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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFadYIvq4X
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNJvjgvsSP
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSROS7fTWc2
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGr5vZRIbK
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUrWsxk2lu
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BcVjLi0UC
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMSMAohHpz
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GPdrB0qwL
Nicol looked around and—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE6RVMnoeZ
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4mFpYukE9
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmGikpNxes
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhAxZh8Znc
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaEEG8I3bF
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbPCegrClI
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eyWhkaZaS
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEpXUGexPm
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewOEgJRBTc
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSjoiFm2lT
"Really?" he asked, surprised.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9HQ2cFLKJ
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUdSjvDzuL
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—"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyr9ggBKOV
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc10jPoA4P
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtcksjhb2w
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7NKxueVRt
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…'"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsjs3W8WjC
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSgZBSXOwy
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGUW2bdHLf
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW1mIJbWst
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtelo3eyoPP
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOKnZBoqzl
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29trIoyTmH
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnr91Phbdxk
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsxRZ0tHOR
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm59gOLG3FC
But she was too shy.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn1Mgr3HZ5
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbL69zzECNU
"Sure," Nicol replied.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsSKL2nmIC
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIBQvBfCav
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sY4g7fW3f
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyOtVQHsei
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm9Fe3h11V
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrZACN43dZ
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNSXaU7395
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdRPJ5jKOY
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGhfuLFZEn
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS9OaEPDnD
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeUYylLNAe
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvEgStW4xr
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQpdHC933r
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5xWh1iowx
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4ryYdnr5b
Max nodded."That's a good idea."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6OAnfcbl4
"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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm3O07rYPl
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK5gDH1as3
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXylo221jpn
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2w5Lp8CFl
They both started laughing again.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NeYlhZUfZ
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf6R9ipl3b
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?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhssu8ScXGF
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm55rhDewm
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDFeM764Dh
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWm29WOQuU
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUac7G7PNed
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7iavNYQ8D
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8nFo3IVVd
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DWC1bcTpY
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVytj65nDfs
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEF5KL3tnD
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfAOSdIjHR
"What?!" Nicol laughed.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33ZW7cMcHd
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9HS9cdfd5
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2N08RR3O3
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoNWoNpQ0F
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIjSm7KMSx
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8AhEuNRNe
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYflnwulRG
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQdTMduF9a
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKoJ6HE3Pj
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhXsDJrZ62
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooYvHlHDIj
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVrhDcFC0R
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1DIUgBeTs
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BmF4hmq0t
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hMJMy8N8l
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJfVN71VSV
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlO9aQ8QF9
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBnFw2YU75
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqTtrkehSF
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zt5uL87XT
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