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.
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."
Nicol looked at him with a smile."That sounds pretty cool. Would you show me some?"
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.
Nicol was quiet for a moment, then smiled again."I really like that. And your rings… you've got great taste."
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.
Max pointed toward a path leading beyond the trees."Come on, I want to show you something."
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.
Nicol looked around and—
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.
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.
"So," she asked softly, "what can you tell me about yourself?"
Max hesitated for a moment, then said,"There's something I have to confess."
That caught Nicol's attention. For a second, she thought it might be something serious.
Max sighed."I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I'm 23… and I still live with my mom."
Nicol burst out laughing — not in a mean way, but genuinely amused.
Max looked at her, slightly puzzled."What's so funny?"
"Oh, come on," Nicol said, still grinning, "that's totally fine."
"Really?" he asked, surprised.
"Yeah, really." She looked him in the eyes and smiled again.
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—"
"—It's okay," she interrupted gently.
Max looked at her and asked,"And what about you? Tell me something about yourself."
Nicol smiled and replied,"Well… I've lived with my grandmother since I was little — you already know that. I love writing books."
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…'"
They both laughed, and Nicol nudged him playfully."Maybe I will… who knows," she said with a smile.
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.
Their eyes met again."We have the same eye color," Nicol said softly.
Max had warm hazel-green eyes. Nicol's were a soft green mixed with hints of brown — light and full of expression.
"I don't think so," Max said suddenly.
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.
But then Max smiled and added,"I think yours are way more beautiful."
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.
And in that moment, all Nicol really wanted to do… was kiss him.
But she was too shy.
Then Max asked her,"Wanna go for a walk?"
"Sure," Nicol replied.
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.
She burst out laughing."I'm such a klutz."
Max grinned."Yeah, you really are."
They both laughed as they kept walking. The topic shifted when Nicol brought up something her friends had told her.
"They said you're probably some kind of creep… just because you're five years older than me."
Max laughed out loud and teased,"Well then… you better watch out for me."
Nicol giggled."Oh, please. I'm not scared of you. I know you're not some creep. You're sweet, kind… and funny."
Max looked at her and smiled. She smiled back, and they kept walking, step by step in the crisp winter air.
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.
"Wow," Nicol said. "That's way ahead of me. I'm just a student… and I work part-time as a shop assistant."
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."
"Whoa, really? That's awesome," Nicol said.
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.
"I think I'd like to finish school and get my diploma for the field I started in."
Max nodded."That's a good idea."
"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."
"I get that," Max said. "Totally understandable."
After a moment, Max looked at her and asked,"Why are you still holding your phone in your hand? Put it in your bag."
Nicol laughed."I don't know! I guess I'm just used to holding it all the time."
They both started laughing again.
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.
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?"
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."
"You play Sims?" Max looked at her, surprised. "You never told me that!"
"Yes I did," Nicol said with a smirk. "We talked about it when we were texting."
They stopped for a moment, laughing."No way, you definitely didn't," Max said.
"I so did," Nicol insisted, still smiling.
"Alright," Max grinned, pulling out his phone. "Let's check. I'm opening Instagram — searching our messages."
He scrolled for a second, then said,"See? It's not there."
He raised an eyebrow."So who'd you tell that to? What other guy?"
"Oh please," Nicol laughed. "No one. Just you."
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."
"What?!" Nicol laughed.
"Yeah," he nodded. "And she was like, 'Are you crazy? It looks good on you!'"
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."
Nicol stopped walking for a moment."Oh, come on. It actually suits you. I'm glad you didn't shave it."
Max looked at her and smiled. Their eyes met again, and for a few seconds, they just stayed like that — quietly, comfortably.
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."
Nicol burst out laughing."Oh, stop it — I don't want to escape!"
They passed by a building, and Max pointed at it with a grin."Look, I'll drop you off at the Alzheimer's home."
"No way!" Nicol laughed. "Don't you dare!"
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.
They kept walking and talking about their families. After a while, Max looked at her curiously.
"Why do you always walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road?"
Nicol laughed."Because… I don't know? That's normal!"
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."
Nicol smiled at him teasingly."Relax, nothing's going to happen. I'll be fine."
She laughed again — but she liked that. She liked that he cared, that he was a bit of a gentleman without even realizing it.
Just then, a cyclist came speeding from behind — right past Nicol — ringing his bell loudly. She jumped a little, startled.
Max immediately pulled her gently to his side."See?" he said. "That's exactly what I was talking about."
Nicol laughed, her heart still racing a little."Alright, alright — you were right!"
They both laughed again as they kept walking, the mood even lighter than before.