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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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqhTjJfeWE
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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGhI0Cmx0Q
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRp84Ulonk
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyTrzkQex9
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCioxtiqeZB
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg00dV3U2d
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlapEtwxGt2
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2mdjEVUPP
Nicol looked around and—7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFL1Teg6hg
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXlMfxNTJw
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrA0Pq6PSb
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK02LLuxht
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsgtAU2zsR
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6MKQ2SNoM
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsg3DJqclv
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbwuBIgkvz
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV6QZDqe25
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJD1ZU2dJG
"Really?" he asked, surprised.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5HwK5aX0S
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrVESuhQVT
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—"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pzjiz1vz6
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSPm7x4Ybg
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCivWftFUoq
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V6b1ioDEU
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…'"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyZVDuBbad
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eO8wkYVMP
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmyZGiUExa
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaGHTAhDHS
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9ABRfv15s
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡll6mFFujBl
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTN6EJdRcq
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT8ln1djCb
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdcOE0KY9l
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoOTBYlzHq
But she was too shy.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuShfBtGlIN
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU4kaMcbjJ
"Sure," Nicol replied.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu02NlbNXK9
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcewbi5GAvj
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVEHtKKgcr
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN7PoQT7kH
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dyn2K8sLB
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe30jrk5vBt
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMJygiwncu
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1SBQ3jv3G
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU0UgttJOs
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseANLc6j48
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCG03pM7eO
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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj2l9hQCjK
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBQvrSaD5a
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblYehj3CIP
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKKSobSIY2
Max nodded."That's a good idea."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzIRzuyTzi
"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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlY0tQuUfI
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMYcwLGtLh
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqoGlZFb4o
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRufX271N5
They both started laughing again.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRWEdgvfZW
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSuYpRAXvf
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?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF3s7ZMJmG
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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTq5RfQQbQ
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFx2pkxVM8
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLLyfG9ZAd
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDeKH4rL3E
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCyC3Y3mMy
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNleD1vhGTb
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgIevmjVOf
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rASAvHt3O
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vPjCjaiPI
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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvd7rxE9Bn
"What?!" Nicol laughed.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfPF117ggA
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl7uSSY9op
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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AmUJ7ZkAB
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNwGeYVl0j
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aTcIy1pUl
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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEK9oBSMAK
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zyOtL2cA4
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSoA4DnD5X
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2RE5pfjSH
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpf1SYSvQG
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoH8TMvW2m
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BDs42vptM
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC2FifrXqv
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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCGlJQvP9v
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR94k10nAme
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e75jbl3X2
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4hOd7kGJQ
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8grH8cI4xB
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc13kUs92Hn
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry9rmmQCyw
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