The mall was packed with holiday shoppers, bustling through the brightly lit corridors, the air filled with the sound of Christmas music and the distant hum of chatter. Everywhere you looked, there were twinkling lights, wreaths, and red-and-green decorations hanging from the ceilings, wrapping the entire space in a festive atmosphere.

You and Levi walked side by side, weaving through the bustling crowd, both bundled in your coats to fend off the lingering chill from earlier.

You’d decided to drag him along not just for holiday shopping for the others, but also to secretly pick something out for him, with his birthday just around the corner. Of course, you’d only mentioned wanting to spend some quality time together, which wasn’t entirely untrue. It was just a distraction—something to keep him from noticing your real plan, a small gesture for his upcoming birthday.

Levi’s grey eyes darted from one shop window to the next, taking in the displays of ornaments, gifts, and Christmas lights, though his usual scowl was still firmly in place.

“This place is ridiculous,” Levi muttered, glancing at a particularly over-the-top display with flashing lights and what seemed to be a dancing reindeer. “Why does everything need to be so damn loud and crowded?”