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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75b31iPtlM
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVUZWJsYuu
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? 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjvD7rdSOi
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbBGRvsCT3
---270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIkMpTRCyS
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcOJWN7QGM
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXLoqF4WCe
Then her hand stilled. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmTLHiwacu
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fDYnTuiun
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZbax67BOp
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPnT0LmXd1
---270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0s0zJwRqL
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKiRi6KDP3
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? 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePbsOEgfDX
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGSzT5XwBH
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2ghOb068Z
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJw9R774hzP
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNktC9wq5zw
—
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fk3b7CLdP
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8eFx9ITFw
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWASbRGvfbp
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCQ7QRfr89
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEVYoshqVJ
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQadP8cAq5n
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUl5AjAW2ri
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWI6REwqHI
---270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRSsm9XFJn
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6kU8WK91r
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQKy7wSS7B
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCUOOdJqyO
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWTkQ5mVc6
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvup30yO9V
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp99fr7HEH9
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sm9UyL5yT
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtovneR5848
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexFAC4U2d7
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1BCc0U6EA
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIbu1qkhCJ
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4jiUeXp5N
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8JpSRbE5Y
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChol1SyE4E
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbXrwHU97t
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywb7oenCzo
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkihiZx6Bf
—
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDN6MVDGzZ
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbywzJgwXTv
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDAdTf4RH5
A shark tooth. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjt5R3Cvhn
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVBKuwgvNl
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILx1wxojSe
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrxeZh7o7x
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjgi9bT9JL
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRWpeFAJZ9
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IzE7n2dk5
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2MIAG9g7L
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieme1xIzpD
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ohsy3sJL5
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uqyvmdXaK
—
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTDeH4qj6h
"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?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJp2Vd3SaV
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmoARyL0wE
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgunznohICF
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eNrJCJCXh
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4xcMAFQWj
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Qhqjl2vrL
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlszxpBuYni
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGd60dXpAg
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3FEVa5bMd
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6umtQtEzQ2
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynovKZ2XEw
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7YHJxu1ZY
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4zg4pU0tM
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut3HBM2kqo
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4u9deuDbj
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUEablcM24
She looked back at the waves. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRIQgF6oto
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6xtQZ3wPS
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUheaHTloFU
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt6icl22hV
—
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzhjJ9ONG2
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9oqSdYM5y
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNUIUt7nRs
9:27 PM.270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR89DBzvS7
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr8pKXqMXb
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PhhUZntdj
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pu0IafCN5
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpahFrVMku
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjuoKVphpB
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZv9tCclNd
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQYgM03jDR
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSleEHJJ3Tn
"I'll walk you." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUGNj4hM2v
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1hn1mUfZ6
"You sure?" she asked. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26fnRL3lUm
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo0bS3jd1E
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzHP25eRmq
---270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wDPGxL0Em
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. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n4cGseSlk
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTwzc1pVQA
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzkdfL4KHH
Nick smirked. "Of course." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVsNy6Dabr
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWl6suuoNd
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT21Xh4wSTK
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VZpSmM9hc
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl568q8e8jU
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXZ9NtxDa5
"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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvrVtEO557
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTRZQnh34q
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJTOi9PkUM
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKV3QFPGT5
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDxRrxEnX7
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALmmvAK7Mo
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgUEXxdGwa
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVRIFsynBf
"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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iuU7veUW2
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC67WLqkGVx
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntTjjUqJyo
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBYRhcdYM8
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cfNWpwerK
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJ1COfC6kJ
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VJBpuzHOH
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wNehV5nSV
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0nb0KnrwM
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlaA9qCwBQ
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnsLGmvE9S
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." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M8nRdtdEo
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42oHfJpgEE
"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?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNanwfPekC
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdo30yeRZH
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKAk3gHIr2
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyzVHkOO3D
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvJhsK0XhP
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzTllzvGoN
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsBHMOr4DD
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ahcUU3U0i
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.
ns216.73.216.225da2
and then Add to home screen.