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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYckc2JvnXG
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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXKYPm2q4q
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kEwxmQuKt
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJrQAyNnKo
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX9g8SZFVh
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ561G2BJFZ6
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7RR4vQfqy
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAecPsbo7qd
Nicol looked around and—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzAjTRO5M9
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWT27VTci1
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXtXUPupCa
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz9z5ertkx
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVafwO5vYIR
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf6G6IMpRL
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuaTV6VU0i
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc6VZH0cTq
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSKkiZcNka
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFdZ8FGdKT
"Really?" he asked, surprised.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe0chDysDB
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAgfxV0rEr
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—"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr51lJe4UV
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gCN5FfQek
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhsnVuftYw
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFygzciyD3
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…'"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtSgahwpF4
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U3muGrCeZ
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIk9YYDQuM
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGvdqt3F69
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa2hdztAvX
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt6S15TPQP
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhKG9DpE7W
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT8Wnbi1lu
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMS0qMSnng
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIThCJiOr9
But she was too shy.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJ6G9E8USc
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O1J29wqx1
"Sure," Nicol replied.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQtPZf2T0W
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6oXGBzlzB
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT4k3nbol4
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ya7gVuK4B
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2wvrpNpLF
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJKYcxP7U1
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9xKDGKQ2y
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolzF5e8QJ3
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGlmGKwFKm
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKogJYN6hV
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8DxAnDu2V
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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIBqoqp9hx
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOVFj6FKMq
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z9VqoOsJo
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk7kgKWZUT
Max nodded."That's a good idea."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESsg58ZEHw
"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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXj3uF7Erj
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2l5pNE1TX
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0K1eXj8Wu
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BA7edmT9R
They both started laughing again.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YgASf2ME2
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnajhmcMFm
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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET5MzSYPze
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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lcGpP8PRa
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydLSIqF1yX
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFMXDekABY
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNof6lmMyW
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqqOpPzJwR
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAKq6MJYf1
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmZfOgKecr
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkIXNBbjuy
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyFFiI1zln
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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAzzUp2BBR
"What?!" Nicol laughed.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMxgYyLyT6
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtExCSdfCo8
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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFhGO83fws
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohbsj1IHF8
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkkeLYWfWR
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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnRDpXZtnu
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH4DvyIM0E
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhaMEluHsR
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtF65nFOM1
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FomkIDlsO
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8UANULqHb
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknpjyMSHZn
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRvVRWwY2r
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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05LxsaNSf6
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcX2OymDw1
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAUomnM7ir
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbARewD6ZIK
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCoh8n1iBV
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBD6ME14Xy
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYTWZlORqQ
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