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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqd1VvUTEQ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezlgZ2mWFJ
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qRyO3sHR5
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQmy8XQ27Z
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn8fZXkjJ8
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlyRrNAYY8
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkEG8cgDQL
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95y0Wvgemj
Nicol looked around and—48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Scb30JLc
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9kS5ujcd8
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7grV35yLZ
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3xMkJ7XT8
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU34v7R3xJ5
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFbJ62D444
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQDAHCYKr3
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlfV2D7DvO
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3xbuxekLY
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXbmQVDrkA
"Really?" he asked, surprised.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJftez1t8K
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaLxr8nKhn
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7otH8F5Ube
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe7DschJJL
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cU4xh4arb
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHBbamaeyF
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKacNI6D4YA
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ns8GRzZCC
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrVAp4rmIy
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrBeFIsKrl
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTA9wNrpoV
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz2D4OFH47
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XEkVyV3a9
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizCDg27FQl
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdqpD2cBEd
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYS9ORjoUTo
But she was too shy.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1dcfRGjnS
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokdn1jMIYd
"Sure," Nicol replied.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehpZKWWnEp
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEuknRCIff
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgH6jo8zEo
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkH3EdpkGd
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ46F6rLfeH
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sEC2zSKBi
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXYNWfyayX
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByf9Qezo07
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik9BwNuoTc
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iWh5dCk3n
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKZbELyZzz
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJI0bwhzzH
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhD6XA2Nqd
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx34VhNJ8Iy
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQskuYh0XF
Max nodded."That's a good idea."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLzws0P937
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4mcuhO4is
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P52qQ6th1
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BshY2Sezd
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7WUr1Nybi
They both started laughing again.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iwt6wygYs
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5PK1HKZnI
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw61bjmMt7
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMMXEdqzTJ
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRZ5xUruV5
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN8O57BuEQ
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtETjBqmOC8
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziO2Gp0r1x
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUDg7ZBrG5
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ9cPSXw4i
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiLXpNPHix
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WwA5ENfGG
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuUbc9pUXQ
"What?!" Nicol laughed.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEka7wHFBZu
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyy917S44x
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQoltPa37r
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEYn7Hafv8
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQnmRn8RTW
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3UWU2eRcv
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKbtubiVN9
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM277QghiId
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iyIUOB3I4
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PshfqQeDd
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkkA0ifrsr
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXuExtzkCL
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy3zWYMEcG
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfM5fLNYEp2
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ieHrBllMu
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlSAvsRfhm
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPykCVXAly
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAtGVXhhmh
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtks1Rnx62
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPw2URgjVN
8964 copyright protection44ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8l5qh9wdd 維尼

216.73.216.79