The rain had picked up by the time Hailey pulled into her driveway, fat drops hitting the windshield in a steady rhythm that made the world outside look blurry and distant.
"Well, this is charming," Eric said, peering through the rain-streaked window. "Your building looks like it actually has character, unlike those sterile glass boxes downtown."
Hailey glanced at her modest two-story building with its white siding and red front door, the kind of place that looked cozy when lit from within but seemed small and humble compared to the mansions she imagined someone like Eric was used to.
"You mean it looks cheap."
"I mean it looks like home," Eric replied, his voice softer than she expected.
The porch light cast a warm glow over the front steps, and the small garden was drinking up the rain eagerly.
Eric sat quietly now, his earlier smile fading as reality seemed to settle in. The comfortable silence from the drive suddenly felt heavy.
Hailey turned off the engine. The sudden quiet made everything seem more intimate, more real.
"This is it," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of rain on the roof.
Eric nodded, his hand already reaching for the door handle.
"Thank you for the ride," he said, though he made no move to actually get out of the car.
They sat there for a moment, both of them aware that something had changed between them during the drive.
"You don't have to go," Hailey said suddenly, the words coming out before she could stop them.
"I mean, if you want to wait until the rain stops. It's really coming down."
Eric turned to look at her, his dark eyes searching her face as if trying to read her intentions.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice gentle but serious. "I don't want to impose."
Hailey nodded, though her heart was beating fast enough that she worried he might hear it.
"I'm sure," she said, reaching for her purse and keys. "Besides, you'll catch pneumonia out there."
They ran from the car to the front door, both of them laughing as the rain soaked through their clothes in the few seconds it took to reach the shelter of the porch.
"So much for staying dry!" Hailey called out, fumbling with her keys.
"I think we passed that point about ten seconds ago," Eric laughed, standing close behind her.
So close that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body and smell the faint scent of his cologne mixed with rain.
She fumbled with her keys, her hands shaking slightly from the cold and the nervousness that was building in her chest.
"Come on, come on," she muttered at the stubborn lock.
"Need help with that?" Eric asked, amusement in his voice.
"No, I've got it. This lock just has personality." The door finally opened. "See? We have an understanding."
Hailey unlocked her door and they stepped into the warm, dry safety of her living room.
She turned the lights on, revealing a space that was comfortable but clearly lived in.
The furniture was a mix of pieces she had collected over the years, nothing matching perfectly but everything chosen for comfort rather than style.
Books were stacked on the coffee table, a throw blanket was draped over the back of the couch, and a few of her mother's paintings hung on the walls.
"Your place is nice," Eric said, his voice sincere as he looked around the room. "It feels like home."
Hailey hung her jacket on the coat rack by the door.
"It's nothing fancy," she said, smoothing down her damp hair. "But it's mine."
"Fancy is overrated," Eric said, examining one of her mother's paintings on the wall. "This is beautiful. Did you paint this?"
"My mom did. She always said I got her stubborn streak but none of her artistic talent."
Eric was still standing by the door, water dripping from his hair and jacket onto the hardwood floor.
"You should get out of those wet clothes," Hailey said, then immediately felt her cheeks burn at how that sounded.
"I mean, I have a towel, and maybe something dry you could wear."
Eric's eyes met hers, and for a moment the air between them seemed to grow thick.
He took a step closer, then another, until he was standing directly in front of her.
"Hailey," he said quietly, her name sounding different in his voice than it had all day.
She looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat as she realized how close he was.
His hand reached up to touch her cheek, his thumb brushing away a drop of rainwater that had been clinging to her skin.
"You're beautiful," he whispered, his voice rough with something she couldn't quite identify.
The words sent a shiver through her that had nothing to do with the cold.
Eric leaned down slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to.
When she didn't move, his lips brushed against hers in a kiss that was soft and careful at first, then deeper as she responded.
Hailey felt her knees go weak, her hands coming up to rest against his chest as the kiss continued.
Everything else faded away — the rain, the wet clothes, the confusion of the day — until there was nothing but the warmth of his mouth and the feeling of his arms around her.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard.
Eric's forehead rested against hers, his eyes closed as if he was trying to memorize the moment.
"We should," he started to say, his voice rough, "we should probably..."
But whatever he was going to suggest was lost as Hailey stood up on her toes and kissed him again.
This time there was more urgency, more need, and Eric responded immediately.
His hands tangled in her damp hair, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened.
They stumbled backward toward the couch, Eric's jacket falling to the floor as Hailey's fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.
The heat between them was building quickly, threatening to consume all rational thought.
Eric's hands were warm against her skin as he pushed her cardigan off her shoulders.
"Hailey," he breathed against her neck, his voice sending shivers down her spine.
She could feel his heart beating against her chest, could feel the tension in his muscles as he held her.
But then, just as suddenly as it had begun, something changed.
Eric pulled back slightly, his breathing still uneven but his eyes suddenly uncertain.
"Wait," he said quietly, his hands pausing on her waist. "This isn't right."
Hailey blinked up at him, confused by the sudden change.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.
Eric ran a hand through his wet hair, his expression torn between desire and something that looked like regret.
"I'm not," he started, then stopped, shaking his head. "My head isn't clear right now. I'm not thinking straight."
The heat that had been building between them began to cool, reality creeping back in around the edges.
Hailey suddenly became aware of her messy appearance, of the way her cardigan was hanging off one shoulder and her hair was a mess.
"Oh," she said softly, stepping back and pulling her cardigan closed. "I understand."
Eric immediately reached for her, his expression pained.
"No, it's not that I don't want to," he said quickly. "God, Hailey, you have no idea how much I want to. It's just..."
He trailed off, looking frustrated with himself.
"It's just that you're thinking about someone else," Hailey finished for him, her voice gentle but sad.
Eric's silence was answer enough.
The awkwardness from earlier returned, but this time it was different.
Instead of the nervous energy of strangers, it was the careful politeness of two people who had almost crossed a line they couldn't uncross.
"I should make some tea," Hailey said, needing something to do with her hands. "Or coffee. Or food. Are you hungry? I could make something."
Eric watched her with an expression that was difficult to read.
"I could eat," he said finally, his voice careful and controlled. "What do you have?"
Hailey led him to the kitchen, grateful for the change of scenery.
"Let's see what we're working with here."
She opened the refrigerator and stared at the contents, trying to remember what she had that might make a meal.
"I have some instant noodles," she said, pulling out a pack. "Nothing fancy, but they're good when you're cold and wet."
Eric leaned against the counter, watching her move around the kitchen.
"Noodles sound perfect," he said, and for the first time since they had stepped back from each other, he smiled.
It was a small smile, but it was real, and it made some of the tension in the room ease.
Hailey filled a pot with water and set it on the stove to boil.
The familiar routine of cooking helped calm her nerves, giving her something to focus on besides the lingering awareness of Eric's presence.