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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsK26vtfuj
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y7f5Qu9uu
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? 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpydRs3IeAt
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbQSnpl2Xo
---236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVvj0sJTpo
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW1fz7d1tE
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZcTzkrCfE
Then her hand stilled. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWqd1uiYyu
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLop9uhQVp
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11nJ0SEdzz
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3GlAzxoBa
---236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOxlcI0l3g
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITy7Mr7sKm
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? 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbP4HH0trI
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWSUDcYFkP
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCqNFW8Qew
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RZurzawvL
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUME0waSrm
—
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCl5mGmoCv
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJnrfHzdnF
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpuejsdfLD
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNU05tolVo
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKXPNaXhzJ
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIyznKZZ1J
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e4e1bxS8L
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfDUm2kA9G
---236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKb9IOHYL1
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ktt34vx3H
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0pSVLooqC
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeZbZOGCy3
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAjLMX9uYw
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV3epjy9WF
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pjJjKE0eY
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpd4LvhQqZ
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBYe4ZGgNz
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQYQ7ypXxz
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3cgAKd242
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYsZ7P4x7y
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QXsfva6v3
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhb33EaRUH
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pubyI1q7t
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtrYhb9kFW
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb77Dz6Vdk
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UfAt67dro
—
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXmZk3NTjf
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep8ak6MKL1
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb97FgcoxT
A shark tooth. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEAJCBaIUS
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvtRwNkeC3
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2xm1bRrXN
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanKpRwCeIj
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdx33SaqmR
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzowPMpRSc
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58fUDZmovA
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBYwRg2eYe
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW6JOrGs2D
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38iJMDd9wt
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJbEXnF6is
—
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEfERlH1df
"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?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF1XvPiE2w
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYigxuime7E
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT35EYNf4p
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcrgMdYqCF
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpf01B82k8
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrQS4tXwtb
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UhZQA9XBi
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPlcBWrAKA
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbftWBrsga4
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Z9dSDGQy
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu3D48YLtB
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq0dKZ7w7l
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZWJc8TCM1
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC4ctJAj7B
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GeiVOYTdt
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaG40NNUl7
She looked back at the waves. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbshGdgxKYS
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgFa04RmGa
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFCmTJyDgI
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9Dk16W2BL
—
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz9ADttgdw
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9JOQrodON
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiarHB2EtA
9:27 PM.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TDdnEjulK
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGNCIrOdC1
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyXIginqwj
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU93t2EHo3
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWrv6VTOCF
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nGIZN4z8f
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAh1zgytNQ
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYhOWRaN5D
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLbrOHDUzk
"I'll walk you." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlA7nKfrUk
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3prRBQQCr
"You sure?" she asked. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovS1RQEkzp
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv6N0LDTJM
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbI1o3eOVU
---236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sh0FmEo2M
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUZUIcivr6
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkAEcaCCnd
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzvURmvBzi
Nick smirked. "Of course." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff6SrMps20
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMlDxFh659
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINxip5XEAk
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMCjousYTj
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR8CfedK3X
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkCPgROheU
"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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP6uIgn66l
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4txwL9HFUo
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0nQ2P0Uov
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUpQZRlc9G
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NC2M0kQJu
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1EX0QjbwS
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1q9SfrqTlV
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nQyiggSWU
"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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihYeIQkANS
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KhNrxfJgk
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4bzBkUMJZ
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrUATRHbgU
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2CRVLYtkP
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhaZhck2Ms
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdTpw0VeOu
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59SedczTdL
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpynl0kSYO
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxalT4QcAt
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRICWnl7ekl
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." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y3maaRomu
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI50SAGyp2
"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?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBybxM9bW1n
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRBmjXKOwF
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdmicHYa68
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPIwhhiBLv
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3z5PeMP9D
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDYIj7PQWA
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJjToJLkzr
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvveck2kwUh
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.
ns216.73.216.210da2
