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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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KKDff7MmY
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9a15XOLTs
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL83LzVoBox
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUVroY03Au
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ913cwTbZCT
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXfWrA9Npv
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2rg1fXmM1
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrupGZqZmPO
Nicol looked around and—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjqtFlbZMX
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFKMqCFs24
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH9v18chsY
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k3yIT5D00
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvGE3TDLmC
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04H3a1gl3C
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8dyuQvDgQ
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIJA0pCTYl
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3TWggjUZ3
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnEU4snSqr
"Really?" he asked, surprised.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjQwW9uTGq
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO582vdj4m9
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—"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCul3O7pgk
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LhM8a9R2r
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FpLG51pYP
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTYxcgdAU3
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…'"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HPgJ6Naj1
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7dW8Kx1ya
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iBVZr43Zv
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLoGA9ynwq
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXPsaCXsjm
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwItpkuv2Lc
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMdfu5nC9l
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI3aNy0F4f
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yJfx30xVY
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcUYmn5Hnm
But she was too shy.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ0vslXYI5
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1LAEwMfIz
"Sure," Nicol replied.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1NHxgGLXc
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqMFWjzfNI
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowQrqgRzpR
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoIdpnKmTb
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrv4OSsAFL
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX6ih8jPoV
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyySNKEDT8w
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41KL9dUjyf
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmxRYKligG
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2yUyfJkSX
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZbFrsnpUH
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2HAhqAqX7
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjkstxPt49
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArHmxZW6j8
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSjPxsecWH
Max nodded."That's a good idea."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi59Q4DK8K
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzCz7g0nbO
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsotqThvrO
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJbwCjGmRo
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi9Y3TOWbS
They both started laughing again.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF12QXvs4QK
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC7hbNnxOd
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?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjkyO3vpFV
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQlmouKSHr
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CwDwT5r42
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMsf9pCqGD
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPVXSXGccb
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBsbBvuD8w
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CcuDuF5ja
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OQDy3kHay
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsnoeDc4B6
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLk5AXsxrX
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVR05BsyH9
"What?!" Nicol laughed.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfC9qQzouZ
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLYUe08bi9
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc1kgFedHF
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DvC6FueyW
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7JZIeiX7z
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tuiTTAiGP
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcWflo2ujk
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMLR2HqVtx
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBb8EsoQcze
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BVDNK5FXa
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnALuZfqMR
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS4WM28o0l
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpA3jy4qEq
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2eiWykBpD
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0H4tZlAAG
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlnuIgnjDX
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzDdPkMwnx
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggGW54ejYi
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5qgMXaLIl
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVrEeFVN47
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