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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5oqOBy4cy
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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dcgqHduUV
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMUul5TLsZ
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0g2IRJCe5
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexaSDAkrOc
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JisCTwbmx
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaF4h7rDZA
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa2eMd0HXP
Nicol looked around and—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcUq00JE3j
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjZ83Pq4eT
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWzKFbI1zf
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmkR6wIfuY
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPoX6hi2Zc
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIFREIhx3q
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi9Expd1gN
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMWZTRbsrA
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrx9eAuGlM
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0V575oOwe
"Really?" he asked, surprised.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwlCj2cj4o
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdQV3Z7ELI
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—"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡernMRHn2ZP
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHLjjK1jBs
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0qD5DQixJ
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcoD7dvBi7
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…'"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFtV3rklKe
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKFN00cq8w
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTMxnBmN5P
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡif9HIF7VFl
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzUTdxoWdS
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWpRy0vAgv
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKLbjizPYn
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT3sj3sfzb
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpYUXMnmq1
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJHbdoLqEC
But she was too shy.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeIshLvoUL
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L3ut8wnHD
"Sure," Nicol replied.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3c7TWibuX
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUNGWNNmo0
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOFlicIXEa
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtwy2R7LPi
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2pXYWNDlV
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvxf9puG61
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGpGL8uehG
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYS2gDU62o
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp67nsnqL2J
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvqjsa3flN
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fPewEU0FD
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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLqrAlOXMP
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGMidkYQjT
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeMRUq8a65
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbSarQeY31
Max nodded."That's a good idea."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mh1K1McuB
"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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gd84G7b6J
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwohKw4atI
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqt17pPJDy
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOorvMQIuX
They both started laughing again.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHaLIrbu7C
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJLc4Olmld
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?"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh1IYHLGB4
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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKsdslQ7Q9
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIS6TVbSK4F
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiO4X6lNw2
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDYyYKWvDs
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mVMOeTkQv
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rAGskfGiI
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGbQ9LL3PS
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd73WdrXpEL
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06u9LEOsot
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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6VdhD06Rq
"What?!" Nicol laughed.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc5R2ZspqB
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YsoyQfIe5
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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxnREnSNV8
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMmePTzCuH
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7zGxQ5xT0
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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo8hHGPag9
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU3yHbop4F
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4FRbqKkYy
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o2bq012at
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSmTdV7nbp
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxIW1LTD46
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOmrqRCWeZ
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcz9ntVGrH
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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJKnHExgZN
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKNAXrBwiO
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjvAf3iMUH
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaEWebrnKH
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6keweoiKuC
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiiE9u5FIx
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFxzxFtXHM
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