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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ46Bxd7I5
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4g3bXxeXn
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? 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvaFEIYo2h
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynytmFs35G
---193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgJk1G3ewT
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypibyGX9Zj
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qSt43Z0Yg
Then her hand stilled. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq7mZVSPLa
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlSz7UCqeJ
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ3ElmfTkf
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa9OAVjhrG
---193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3L3059KWB
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL185IHxDru
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? 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTWXXqMO5b
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6risEFGYgZ
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KWEMVpYBs
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG26LGmTkO6
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OZdW3HufL
—
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CYvrvFkyC
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk0LN2aPUi
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNKVSwNcmb
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbcftDX286
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY4akgTely
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaxBUnF558
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQe9dJ2pNzx
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsegEDZIrC
---193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9dXBfcW1w
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4e6WotBEb
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fKldYwwHq
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV2CHHrNOZ
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kjHw3sQxK
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeYvDbulCH
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7plO99lNS
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqCwqcSISA
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaamqNBVWV
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4Q3ptQyFP
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7hpTIMOat
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxUlSu8CmY
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8mAbQ8fnb
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQxCluWMuw
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2ptLe0WAv
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4i9Pe4zYF
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlv8S5iZ2C
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9iiLrqNwm
—
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3aYcKCl25
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuNFNLNzYA
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2T4zrXafo
A shark tooth. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJcBnOXFIG
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXO3DMDS11
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9ZhvOMhsI
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2xv2INo9k
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hwFjipDFE
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZsha0SQL6
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGQBSZzU1B
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNYt7UhCr2
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6jTKR7COq
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT0lryPNY7
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3azwAhyv4e
—
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlnAYj9b5M
"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?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJZu8j48oG
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjQo6S5uME
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx8j8mW2zh
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy53VQJeKax
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYpGKxXku3
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrsyKXOLaP
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIh4OC87jR
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEbLuzoBBZ
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8plPLgiDwz
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JVwfSxcIx
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvfjwlQlVB
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBhNYdgHzT
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq1mqmx550
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ACpQ70r1z
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA3qqBd4DE
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl99twuKG5
She looked back at the waves. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQZtbci2n1
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp3rFHHRxp
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7lXK9DT7w
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PUl6ovFnp
—
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FlemRkhEp
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN0FhMl2pO
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D55pGh1HL
9:27 PM.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadulq0fbOo
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbKvZxROvV
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjEeSJ0tpD
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsOgVFntO5
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB4Z5eufgy
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc8n2ZfH66
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2GkSu9MUU
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w1HGIinls
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzVZitzUq2
"I'll walk you." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGrjhr46IR
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxpYvD52ld
"You sure?" she asked. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn8UrzsIZV
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4juOTHcOG
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S8F3w76d3
---193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDucOCkj6KP
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. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvtS4y1Sa2
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjJj1jdoyx
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFatitPb6NB
Nick smirked. "Of course." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsto5xflVqr
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHrjTwQm10
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wJLUbFNIK
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ417GjI6UCr
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RG5bV7ZAG
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WIyRI6GLD
"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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBdHKqKuwS
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs54LsdHbz
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0i3mVKAlr
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8v8J0u9qD
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFduf7uIMK
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdr3x40gMp
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw4Rwby303
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICkcxYkUFo
"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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMdRUmTUiO
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk0pA5UUOc
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ8ViNNkt6
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF8ZPgJlNi
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO0X7FTCSO
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAITQDM6gF
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNMkJ3OU6c
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sr7tUNZL7
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSlXnElHdL
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xPk0UkuSE
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xpf68dZGf
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." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXKSYwypO0
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzMq7Kkr0V
"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?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOHg0B3tyU
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqmxcaMADz
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOLRjNkBr8
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmyjbRLGbe
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhYYiJS6sw
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7Z1PaK3tc
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVld18tYQRU
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkUaYxBX6M
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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