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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3VpbYoylr
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvvqd4zt95
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? 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiXebIk4Wy
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uhEYjyScr
---228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwqQ3NWxps
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjd6Q7IQCT
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoXdU7hcBI
Then her hand stilled. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JFvU2PkyO
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTdy48nVaf
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCeCDHgs4Y
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9bpBhj8RZ
---228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYHSsTJOoo
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrhdvLJIZo
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? 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Jo2ZhLE6
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4a6iZSVGd
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc1hwSaRvp
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJH8vOUHuY
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LFYsVcDUs
—
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBhgoiFd0g
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1hGugsa53
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YSBkEaLdP
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIDVTrxOf6
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpScRYzcvT
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4aaJAEKfF
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbrzUyH7IU
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstBQjhSqCL
---228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix0Rjctf71
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtjADN3Mtz
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBm6LXEfl1
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDR4NirI2w
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7nxfFasTv
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRFK2VZmTz
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEktZ55EVi
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25hjdreppB
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxaz6RfHql
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4bXRUyZNP
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw9Fz15rsa
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3qRx4k1jT
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxVVLZt9k4
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtxKJL3azT
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx74ylUQWv
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7CLoWuSR4
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcCetMU2J5
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0dumpDqDx
—
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDx9c7kYvT
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f8dbn04CN
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uzpsXPu0y
A shark tooth. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHbkKSRfUq
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzk0yCRAMB
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9SYkQAsOF
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFU5hFKz8f
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyeFbu506a
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq15wzsxD7
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX1O5lV28D
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo3WM1b6Da
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS7EMI4ZFs
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZR0c9gnNmJ
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DbVF0WxOJ
—
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7FB4pxvFC
"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?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuaFvitThF
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcy9wdvBd5
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadd8pnXou4
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazWWUvYZmU
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo9JpZYSJY
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjUpHpT7If
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomPdra1CpL
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgxfM2rkFF
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPVELNhrEl
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8udGlW6u7
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00JrpV1uam
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxJiHTS56a
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxvPjNcdXj
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQJ47P33Os
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4TWKDd7ev
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Lb3gL5D1
She looked back at the waves. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKq2eYoBQQ
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTnbuWrDHR
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3HaRr4NUW
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonMsGkKkDy
—
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU3qS2UVsU
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtULgShFPfG
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYO2GnVG6l
9:27 PM.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiYOJ1FCZH
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ218XryJ3Jh
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvsZYCL8f5
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0QPA7TptP
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImtrzCBzMX
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ743shBb5z7
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAulryYZCv
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBems2elVV
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn0KqWpopy
"I'll walk you." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAzX6P6H95
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxgwDWfG5l
"You sure?" she asked. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkHin8zEzl
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFPeR9QR15
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGWWzOJz3s
---228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cH4ISGgBA
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. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXUNBJQhrW
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvRUw6AwYt
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6Ooz0E6De
Nick smirked. "Of course." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCOKsnk2EL
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1fTfgkcMk
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsBvIubnMd
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLShx04rf16
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJw5pIaouFE
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEysOwoRhO
"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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk3U5vs5F2
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRskzmlxAUw
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPqWwswMYl
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV896D3Ou3N
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvmEZ7NBaO
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e1xc2gUPc
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi16jB2OwhW
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBqWKIMPcX
"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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZGK88VAbA
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0QevLpRIA
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNsUZWgdOh
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfyDthJ09u
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdo6kPatVM
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0376aIWXt
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpsxj2uQ70
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyBetZq9W3
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyzFAD1NzD
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV4W3XHjhs
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0KMuxksyy
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." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDj0odzdBbs
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdudeympiY3
"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?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyKCvHG563
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJN9YYsN9k
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB2fidj3fy
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwjsRotNhG
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHKY3RvlRk
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34YPhasheS
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4uUgzDS5r
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3zzSDqWpV
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.
ns216.73.216.154da2
