Some people are very literal and need things spelled out.

Personally my family doesn’t do greeting cards. So if someone says I don’t want gift exchange, I’d not buy a gift. But I am not a mind reader. I can’t possibly know that the person wants a card. We don’t do cards.

Many people don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day and don’t make a big deal out of it.

I’d not worry about him and gifts but worry about him being angry and rage prone