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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ0p6HQtB8
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWRPXzlAQh
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? 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktwF8hpty3
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63xb84afDt
---232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVcPZPfL4z
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ616eDlVhlu
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OgKDlyP8S
Then her hand stilled. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z4PHbiMjc
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c6IEXynUa
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxJLqPw9xV
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFJ1ikJh8Q
---232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV8s7Vp986
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYrCxEjrsh
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? 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22Xk2yw1bI
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANsZ5YPLXx
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoh5yFQvZa
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YSmjVsIEQ
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNES67gznr
—
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou4gmjoTzj
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJiaGU0Ds1
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI6YqSTwnK
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBkuSwV3Gu
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPYu0Aexg7
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4kI74vVSc
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQIM9TOgOj
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfWSrFc9e8
---232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxX2fyKc7xO
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJQfmfZREU
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXobvmoR1me
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoZNqnCR4h
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn0WxEKI3t
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqf1iHruxX
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtK2tFJ16b
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgcEy6SrCw
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2scD4gop7r
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa88Pk25nrq
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaziPu8WzF
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodGjTqd7Hc
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGMidK73pZ
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9rsFPFRZk
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡard0BETTSr
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT2Jj2ELR9
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzGxwiGgEy
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCU4gQPHST
—
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyTL9GrBXT
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ663FOI8YFl
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEXymczLQw
A shark tooth. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMPlWmxJYm
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvSyy2ooXm
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOC6VBx7Fb
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE4WUn8Mzh
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6clAwCa4A
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28jo7LMMzV
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rokMlpecM
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0nqdzo7fx
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2tXOg53Wz
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTSiRByK66
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZ3iGqVRhd
—
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwAwWEkeD4
"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?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcqKHF87f2
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdM4ruWwgo
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuqRD1ZPHg
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFTxSkghht
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYrjR3jqix
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO62DwIsgV
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME3GnjE0oE
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG87RdIMVI
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSHpbBnq5g
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2WxPuX3fs
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm72mdg17HE
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgNkzoibXf
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOD9lC7guU
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCcBKeR8VY
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8YN2vMe3U
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qW0myDnW4
She looked back at the waves. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd59YAQnm9e
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs1VyGGhxX
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EczlM9fql
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaRnllLPJ4
—
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lBjOcSul3
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdY6J1Hwj5
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HR064WbUU
9:27 PM.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ1eJ1Nl2r
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWT6tUg6FE
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdRfgq1seh
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTZ5fO6QiM
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTNqsucJZn
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CmDUNzNaA
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO5RJGBHbv
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX1BdvkHeX
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvHAyZLhN3
"I'll walk you." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZjCMFWzWF
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoP6SzB1Hv
"You sure?" she asked. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1huA7ACEH
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGcQHLKVob
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvhuDsBYk6
---232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9GqPaE2lm
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. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVxgfiegYE
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1Mwv2pUP3
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtOGzYNOQY
Nick smirked. "Of course." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1iBExWSzm
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITJNJHko4X
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxc1PrkyFq
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EQG8MPfji
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0FdccBfV3
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcaejpkM3D
"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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGarKKVz6x4
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4xSRH8LRc
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFVVYHut12
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAthagu60A
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkebN9Xtt4I
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrepdDphmIx
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VJcSk9IKm
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrCosyZn8a
"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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwppxRVV5L
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7IzByzZl4
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3JEk4cpPO
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmKhRklqlV
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZOjFXI3E8
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJbbERX1M8
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNa1iw3fhi9
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8pjE1uoa3
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMODm07kxrK
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjqCu1m5tX
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDOwVlSLOC
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." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiCpaRA7bS
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0A6UuTOKuh
"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?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dBCnhSG2B
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NzPCfGNqC
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVZQQ9htkh
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoknVDAIOp
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdoX0N9ppz
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPer89Nrqb
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJeBogl2NK
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfJvsj96Vl
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.
ns216.73.216.208da2
and then Add to home screen.