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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjJnbYZLzo
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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bdez3ENOA
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81Qwd3NMuD
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrTD0FP2iK
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYzj3FpEBV
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe47flvJSoO
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomirWPCcna
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDW8cJzjYM
Nicol looked around and—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8T668y8gf
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte22vg4ubt
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU5gXVzaxN
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhEcVwSSUJ
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8xo1Aclxe
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ320vE8Lpl1
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCubaJkgu3Y
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNTyvCB4J9
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcABjgbbBM
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDve5oCUPLd
"Really?" he asked, surprised.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwHosGHCuj
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XZmr9RGHc
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—"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KPz8FHCUX
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73btPu1W6X
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQZASvXIsa
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFztlrlKZE1
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…'"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCAa8gM7cP
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoK7IeiB1VW
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r1lc0NTfy
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmFoZz1hsl
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsqub2Izxs
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm3f5AEKBQ
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4KFORcZhU
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteaCPcaJ4t
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ283pJddSe2
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ300uEO01wF
But she was too shy.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojKmPyQfR3
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKbu9gTVrx
"Sure," Nicol replied.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmt7idEE9M
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSGRgLWXIm
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJISWPSEzLR
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvz6pV8mtd
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfRGUZ7wle
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNRZgN4Wc3
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1EzGseCtw
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjORZYuNFMr
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyov1BdyyvK
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaI81Qs1TE
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRyndhZuTT
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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rNE20baCx
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6tVi9ofhC
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26WtSSGw8B
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwSm6YCCeD
Max nodded."That's a good idea."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJDjEu526r
"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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAzfOMEYRR
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCeswROlLy
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkN6jg6koz
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPPDyserXt
They both started laughing again.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AZLCmGQd7
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbunpEAFTiq
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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfUzIGyC9d
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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtqjlOLN4j
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkZiC4OdXi
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cgvz7Vg1Q
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibSNy8b4A5
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ6qEgfT4T
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DG5sntHrO
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeQYmfYjyx
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUcVfBxnRM
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbOwm6CNuG
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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IsKjmELnH
"What?!" Nicol laughed.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaudlOEu19
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeU9PHUD82
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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKYmZcmd1d
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWH3yemRnB
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48Io7pHd7p
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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFfwtKUzNA
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLw0Rx5Qm2
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcXOHsbvzy
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrMX2gg6Pv
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBxQaWxoXd
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OOavyRJVG
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKYmVldQS0
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5tu0LZ4me
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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb03GLJ9aL
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNki2GCuWm5
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FYdoLA9Qh
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcSRHOrYj6
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcSABN5fVh
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMwxY6nrNR
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgoIylsOCK
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