Revised version
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the sandy beach. Waves lapped gently at the shore, their rhythmic sound a soothing balm to Chrissy's restless spirit. She stood at the water's edge, her light brown hair tousled by the salty breeze, staring out at the vast expanse of the ocean. It was her sanctuary, a place where she felt most at home, far removed from the cacophony of her family life. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKySTuOtD1
Chrissy had always felt like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. Adopted into a loving family, she was surrounded by warmth and kindness, yet there was an unshakable sense of disconnect that clung to her like seaweed. Her parents and siblings were vibrant, outgoing individuals who thrived in social settings, while Chrissy often found solace in solitude. The irony was not lost on her; she was the odd one out in a family that had given her everything. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRqabNSi53
With a sigh, she kicked off her sandals and let the cool water lap at her feet. The sensation sent a shiver up her spine, but it was a welcome contrast to the heaviness that often weighed her down. Over 80% of the ocean remained unexplored—a vast, enigmatic world still waiting to be understood. That was why Chrissy believed in magic and mystery, why she never dismissed the possibility of the Loch Ness monster lurking in forgotten waters, why the legends of mermaids fascinated her. The ocean was more than just waves and tides—it was a realm of untold wonders, filled with creatures and truths hidden beyond human reach. How could she not believe in mythology when so much of the deep remained unknown? 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OptyaWidz
She had come to the beach to escape, to seek out the hidden treasures of the shoreline—shark teeth, smooth stones, and perhaps a little bit of magic that the ocean seemed to promise. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADj2pHS7vX
---233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYGt4Ei2fV
Answering the call of the sea, Chrissy waded into the water, letting the familiar pull of the tide wrap around her legs like a whispered invitation. As she dove beneath the surface, the brilliant world above dissolved into a shimmering haze, replaced by the magical realm beneath the waves.
She swam effortlessly, guided by the ocean's rhythm. Schools of iridescent fish darted in playful bursts, their scales catching fragments of light like scattered jewels, while coral formations stretched toward the surface—each crevice a tiny kingdom alive with vibrant color. Yet amid this natural splendor, a quieter, deeper pull stirred within her—a whisper that urged her to explore. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sqj2V4lZm
Not toward a hidden cave she'd sometimes imagined, but to the rocky seabed nearby. Following that subtle sensation, she ran her fingertips lightly over the rugged terrain, feeling the transition from smooth stone to jagged ridges. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgocJabngud
Then her hand stilled. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIwIjcmAwf
There, nestled among the scattered rocks and shifting sand, lay a single opal. Its surface shimmered in the fractured sunlight, revealing hues of blue, green, and flickers of iridescent pink—as if it were a secret waiting to be discovered. She brushed away the coarse grains and gently picked it up, surprised by its warmth amid the cool water. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kaRtVD5w4
A quiet pulse seemed to emanate from the stone—a subtle, almost unspoken energy that filled her with a sense of knowing. Though it was only a fragment lost in the vast ocean, as Chrissy held the opal close, she felt that the sea itself was whispering its secrets. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD1087UNBG
She pressed it into her grip, tucking it close as if protecting the mystery it held. The ocean hadn't revealed all its secrets yet—but perhaps, just perhaps, it had offered her the first piece of something waiting to be uncovered. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsVnV27kLm
---233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsz1FcJZXU
Chrissy stepped onto the shore, water trickling down her skin as the last traces of daylight painted the sky in soft hues. She ran a hand through her damp hair, pulling it into a loose bun before reaching for the small bag she'd left on the sand. With quick, practiced movements, she slipped a pair of lightweight shorts over her bathing suit, followed by a loose tank top, the fabric clinging slightly from the lingering saltwater.
