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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr8bFMCXmL
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDfw3AgDv1
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? 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGggIiGci0
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnleJQQA8au
---305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB79M6t6EG
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIO4D5TMo4
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tOU8gufkD
Then her hand stilled. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOmKUXrPlM
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpmDdKBmaX
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIzcyvK66L
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7WwMSdsqp
---305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1i8wpTVaa
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtYcIN7Sm7
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? 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIVttOpw7D
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT26H4pMx2
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNu7B1OxSv
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF380MMTVU9
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SYRAZZdmb
—
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtL1PJTOjG
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5RImasazw
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc2uDxprex
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClZFkBz0s8
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA9iephX2O
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnyKihPk7V
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIViYRKHGK
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlZUjsa0n8
---305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lgGIvM3V0
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttjqBmOsta
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG5zJcwqOr
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdMimGmO0s
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mVriXnMHF
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxJTRwXT3e
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6ah7Jlez8
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZHVozFv7O
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW5XaAamJX
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jvCKibI4m
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9x1b2aAyI
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkortLuhWc
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpzAqRHTnj
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepSbb9LhfP
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKQDAI9z6x
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3SnpRlEGc
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L0wulkVnQ
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ldddyPDzf
—
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDQeYRgwwY
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SgXxQbPJq
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCEClGPKAq
A shark tooth. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMiOfrXGQB
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtsq0pdyAw
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXvxUPY5SI
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMhiR7dBBa
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwX5sP8cvT
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJOHSLWbYL
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FywIM3JNW
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8WPVMdBsz
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSVtbPkXR1
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGOndBIR1u
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIASOXyFu4
—
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS2d7keWUD
"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?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXx53yOPKw
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoOxnQB16a
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdAKVXlEvZ
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpjKL9u9oc
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirN3x42Npr
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRtbNw5Knq
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU34OpIesV
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwojmRMOrM
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmbdY33nmA
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PeQBVFxKl
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdCEN4YJhl
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6X78lvBs7
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwJitWZB3x
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNeHJqAzcH
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMuZgyyyrH
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafji6LN6js
She looked back at the waves. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd5avFJt2h
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxXx5UoG64
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP12OKQ7AX
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PwqBLD0FM
—
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VcpvsexT9
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr8rxeG7W5
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhLrViS81c
9:27 PM.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUDOiy7raV
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB2q4nAdau
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlCBm8p87V
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyVIJ2ZT8D
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxPfDhCsDw
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoLkgaIeou
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNd6Rs0Ucx
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJK40H23Aw
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I1OmmgBRh
"I'll walk you." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSN13Hfuvt
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkq4AlPpzG
"You sure?" she asked. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVyFxea5g9
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPTdk7Fq6K
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHTOXZhHr8
---305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjigEw5ALXa
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfo7pbvuZp
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR3PQELryU
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYl3q93zFz
Nick smirked. "Of course." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzWlgl9hot
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLJ3tS8Hip
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5EPnSYdIw
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vzyqITJzu
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkWO6YcEsx
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyN8LbBswW1
"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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmQQiXWcnI
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2uOG4LPfg
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXUnScNB9a
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswq08aHs0N
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUulY6dPVB
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7850I51l6G
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhmqDqX8fs
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XkHvw5DLr
"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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFEkQPidvb
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD4WkPuQ7g
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIhwsPQiE0
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70dTaza3JD
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsxMFGIA2f
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMycLtvsSVz
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoz1oKZBrR
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNeyMcykJy
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6X7gb3laL
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnscc31VVkr
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqhLkeMBYh
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." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PHAgTWQpo
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61wJs5NaT7
"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?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92fk1ZjocP
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIInyASiuiL
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYuvS88817
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuhLc1E38X
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXtchFN8kO
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvaQbvIG1v
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50TKWfjk44
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5IxlTD1Ng
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.
ns216.73.216.238da2
