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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdjAe0Yu7g
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."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Rum6KzId6
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGchrnGOuDL
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9alRefA7e
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPHVD5p1cu
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhki0z88TX
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1QfrSgT67
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIzQEF2Wcg
Nicol looked around and—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2sff9yztq
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KGxJmn56E
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsaKR0wBBb
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxaf2GqbL1
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSr8eHrsTK
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B9KTwFJm9
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkprvUoGOZ
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde6VzTynTi
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgVKQYbJlm
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT5s1hTWsk
"Really?" he asked, surprised.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI7NYfs0Dr
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL02VYTONiJ
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—"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgCo1pY8TK
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSIRrxv0DU
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwhtAsDrYn
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uIepkefqv
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…'"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSapA03wRa0
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDjQh33P0i
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn2YLedHqL
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFFfyrEREK
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbi5hba8jF
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ9Pw3xBeY
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAdKXGgddC
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTUYSLgP4N
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni8Y23BeaH
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnN1p0OLwc
But she was too shy.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VMsHVLsaw
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSpDSYtShR
"Sure," Nicol replied.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOSL3u3OJq
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkWQJnSGks
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8BHdQVVj8
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPOZ1TSeyi
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTDbfXaEZL
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9py5WR11R
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFchLcBc51
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYZV5vaDWq
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCoXuYsSJ3
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9XD7w9zwK
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjCSrGNfeZ
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."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnmXrRMrs8
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTeLC4A4yY
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMZ5mlQrjI
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ749qd1KH4C
Max nodded."That's a good idea."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8O9ENohOF
"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."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqMDTJwJko
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bM3NC26gh
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYtJuiqjLx
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6iIWUNQoL
They both started laughing again.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZWYcIYopm
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufr0k72b8j
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?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAULvGoEjoa
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."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnK1AsmKFl
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7DF87Lj32
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3zcAjBwGh
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJzIQiJCfa
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQANSZ2kyIU
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnqiv2ic6P
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKfGt35dzL
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNOWUChvmt
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNmY11hqhU
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."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff5mS5St8I
"What?!" Nicol laughed.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU0tYSlWLl
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPh5ulmKq2
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."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEvrYCnguZ
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEiuQLi68o
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFCiFEzC5P
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."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbq9vij6KL
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3spbbTvx1n
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp48vl6hgan
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1XjV3xRi9
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6hWxZcWUd
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmjxiZE2Jn
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6FjCVvv1J
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNvOEbxIDs
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."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP9sfE5MjP
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KVMeo2xmV
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOPfjVm1dN
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV7VFlDWtg
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnHg2D0INQ
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk130lXsIe
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2EqNcUcbC
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