Yet even as she dressed, her mind remained elsewhere—locked on the opal she had just uncovered. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8EmwKOsJc
Turning it over, she watched how it shimmered, shifting between deep blues, vibrant greens, and flickers of iridescent pink. It was mesmerizing, unlike anything she had ever found. Why had the ocean hidden this beneath the sand—waiting for her to uncover it? 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlC8wYw7AL
As she wandered along the beach, Chrissy's mind drifted. She thought about the book she intended to pick up at the Book Nook, a quaint little shop that smelled of aged pages and brewed coffee. She envisioned the story waiting for her, a world far removed from her own, filled with adventure and romance. It was the kind of escape she craved, a way to lose herself in someone else's life, if only for a few hours. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bzZu7GHNA
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcjzMXTqLq
In a moment of distraction, she collided with someone, the impact sending her tumbling backward onto the sand. Mortified, she started to push herself up, brushing grains of sand from her arms, when a steady hand appeared in front of her. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeGrPi14tL
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGwPJjjNA6
—
Chrissy brushed the last grains of sand from her skin, still flustered from the unexpected collision. The stranger had already stepped back, giving her space, but as he moved, something caught his eye near her feet. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxTPDPlA3o
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0FxT2xyPp
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfDMufbHv0
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3UP2F4ogx
She turned it over in her palm, watching the deep blues and greens shift in the fading sunlight. Yeah, I found it in the water while I was swimming. It had been buried beneath the ocean's sand, the currents shifting just enough to reveal it to her. She hadn't even realized she'd lost it. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6inRXDbAii
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgarhWtiyo4
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9zwUbgCrX
He raised a brow but didn't laugh, didn't brush off her words like most people would. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully. "I get that. Some things are meant to find us—no matter how impossible it seems." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXyUo7zlLf
---233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMZO2xg407
Chrissy shifted her weight slightly, brushing the last remnants of sand from her arms, preparing to move along. The interaction had been brief—a collision, an apology, and the return of her opal. She figured that was the end of it.
"Oh—uh, sorry for bumping into you," she said, offering a small, sheepish smile. "And thanks for helping me up." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmYjKGPu6U
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3IFFn9zJc
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI8aQZdvp9
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MMwshJbJy
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgqpeyRWad
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB7OZU2erR
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDECAOikn0V
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULxHi4jSgz
Chrissy followed his gaze. "Yeah, whenever I need to clear my head. I love looking for shark teeth, seashells, sea glass—whatever the ocean decides to leave behind." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtLFyBxcUo
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXnPjftfTM
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaQ3NlVlIO
A smirk tugged at his lips. "That's a pretty cool hobby. Mind if I tag along? I feel like I've been missing out on some hidden treasure." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYq4GHJe6z
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp41979gF7
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXcTeSf58V
They started walking, the rhythm of the waves matching their steps. After a moment, Chrissy bent down, scanning the sand with sharp focus. Within seconds, she plucked a small black tooth from the ground and held it up triumphantly. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMQKvdMtf7
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvnuzAcwru
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHZrXHkm0p
—
Twilight settled over the beach, casting deep blues and purples across the sky. The ocean, ever-moving, whispered against the shore, folding waves onto the sand as if urging secrets into the world.
Chrissy and Nick walked side by side, their conversation fading into quiet observation. There was something calming about the weight of the evening—the shift from casual conversation to simply existing in the same space, letting the world unfold around them. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlBP2YkQwE
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzAX4jXtlm
She bent down suddenly, eyes locking onto an odd shape amid the sand. With practiced fingers, she brushed away the grains, then lifted it between her fingertips. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoZwfAQXgw
A shark tooth. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7VrHDfesd
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6UoQGslcW
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInfrT5Dh5L
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojSSMCx6WJ
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh5JGNBtfn
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cHvs77L2t
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkenqqkbie
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtNpnO8fPj
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU8eQRLL5h
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl54eE3btd6
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0zTwUxSK8
—
The tide rushed in, slamming against the formations of Blowing Rocks, sending bursts of sea spray into the air. The water surged through the narrow crevices of stone, spilling over in white bursts before retreating—only to rise again with renewed force.
