard/saw/smelled everything. I hugged the toilet instead of him that night, but three years later, we still laugh about it." —Megan
Call Me, Maybe?
"I was single and working in retail one year when a guy in a Navy uniform came in to chat me up. I love a man in uniform, so when he asked for my phone number I obviously gave it to him. A few days passed without a word from him. I'd almost written him off when he called the week of Valentine's Day. I was so excited he was calling, but then a few minutes into the conversation, I realized he wasn't asking me out—he was asking me to join the Navy! Turns out, he was a recruiter and was interested in me for other reasons." —Caroline
Will You Accept This Rose?
"One year, I had an extra ticket to see a play on Valentine's Day, and I really wanted to go—so I invited one of my platonic guy friends. When he showed up, I saw he brought me a single red rose. Obviously, he thought this meant a whole lot more than I did, which made me feel super awkward the whole time. I gave him a hug at the end of the night, but we weren't friends too much longer after that." —Jessica
Sorry, I'm Booked
"A previous boyfriend of mine had to travel a lot, but he made sure to stay in town for Valentine's Day weekend. It turned out that one of my friends was also visiting that weekend and was only free that day, so I told her I would meet her for lunch. I didn't think it was a big deal since I'd be seeing my boyfriend that night and the whole rest of the weekend, but apparently I was wrong. He flipped out and started ranting about how Valentine's Day is the whole day, not just dinner. I ended up bailing on my friend, but my boyfriend's control-freak response pretty much ruined the whole weekend. Obviously, we're not together anymore." —Maria
Love Bug
"One year, I organized a dinner-and-a-movie date for a bunch of girlfriends the night of Valentine's Day. None of them knew each other very well, so I felt a lot of pressure to make sure everyone had a good time. We got to the restaurant—a Mediterranean place I had picked—and shortly after we got our food, one of the girls bit into her stuffed grape leaf to find a live bug (a big one) inside! Needless to say, my efforts to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves didn't go over so well." —Rachel
She's Just Not That Into You
"I had been seeing this guy, Dennis, for a few days in the week leading up to Valentine's Day. Call me a relationship-phobe, but V-Day dates really freak me out—especially when it's with someone who's clearly a fling. That February 14, Dennis sent me a text asking if he could take me out to dinner at a fondue restaurant. So romantic, right? But I was so caught off guard that I frantically wrote back saying we were moving too fast and I didn't think I should see him that night. After a few hours with no response, I realized I probably overreacted. I sent him another text asking if he was OK. He said he was crying at work. He was probably joking, but either way—I decided we'd be better off if I just never contacted him again." —Sammi
Love On Lock
"My then-boyfriend and I had plans to see a movie and get dinner on Valentine's Day. We decided to see the movie first, and when we got out he realized he'd locked his keys in the car. Neither of us had roadside assistance…but my dad did. I had to call him to help us out. It was another hour before the locksmith showed up, and by that time we were cold, starving, and so over Valentine's Day." —Anne
The Silent Lover
"My boyfriend and I had been dating for almost a year when our first Valentine's Day rolled around. I wasn't expecting fireworks or anything (we didn't even make set plans), but as the day progressed, it became clear: He wasn't even going to wish me a happy Valentine's Day! By the time I saw him later that night, he had some serious groveling to do. Simply acknowledging it is pretty much the easiest thing you can do on V-Day!" —Lisa
*Names have been changed to protect the innocent
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