February. For most of us the month conjures up thoughts of heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, red roses and romance. So why does the 14th get such a bad rap? It could have to do with the way many of us (or at least our ex-boyfriends) have settled for saying “I love you” with trite, store-bought gifts, like those chalky hearts or cheesy balloons. Well, how about getting creative when it comes time to say those three oh-so-important words this year? Need a little inspiration? Check out how some of our reader’s beaus expressed their affection.

Early on in our relationship we were totally broke on Valentine’s Day. After a whole day of nothing, he tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to him and he opened up his hand, which said in ink: ‘Happy Valentine’s Day.’ It was very simple, but also a nice surprise.
—Delilah, together for eight years

I was working at a call center and I had just finished telling my co-worker that all men were scum. He slid a piece of paper toward me that I thought said IOU. I gave him this confused look like, ‘What the hell does that mean?’ He did something to the O and slid the paper back to me. He'd written “I heart U.”
—Savvy Miss Member

I had jaw surgery, so my face swelled to the size of a basketball and my lips looked like those oversized candy lips they give away for Halloween. My boyfriend stayed with me at my parents’ house. He fed me meals through a syringe and sat next to me in silence while we watched movie after movie. If taking care of a drooling, swollen girlfriend isn’t love, I don’t know what is.
—Leslie, together for two years