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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnuO7zkI2N
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqz1ExIbz5s
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? 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfA9fsDLvzS
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJve18Lz6ah
---195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d3UIQawK5
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI1fiMwUBT
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYgsVTAFus
Then her hand stilled. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPp7cnA5pW
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6UjPd4SWw
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVjP5J9a1P
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IDZ8xhnw6
---195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4MgljNegy
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J1G8fXw4d
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? 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHLZMkks3x
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2aLPWwkcC
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the figure approaching until it was too late. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtaAcB1OPK
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoqOSL1MqT
She hesitated for a beat, then took it. His grip was firm but careful, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnPZNAsVH9
—
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFl0tCPhfI
He crouched down, plucking a smooth, iridescent stone from the ground. The opal.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1iVIsRtqy
"Hey, I think you dropped this," he said, holding it out to her. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7T57BgU56
Chrissy stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw2GtqfZDQ
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7kgtO6aph
"You found that in the water?" he asked, still studying the opal with curiosity. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexRGK1hiUz
Chrissy nodded. "It was buried under the sand—like it was waiting for me." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pKnhnMRs0
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiESmY58EB
---195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVLnpseoyR
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqcZ1IGlXF
He shrugged, his stance easy, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "No problem. You alright?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGetqg1fbB
"Yeah, just embarrassed," she admitted, laughing softly. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xKq5bnBU7
She shifted slightly, ready to keep moving when he spoke again. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAItQZDVe0
"I'm Nick, by the way. I'm new to the area." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn63q89nH6
The stranger spoke with an effortless confidence, his tone casual but inviting. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytBdSSjqhL
Chrissy hesitated for a second before responding. "Chrissy." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKz6q5WX4f
Nick nodded, glancing at the shoreline. "Do you come to the beach often?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUaMng0cG5
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMNxYChFA3
His interest sparked visibly. "Shark teeth? Like actual ones?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9ddXiwhNO
She nodded. "They're fossils. You just have to know what to look for." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKPbTI9RHR
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PiSxQslJb
Chrissy hesitated briefly, then shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind walking slow. I scan every inch." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZWOIQkkYy
Nick grinned. "Patience isn't my strongest quality, but I'll give it a shot." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7BkrB8ZwS
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wrYp0L8BW
Nick stared at it, mouth slightly agape. "No way." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFlnMyt7PX
Chrissy laughed. "Told you." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47n9sdfZtP
—
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDOYAJvHPQ
Then, Chrissy caught sight of something. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk197z7db97
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A1Uf0m7L1
A shark tooth. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPNDcxc2JB
Slightly larger than the last, its dark edges smoothed by time, waiting to be uncovered. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h9FkdJkke
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, now I'm convinced—you have some kind of magic ability to find these." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GjSMNB0xK
Chrissy grinned. "It's not magic. Just patience." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Q5YlNVMd
Nick hummed in thought, watching as she tucked the tooth into her pocket. "You ever wonder if magic is real?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATuDj4wmYG
Chrissy glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZQrE2na2y
"All the time," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the kind of thing we ever really find." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN36NI3o1oM
Nick studied her expression before responding, voice quiet but sure. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF6rteM8cc
"Maybe magic isn't just something we search for—maybe it's something we create." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaEJVnU9FL
Chrissy didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked back at the ocean, at the way the waves stretched endlessly toward the horizon. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ996QqxVCri
And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—Nick was right. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWFhiiyX3y
—
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXUMn7OSjT
"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?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXXISPgpCR
Chrissy hesitated. The question was simple enough, yet it never felt simple to answer. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv2HUPkcah
She exhaled, keeping her gaze on the sea. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiZqzXEL8J
"I love my family," she said carefully, thoughtfully. "But...I'm adopted." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MlYE9TkV0
She paused, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the rock beneath her. "Even all these years later, I still feel like a stranger sometimes." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxHoKY2uae
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7mBYWY1RE
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvfPnfNwiu
A gust of wind rolled through, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed, stirring her damp hair. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpPIiJlzzg
Nick leaned back on his hands, letting her words settle before he responded. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95u1FW3lpu
"I don't think you're broken," he said simply. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27EX27HJzv
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmkpFcJ3gq
She wasn't sure what to say to that. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2Yuxr0JgI
