They walked through the park slowly, as if they had all the time in the world. Their conversation flowed gently — about what they enjoyed, what made them happy, what they wanted to do one day. The sun was slowly setting behind the trees, its light filtering through the leaves and dancing across their faces.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyNOCUfOEA
Then Max mentioned,"You know, I've got about twenty tattoos. I really love tattooing. I even do it myself… One day I want to open my own studio."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPtlUviv04
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DPbaMRAzt
Max held out his hand, showing her a small flower tattooed between his knuckles. Then he took off a ring — shaped like a star — and underneath it was a large star tattoo, bold and black.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcznDGRh71F
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJV9g1NQPa
They were getting close to the edge of the park. Behind a low fence, deer wandered peacefully, and goats grazed nearby. In the distance, the soft sounds of other animals could be heard. The park felt still, almost magical, as if time had paused for just a while.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaOEMlYhRI
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTQIcXzmQl
They kept walking. The trail brought them to a spot where the trees opened up, revealing a view of the river. The surface shimmered in the fading light, and swans glided calmly across the water.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP7i1VcXF6
Nicol looked around and—44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n3IkzjTCv
They sat down on a bench facing the river, and Nicol couldn't get enough of the view. She loved it — the calm water, the swans, the way the last light of day lit everything in gold.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMZ5as0d9N
She glanced over at Max and caught his eyes. They held the eye contact a little longer than usual, and Nicol couldn't stop smiling.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnw9ka5I8H
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02lnoThaf9
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CtAHmkAPK
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFWD5f8K1b
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKid25Vx9x
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb2zikKf9r
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7O63AV1dQ
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZF2l9Jsrpi
"Really?" he asked, surprised.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9Ny6wGY3z
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG1z7XXlNZ
Max smiled back."It's just… I've got friends who are younger than me, and they already have their own place. And I'm like—"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75eS2eefaB
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zJEvLsQ7s
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsbGsivrWl
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXnptIU8Jj
Max's face lit up."I love when someone has passions like that. Maybe one day you'll write about Mr. Right. 'He pulled me into his arms, and I never wanted to leave…'"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ54I6gwjoK
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU9BvkWWUh
They had moved deeper into the park now. As they walked, Nicol couldn't stop laughing at Max's jokes. She liked the way he talked, the way he looked at her. Then he turned to face her, his gaze lingering just a little longer. Nicol started to feel something — something slow and quiet but real. The way he looked at her… no one had ever looked at her like that before.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8klOO4lfBc
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KwQSgbWVA
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zej213cqy
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvPJpmQj6v
Nicol blinked. For a second, she felt something twist inside her — a flash of insecurity, wondering if he wasn't interested after all. A dozen thoughts rushed through her head.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9mqx3f6ZH
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLq1lGzKcY
She laughed and opened the energy drink he had given her earlier. He opened his too. With every joke Max made, with every word he spoke, Nicol felt the corners of her lips lift again and again. There was something about him — something so sweet and easy to love.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADohQCVM6y
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH2gKJ5hYw
But she was too shy.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vFOy13TBD
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJjAcQPqJA
"Sure," Nicol replied.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhUhesjLjw
As they walked, the air was getting colder. Patches of snow had turned into icy spots on the ground. At one point, Nicol slipped — her foot sliding right out from under her — but Max caught her just in time.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JE92eACl1
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RCCeVMyPB
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi6y6B1o5w
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc3VAVzEFg
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9zJPQsyOT
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxTxgh3JBF
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrnjlrZvGt
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qdHbOdK7m
They started talking about school, about the future, their dreams. Max told Nicol he had finished studying design and graphic arts — that he'd been to university.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCcY4Nmaxh
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhTGczMzMZ
Max shook his head."There's nothing wrong with that. My mom used to work as a shop assistant too — now she owns her own hair salon."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKDK87xa1B
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87Np4eirsT
They walked across a small wooden bridge, their breath visible in the cold. The conversation turned back to college — to why Max hadn't finished some courses at first. He started ranting about one of the professors, imitating her voice, and Nicol joined in the laughter, barely able to stop.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiddzaBepl
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvGcf6tJAa
Max nodded."That's a good idea."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxrogoGbKe
"Yeah, but… I don't really enjoy the subject," Nicol added. "So I probably don't want to work in it. I don't see myself as a shop assistant forever."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUkiT5X9Mb
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXYDHcVoLt
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ8rThT4Uy
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL1Vk2PqYI
They both started laughing again.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDI9qnTLeO
Meanwhile, Max's thoughts were somewhere else. A part of him really wanted to hold her hand — to feel that little connection — but he didn't get the chance. Her hands were either tucked into the pockets of her jacket… or busy holding that phone.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpLg6BfD4b
As they walked further, their conversation shifted again. Max asked,"So… if you weren't working in retail, what would you actually want to do?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM2eBGsZhE
Nicol thought for a second."I think I'd love to work with houses — decorating them, furnishing them. That kind of stuff. I enjoy it... probably because I play The Sims 4 a lot."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiEViCTyIM
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdHmz1opRC
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiZWb8gaVS
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lCCib98Dy
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1m8ttaX4D
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivi8v4gO8D
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMlqqkLgPf
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPU3oZMrQs
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg8cPsemz6
They both burst out laughing again. Then Max started telling her about his day."I went to the hairdresser earlier today," he said. "Told my friend I was thinking of shaving off my mustache."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNWNVVIf33
"What?!" Nicol laughed.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBhtgA3AeR
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSRqyGaVWr
He glanced at her."I was gonna shave it because, you know… back when we hadn't met yet, you said I looked better without it."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i5E9ew7Fw
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDc3FybZfc
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6elePx0yf
They walked a short path before Max pointed ahead and said,"There's a bus stop here. This one goes to your town… you know, just in case you feel like escaping."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5vMCx1dOb
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqVAna1pnY
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWhls4ZFuD
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsNI76MKvL
She couldn't stop giggling. One of the things she liked most about him was how he could joke about absolutely anything — and make it funny without trying too hard.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuiiYB8tx2
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfmytCDRrn
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCgIofRg6s
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWsJLJsKyt
Max shook his head with a smirk."You know there's a rule, right? The lady walks on the inside, and the guy on the side closer to the street — to protect her."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg62Y6e9ld
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFv8BYHwmb
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgsJODO3Ou
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULZJZOZFCT
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK5w7ksooc
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6JjYhXYbJ
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSsGnfjjSs
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