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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHcuYnEkyV
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l2jAjJJYR
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? 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZwlYb2xq6
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UqGhIsakA
---158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfdAEible6
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4UzaFangZ
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9g2vNkYsE
Then her hand stilled. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GKDK5LZGW
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgbjtiG97m
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREYiLrmd2F
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkqtAdGWSr
---158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BztezC3Fc
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7mRJBzSlc
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? 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVGm9ep3z8
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbz0LCxk2v
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LLSd72R9b
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ek3fZ3ezL
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBJe1pfqxh
—
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06nGyKHULS
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7RnrcNgyJ
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXdn4VcXPb
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95iJYxg9mU
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOq2wmmuvlr
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpf2JvypWO
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm4dqe9UYr
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3kwVBIxwL
---158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxWmg7SqW6
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftLtfcYzBk
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94BugLpKCh
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgYABUAWsu
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp52toTDWj
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAYqq1E0oO
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeDN6K60Mt
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3cH7qLxg1
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtZyr02DSy
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYALotLxu0
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtyBdSY7b9
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVhw20RcqE
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCQOrDg9UQ
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn58S2A0Rv
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lDOl2H9kS
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGpvfPuEvV
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPxmGS6nuq
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0wfJhBFaw
—
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7s2TnOTIV
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1iDTBbOSe
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrd8bFuWPX
A shark tooth. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUDQrHzByr
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1tbTovLtG
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6jHqVIh6f
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznd9mO3MlW
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEetuzBL7Ua
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HJsfIuLvt
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMZn8DNJ66
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAS0oLlPgt8
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBvsut1viY
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFFLjrOvzx
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BwcaxnQhB
—
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUEAcZveKq
"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?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKemNFLCbto
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GYeSqgfel
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kKZpQGQPe
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXIXKbyRLf
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HewerzmZC
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBdLItcmoW
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFd0y3FUzF
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d9OzgMFef
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYwmtxsvZY
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0xTiDHtPZ
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58l75K1Bfj
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYV6njvjTc
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Th3kFmHAX
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UqP25HkU8
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NFuOe3WHd
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8eLLxSDIg
She looked back at the waves. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjwXcD5Z5B
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oKxlm2geD
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1EhfcSpDj
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixVxaGGBYm
—
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuRtnB6z0P
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrG19B6yCi
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHERskj4gj
9:27 PM.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Tlm4gSbkj
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMtiLNjXAh
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszsw9GDWiX
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgqrgfpt89
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmarEmY4OcD
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlpKmfwB9u
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpO3aagrec
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBh94Y9DKr
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxwzNgRFlh
"I'll walk you." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2bOkUibVz
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8y7aJXsqN
"You sure?" she asked. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQYc5LO6KN
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWWKkxrsiB
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9NdobjNm0
---158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXLoSI4Y1l
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. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h7zHkHPVn
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgpWrFKAbQ
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE0xgiB8eP
Nick smirked. "Of course." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SOx8iz1Wc
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPoPsKfWSc
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7IOfyDeIv
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xlOPJYEpR
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTxHFvejga
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k8juZ5Hat
"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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHD4y5Iv26
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRamJcAi0b
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjvf4XKXXT
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHgoMUmoIB
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JCS4CJoLY
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG54cdnyaJ
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUnFg9AlYJ
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2hWy4rhQ6
"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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TlSwb5ZHG
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj11Uyd7cbQ
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kTBVMTk7H
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtuf0jtpVu
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFMKUdqrvM
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqLkh6IVEc
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61npMyVhY6
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNgswkiu9v
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N5N99O23C
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvsgW8Zhs0
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBQbpWJeHW
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." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaUXftsaWL
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31mErvEH4Q
"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?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT5O9wQWHE
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCViSHLh1h
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5wlCIukYK
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JbiqHLZGx
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3HZ3yt3Ku
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJIDDoLsYf
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXL7xOEZoi
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9ksjlhCjo
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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