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9m6PIRMhJ
Chrissy studied him now, realizing that this conversation—this moment—was not one-sided. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHcomPTrPs
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELEIVwgUMF
Chrissy swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbz83ofY1X
She looked back at the waves. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnM1sTqsSG
Maybe that was why she loved the ocean. Maybe Nick was right. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEGB4aVax3
But she wasn't sure how to say that yet. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA3V5QyJ6u
Instead, she let the sound of the water speak for her. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5ygXRO33M
—
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUHpAsNtQz
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXSRKiQkqG
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpou72NmBq
9:27 PM.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p4B0R666d
She sighed softly, brushing her thumb over the screen. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe3gLldPFs
"Oh. Well, I've gotta go," she murmured, more to herself than to him. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZlVIgbJZa
Nick stretched his arms over his knees, casting a quick glance at her. "You headed home?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Dw6KK5wa8
Chrissy shook her head, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Nope. The Book Nook." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd22A6tX2o
Nick raised a brow. "At almost 9:30 at night?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSoTdAZtrJ
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrAIU507Ai
Nick let out a quiet laugh. "Alright, solid priorities." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8ejFIbL7S
A pause lingered between them, just long enough for him to consider something. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFHnfl89mM
"I'll walk you." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieD429t0Ab
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfjSgs981j
"You sure?" she asked. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8Js8fk4x8
Nick shrugged. "Yeah." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx3toAsqKc
They started down the path, the sound of the ocean fading behind them, carried only by the breeze as the night stretched on. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFzUEjztBg
---195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraJtUZanOb
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. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuHobnZk8t
"So, what book are you picking up?" Nick asked, glancing at her as they walked. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvSmWiT2PC
Chrissy smiled slightly. "A historical romance." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxsOXI1xEt
Nick smirked. "Of course." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mAQYE9CJ1
She shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uamouUeVP
He shrugged. "Just feels like the right choice for you." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYzU5ozAoP
Chrissy let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I love them, even though I don't believe in that kind of love anymore." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ689NyVtYl9
Nick's brow lifted slightly at that, his curiosity apparent. "Why not?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6suvCGSvxE
Chrissy hesitated, thoughtful. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueQKIfkDxr
"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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYwic1sXMt
She exhaled, glancing ahead toward the Book Nook's soft glow in the distance. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWzq8xnksn
"Beautiful fiction," she murmured. "But still fiction." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7fzZycH5k
Nick was quiet for a moment, as if weighing her words, testing them against his own experience. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTcBKkJjnD
Then, after a beat, he simply said, "Maybe."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1fjv429EV
Chrissy narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at him as they approached the store. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2cmG86MOI
"Why did you say 'maybe'?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbPlQKj0EO
Nick smirked, stepping just ahead of her, turning slightly toward the glow of the Book Nook's window display. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknxEv4XFtf
"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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUdbLcgX6A
The realization hit Chrissy all at once—the reference to their earlier collision, the teasing smirk, the casual confidence in his words. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TPgxMderW
And just like that—she felt mortified all over again. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG7aXnvaDP
She groaned, covering her face briefly with one hand. "Oh my gosh, are we really bringing that up again?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0GihiBsGS
Nick chuckled, absolutely not letting her escape this. "It was a pretty memorable moment, Chrissy. Hard to forget nearly getting tackled into the sand." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUyEdUigdg
She peeked at him through her fingers, narrowing her eyes. "You could just pretend it never happened." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHhOWyxkPh
Nick grinned. "Oh, I definitely could. But where's the fun in that?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsTbFHTKhW
Chrissy sighed, dropping her hand with a resigned shake of her head. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsohXEXNyJH
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqqXzGwQd4
Chrissy blinked, a little caught off guard. He's actually coming in? 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3SrspCqBc
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFjV1VLPM9
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." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkj48aOwuI
Nick raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D2735kKgV
"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?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgz0SJtEbP
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Chocolate is elite. If you don't understand that, I don't know if we can be friends." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcuLTtYvsr
Nick smirked. "Is that a dealbreaker?" 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVBRETBUBK
Chrissy paused, like she was truly considering the weight of the question. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYtmxzravs
Then, with absolute seriousness, she nodded. Yes. Most definitely." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryeyyx2uCx
Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a good thing I love chocolate." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG4iixCeCs
Chrissy grinned, satisfied. "Alright. You can stay." 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWHnxohQpV
Nick pulled open the door, still smirking. 195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV8qy3gJiR
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.
ns216.73.216.53da2
and then Add to home screen.