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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ9GAeIsyD
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Oy4rlcCjC
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? 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4qCaEjFHW
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9A9GtxsuP
---263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVH3Ga8fp6
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj5f5GJadG
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0Qaooh5zm
Then her hand stilled. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W5TqUkxkx
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpD7XpD3lb
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnsWiHBh8X
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTNRtsqpcZ
---263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAakMou4jDy
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbBkRtlc3n
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? 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4s0bRQxt8
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikGUMgrkGB
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhSIN6rZaH
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm60q6JM2C8
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnZZaTs3tO
—
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PiXlCdn0F
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6QRbmgW50
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljd246ZkPZ
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUAHdsVJ4C
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjhXAc9OS1
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRkVyUU8tt
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFkUFp6G17
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5NUi61DpH
---263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIEGunTXAx
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cW8gpzrZa
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGXv3LkGHF
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVfn1ohWHg
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTVrjRnxmc
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7iAawNm1T
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmssL62Po8
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QX5zEQ02D
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruEdybQ7bn
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1KNnHWOuF
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKy9NEIEBn
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT3wNsbiCG
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchb7Jvy6bd
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qnuDWLz8M
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggV0Yjrbhi
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfLcfO0PVl
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB8aKEADrD
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSDgNul1LR
—
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHv2DVeMZj
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVMQvhLkpN
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOwEiy3eE6
A shark tooth. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwa8zxcpW1
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SgUhpKHKM
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHx2YUFnMv
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeB26OWsLa
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtXysj6NfP
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg5MlVhvVk
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKniHh5g724
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8LumLjaZV
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU90AzWzBM
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jt8MPzEbz
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHVQ6ppzeE
—
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXis7G8eJA6
"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?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkOCyqrPOL
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL9eCom8Vp
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlmpj77b40
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnh5mXYnWX5
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiNHfL67H2
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB798Xa3y6
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zhm4XpB5n
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3erDYbHz1
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Lzn08nOoB
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphg51aEXIc
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD0UJf4p78
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxq3kpuf7z
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRwjMadxsN
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpua23iupIx
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsbZHK1YAu
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroFyQ7lv98
She looked back at the waves. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXY3PFUdH2
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrILrrvKo8
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX1ANHzDWD
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaDwIWAXfB
—
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN82Wb1HUgf
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBBkr4dORr
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqhUHH2J90
9:27 PM.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnJZr04usV
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqQTohXFpy
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxOHVAGZbV
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1gCI6xfjs
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ltGgAvq66
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3yiK8YlA9
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFGu5msS3O
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12gxuUE4sb
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaSR9mjlqS
"I'll walk you." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHqCCXpsOA
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtPwfzkyWT
"You sure?" she asked. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7BZzFLwcY
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD5nLvUhRU
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7JKFW2Snr
---263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk76T2AQZNJ
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. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWzQh1GXgQ
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswFt1Vea4s
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOevvP5lqHx
Nick smirked. "Of course." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2SnUqnaNz
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95ZwGDbHYl
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E2mhzKFJP
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ872ewJo0hq
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIoGvShCMi
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYnIo8c9R2
"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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJY3XUOsUW
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFliuJF3m8
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjnPRMmq7m
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV2jFw135C
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIX2PKilfR
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKI4MGFP57
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M7m0klURW
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnGFspdRG9
"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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmNlhQxTNF
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQm1DbGt6p
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxDHtrLGhj
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYnD3nbWjD
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt2jwv2pMo
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xzySxBjcD
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhvsvEnwYx
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYIEgQR8et
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqHxrxPUBs
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxI6OKXEFug
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXamAIgBWj
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." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlrgHngeqb
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVFrGTYb4c
"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?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17tuUN05os
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIJksVLuAD
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g0djko6zA
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt5x2FgUX7
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU17xJz5Pnd
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTWQTEQ28u
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYmvFcy8ES
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0PqMXn1OD
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.
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