Chrissy sat on one of the flatter rock surfaces, legs crossed, arms resting on her knees, watching the waves crash against the shore. Nick sat beside her, quiet at first, studying the restless water. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB99Mja1RF
"You know," he said finally, voice casual but curious, "I've been talking about myself this whole time. What about you? What's your family like?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ShCjai8rS
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPdaFA8NHQ
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGzpIp9PCr
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy53VGTrye
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyfTkDDqjX
Nick didn't say anything, didn't rush her or fill the silence with words meant to smooth over the heaviness of the confession. He just let her speak. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6866nJ6Jh
Chrissy swallowed, forcing a small laugh—one without humor. "Sometimes I feel like I don't fit anywhere. Like I'm just—broken. And people try to fix me, but there doesn't seem to be a fix." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKwvfkOI0n
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgXToyQ5G0
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdMHuJurxJ
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3mvoYTnxb
Chrissy glanced at him, but he wasn't looking at her. He was still watching the tide, as if reading some unseen meaning in the way it moved—how it crashed, withdrew, and returned again. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhcAdIt0f1
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHQz7lkAIe
Nick sighed, letting his shoulders rise and fall with the movement. "I get it, though. Feeling like you don't belong. Feeling like you should know exactly who you are, but somehow, you don't." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduDArk2TLA
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeQfOorkuE
Nick turned to her, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe that's why you love the ocean," he murmured. "It doesn't belong to any one place—it just exists. And no matter how much people try to understand it, there are parts of it that can't be understood. Not fully." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf0odyzLwU
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM2DoS9yTu
She looked back at the waves. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bsZcu0Jq8
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMFmLVLlSJ
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PfTr0Y9hr
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpgtMwI2cw
—
The tide crashed against the rugged formations of Blowing Rocks, sending bursts of sea spray into the air before retreating back into the depths. The limestone—weathered and worn by years of relentless waves—stood firm beneath Chrissy and Nick as they sat in quiet observation. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD6zaXKhvS
There was something untamed about this place, something she understood. Here, the ocean wasn't controlled—it carved its own path, shaped its own world, dictated its own rhythm. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndz23wj64u
For a long moment, neither of them spoke, letting the sound of the waves fill the space between them. Then, Chrissy reached into her bag, pulled out her phone, and checked the time. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPj2NG3drd
9:27 PM.233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CzPDA26Wz
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFONUj9Wsop
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwOmdAyseu
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEJKN8XWbr
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8ZjK1NKsV
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFHbJdGXsp
She stood, stretching her legs before answering. "Yep. I want time to look around, grab a coffee, maybe a chocolate muffin if they still have any left." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bCRTeD88L
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pvVp7UCvH
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvDmAaSdgm
"I'll walk you." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrHx1EW7Y5
Chrissy hesitated, glancing toward the dimly lit path leading back to town. She wasn't worried about walking alone. But... she didn't mind the idea of not walking alone, either. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmaUEEH5ur
"You sure?" she asked. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EnT3MOrv4
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH2rQ6tkhm
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNTcXSgn8F
---233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxHtbbFCRp
The streets were quiet, illuminated only by the glow of distant streetlamps casting long shadows against the pavement. Their footsteps settled into a slow rhythm, the world around them hushed, as if waiting for the conversation to unfold. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKUOi1WnB7
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslbGC0Fiq9
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI39KMewVv
Nick smirked. "Of course." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviTlHJHzWF
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXyCRTzOhb
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtOj6H9tVV
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YvYA1LSOH
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCE2mr7mNl
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHQVo6Renx
"I don't know," she admitted finally. "It's just hard to believe that the kind of love you can write about actually happens in real life. It seems more like fiction than reality." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9eBmOhyK5
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MKLpbxsrU
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5npCmUh8mB
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h9ly6LXrB
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYZbYmpZ5r
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbevP4GDm8l
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVsMM7SxmW
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFsovrQTGH
"Well," he mused, his gaze flicking briefly to hers, "I met a pretty girl at the beach tonight. She kinda knocked the wind out of me." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1kebr07Zd
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhJJgqygbi
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMf6aOx6MZ
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagkJNKUajh
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5PAVcbJl1
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MLj4LnT5K
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJPkttdwkp
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfYal5yy3e
Nick glanced at the Book Nook's door, then back at her. "You know what? I might as well go in, too. These chocolate muffins you swear by seem to be all the rage, and I need to see for myself if your romance novels are as dramatic as you claim." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh99cekyT8q
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWuFjcVhGd
She smirked, adjusting the strap on her shoulder. "Well, duh. Of course the chocolate muffins are the best—especially paired with their chocolate mocha coffee." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ozoznpRMi
She sighed, as if describing something truly sacred. "Paradise. Especially when you've got a good book, sitting in a cozy corner, curled up in a comfy chair." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuV9wsoR5g
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMoH29kBhW
"A chocolate muffin and a chocolate coffee," he mused, his voice laced with teasing curiosity. "I see a trend here. Or is it just a coincidence that both have chocolate?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Tgv83iTzC
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKsLsA53wq
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPPpQVO0sh
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTGIYuDKT4
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSRKR5TYmz
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwoSck5hyx
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSS0N9CJ6T
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBgeHnwk3R
The night stretched around them, the warm hum of the bookstore waiting beyond the door.
And for now, neither of them were quite ready to let it end.
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