𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ๋࣭⭑𝘥. 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯

𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭

the evening was drenched in the golden hues of a setting sun, casting a warm glow over the streets of tulsa. lucille found herself wandering towards the dingo, a quaint diner that had become a familiar refuge in moments of solitude.

tonight, cherry was occupied with bob, and marcia was away with randy, leaving lucille alone with her thoughts. inside the diner, the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the chatter of patrons.

lucille settled into a booth by the window, her gaze drifting out to the quiet street beyond. she ordered a cup of tea and let her mind wander, a mix of apprehension and anticipation bubbling within her.

meanwhile, a few blocks away, dallas winston strolled down the sidewalk, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. the day had been uneventful, and he found himself drawn to the familiar warmth of the dingo, a place where he could escape the pressures of his own reality, if only for a moment.

as dallas entered the diner, his eyes scanned the room until they landed on lucille, seated alone by the window. a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he made his way over to her booth.

"mind if i join you?" dallas's voice was casual, but there was an underlying sincerity that caught lucille off guard.

lucille looked up, surprise flickering in her eyes before she smiled in return. "not at all. please, have a seat."

they exchanged pleasantries, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they discussed trivial matters—music, movies anything to keep the weightier thoughts at bay.

lucille found herself drawn to dallas's easy charm, his ability to make her forget the complexities of her own mind, if only for a moment. as their meal arrived and they enjoyed their food, the air between them seemed charged with unspoken tension.

lucille stole glances at dallas when she thought he wasn't looking, noticing the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled and the way his words carried a hint of vulnerability beneath the surface bravado.

after they finished their meal and paid the bill, dallas suggested they take a walk in the nearby park. the sun had dipped lower on the horizon, casting long shadows across the empty pathways.

in the quiet of the park, away from prying eyes and the bustle of the city, lucille and dallas found themselves a secluded spot beneath a sprawling oak tree. the air was cool against their skin, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves above.

"lucille..." dallas's voice was soft, his usual bravado replaced by a rare sincerity. "there's something i need to say." lucille turned to him, her heart fluttering in her chest. "what is it, dallas?"

dallas took a deep breath, his gaze meeting hers with a newfound intensity. "i know we come from different worlds, lucille. but every time i'm with you, it's like none of that matters. i feel... different, you know?"