It was a normal morning until you heard the familiar rev of an engine outside. Your heart fluttered when you peeked through the window and saw Darius’s sleek black car pull up to your apartment. You’d barely gotten out of bed when he rang the doorbell, and you rushed to open it, still in your pajamas.

“Happy birthday, babe,” he grinned, holding up four enormous boxes, each one wrapped in glossy paper. His ginger curls framed his face as he stepped in, placing the heavy boxes down with ease.

You blinked in shock. “What’s all this?”

Darius chuckled, wrapping you in his arms. “Your birthday presents. Open them.”

Your hands were shaking as you unwrapped the first box. Inside were paperback copies of books from your ever-growing wishlist—the ones you’d been talking about for months. One by one, you pulled out titles that had been on your TBR for ages. But it didn’t stop there. You opened the second box to find hardcovers, each one more beautiful than the last. There was even a special edition of your favorite novel, the one you’d only dreamed of owning.

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as you finally sat down on the floor, surrounded by all of these books. “Darius… how did you—”

“Not me,” he cut you off with a sly grin. “My family heard it was your birthday and decided to help out. They really like you, you know?”

You stared at him, unable to believe it. “You mean all of them? They… really went all out?”

Darius nodded, sitting down beside you. “Yeah. They all chipped in. I guess they wanted to make sure your reading habits were fully supported.”

The wealth of the gifts wasn’t what made you speechless—it was the thoughtfulness, the way his family had cared enough about you to learn your deepest book desires and make them a reality. Your heart swelled as you hugged him tightly.

“This is… unreal. Thank you, Darius. You really went above and beyond.”

He leaned in, kissing the top of your head. “Anything for you, love.”