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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm0bfTrZ8b
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFNAmDbReH
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQysKLbPsl4
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdpU4xJCQ9
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryflRYQBnh
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZnriohGyo
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfADNyl6y6d
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ0bI2alU9
Nicol looked around and—48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt5UCIBF0c
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gKKLF7UFr
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d6AmTDJHF
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WjRMGEt9c
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtglyHR7oCW
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHLl540EEZ
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezSLnyxhO5
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxYvA19Bcm
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYXlMNIEBl
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fT5bmtudt
"Really?" he asked, surprised.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNARpZMaEaT
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzSmtSfmNf
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—"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LiDl4SDNf
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdQHWlCJKY
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbyEiYcibX
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpDd8Bfg4O
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…'"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjiffVvXfh
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuXwpTG63s
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6laHYcy00a
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp0Lo5sMlW
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU1KVHEopy
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTb3rbDJAE
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8EW2XwoQy
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSMzVgBtwY
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbonXRd5XQP
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuXjzIB7yu
But she was too shy.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9ofpHCZY8
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74iMVPc3fv
"Sure," Nicol replied.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONQDa1Bsrf
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYa8CLDzo0
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVOt0OwAw8
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwJNe2zutd
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9NPKrQHI2
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQauzJKllR
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJhiacThLm
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZnVnuS6bA
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlbgrWI5P8
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ601EXxeUpS
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOnkBMGZkJ
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrkRtK3Eq4
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yRGX2ytnh
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMFxXPyCS5
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCoA9jJ47E
Max nodded."That's a good idea."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVAIAFOr9h
"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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJKSfAtAkl
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpNr5XqqGW
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPnkfGu4j0
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU7mXHV7BC
They both started laughing again.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJDhVPUoQq
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF95wNGsmpa
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?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhCrcUN1Xh
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOsjjrNhpC
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcQFXkxlnL
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA1R94Gaue
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1pEPeMyPZ
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb35RKMyxVv
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pQzn3QYQ8
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOg16qGeQM
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdq1KawtNO
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZSaOuNeIQ
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2ckYwMfQq
"What?!" Nicol laughed.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5BV6uKABY
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJuVHUVndr
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPvcihnozh
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6V3HB2fBF
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCoWFwnxkM
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5w0agOqOX
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbbTVpYUY1
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xz0OlrOMz
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CcMgtyLnv
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMl8wc2g2y
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sj9G8Cwsd
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRhkdAm0zW
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDsxSMt88A
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjobwWIBnL1
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQByS5O4vC6
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8JIYDUyRc
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WM2xHRTqv
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC4mC9lln1
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2cGyUTBxt
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tyqtz89iw
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