Damien stared at her, genuinely taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to remember his birthday, much less surprise him like this.
A wave of warmth filled his chest, and he found himself smiling, deeply touched by her thoughtful gesture.
“You knew?”
“Of course I do,” Maya replied, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she brightened.
“Oh! And I have a gift for you!”
She reached into her tote bag and carefully took something out, holding it close to her chest with both hands.
For a moment, she looked down at it, her fingers tightening slightly around the worn cover.
Then she lifted her gaze to Damien, a hint of nervousness crossing her face.
“It’s not much. At least, it probably doesn’t look like much. But it means a lot to m
