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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmkwZj9EE9
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBAP6bg80l
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? 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04NCuwoayM
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTjXGx43On
---283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmnMNLjbU1
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSiKCLLDa9
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNTlCfZmgq
Then her hand stilled. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dZ2mpebvU
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuBeOiC1W3
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLFETN0Sbl
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5nDV3GW7e
---283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkAto0i5Br
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BS1WdKWbo
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? 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKldMmvH1Et
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpr0BI6MPA
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfZGUxAJi7
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4rxG6EO9D
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6Rsch6Hro
—
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UvYO0MOY8
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAYZQpHaOD
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF01mYP5JL
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDXvaoruJm
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0ta5CgZw4
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtthXvo1C2R
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgfpRP0iKO
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr22H5vd463
---283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOMO7mR3V2
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJfupScCnJ
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDt3M8WguE
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCqp0jQ3F7
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobkosg3Vex
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYXY2vVQeN
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qwONxJcNe
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN0206jfsT
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCANwk1ytI
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuPPcidLER
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBZTDD66Uj
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGR6DVc8Tq
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx85TYSQQxX
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D0nz5dwtQ
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFxRF9T4MG
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaSH4GbcaK
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgTrNDQCLL
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAsEMBxKsc
—
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKmKepjozj
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWYGtKsUYO
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee1vpTYgne
A shark tooth. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1SMgxeUGg
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboCzPZpQU6
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKofIsXNa2T
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon7qN7p9Xo
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaN4axPIwJ
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsq4VFyCqP
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWUl7XWlKT
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd3hXOKWmM
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISAlijTAdc
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcNZeFmV4E
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcKaSQhEzF
—
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQn0XJtshN
"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?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6hDuVN0vQ
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQcQPcb3O4
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoZ60LXf1C
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1DEi9ImiU
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtuXBAY0lU
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUld53pKOIi
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncXJi3r0j8
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXRujkC533
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gseBcyhtg
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Cftx0JeJ
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eECFTz68S
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmxx5GY4UW
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnBVmxu3y3
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4VHSrXTHO
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMQG0JCenx
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0zF7VhsMa
She looked back at the waves. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClb3CnNGQC
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDuR50mOUI
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrHcdPjIGa
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlom4fE6i3
—
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFvycVfwcP
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZcnoIZDDC
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mCKnQ2iOu
9:27 PM.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFhFRXOeCX
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AiiEy01VS
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJfw5DuTFn
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz1DmEpoSK
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gRq2Jz0VM
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIXsQKMkPM
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17QPevYCGF
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDgwoBNVRe
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNnazw6JqU
"I'll walk you." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45n64qctFU
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtUhyw3pcx
"You sure?" she asked. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VLR2418so
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm9ykzBIUL
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgUgclNkRY
---283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd68aIgEBT2
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. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy0bmSNfdA
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4cpG9ymfz
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7EjiqAn1s
Nick smirked. "Of course." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHJ71VRYPl
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxk8AJjJA5
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pUEXcq605
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYwzadbzZE
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAsaYw35D8
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJdUR9gPly
"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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF76c7SMq2
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wSaOraQfW
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXEZd3cW9U
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaVbSdtFT0
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeXHmiHkx6
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfQTMpXic8
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbVouKcHgc
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIJU8Gjqxj
"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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMhyAyIhR4
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlEZ6eoZNU
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvsgo6z4jM
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBsfzdXCN2
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMhWqg03ne
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F0GuyOkCk
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bCAcbRFWC
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovqsfrHm99
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe06c0aCg5
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSQj2C18Ap
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2rAawiHy9
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." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F8rPL1O6f
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO9W8VEive
"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?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl4u4TLiKB
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EAaGs0uiL
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2mInPjDdB
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDddsa99lb
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3vKCwLks7
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnteE6AB8c8
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveMGbMMlpo
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1DKBe0RTO
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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