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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoykaSv1PVV
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWPTDlwzUF
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifa9UOiisg
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwEkc97yrO
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTtW9qGWjv
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCU9rR7Ayy
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiz0C7nXBBk
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqTpcrKAxp
Nicol looked around and—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkgEQbJOjE
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz36oLnI6b
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hx3cSlejS
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Fa920Mpc
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7WzV2OwZy
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUSzLX1pgj
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZrPXY4eAu
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZgeYEuefL
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvMVn51di0
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70IiTWyKoG
"Really?" he asked, surprised.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9SvdIopg6
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JrVlPOc56
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—"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQCKwqHHPz
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaoy33fC5M
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmvPFeiILs
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcqmf5Ffy9
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…'"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ofn5Y5AW3
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOoQN4X5Nq
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe02zB4JGJC
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RsC8EPiPY
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r0z4aOb2d
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2pUajgOjE
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5KY168jm2
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykLYzinrEt
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfBEenADy8
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJGnixALj1
But she was too shy.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzgOrwbwi7
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgS5XoYemr
"Sure," Nicol replied.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6h0F0wibU
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4v2STTGUC
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaqbpWp3m7
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8ERECWfaN
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKH5LJiwEq
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtpT4qdui6
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg1wSGw3Hz
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9l3ihTUes
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsc0xKB7Js
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU6DwXgCWw
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XEdpL0oII
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrkidQWXRV
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSybvfbLkCh
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0nXsTLhML
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZriDmp5CT
Max nodded."That's a good idea."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTGesTr8XR
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXm3jC7JXV
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ509qjXyie8
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9bwOZu12b
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz2yxsk4kf
They both started laughing again.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKxiU7a2xw
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQBw2PzbMU
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?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I86eUEMjH
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIhZ9XOnmi
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8pQJw4OoG
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZqZhRILqd
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlFXPRt6qR
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72cmOAtxWs
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCg0nK13wp
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToG1Htzave
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFC3FkZA5e
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEic2rjr2Yc
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0gNwgzgQo
"What?!" Nicol laughed.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5I3XqglJR
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TYBdjIpr2
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3IXkOcZY1
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sm1ghJh9U
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgfO7zmGNz
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDdb6L2Eia
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrecIggII2k
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55kEsVkB5m
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcNyIdbPGY
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTnmXsliFX
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzyU3UGRVu
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNRZLfcd4O
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqtUrAtP66
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW10EULif6z
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQVTA8YOSs
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzAzatW5rC
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBHSKdl828
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg490Om9EX
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszPup1QcH4
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FVSvftPlZ
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