"I'm sorry," Eric said suddenly, his voice quiet but clear. "For what happened back there. For starting something I couldn't finish."
Hailey turned to face him, surprised by the apology.
"You don't have to apologize," she said. "We both got caught up in the moment. It happens."
Eric shook his head, his expression serious.
"It's not fair to you," he said. "You deserve better than someone who is confused about what he wants."
The water began to boil, and Hailey added the noodles, stirring them with a wooden spoon.
"Everyone is confused about something," she said, not looking at him. "At least you're honest about it."
They fell into a comfortable silence as the noodles cooked.
"These smell good," Eric said.
"My secret is adding an egg," she said, cracking one into the hot noodles and stirring it in. "And a little bit of cheese if I have it. Because everything is better with cheese."
"Words to live by," he said with a smile.
"Could you grab some plates? Cabinets above the sink."
Eric found the dishes, setting them on her small dining table. "This is nice, you know. Domestic."
She divided the noodles between two bowls, the steam rising up to fog her glasses slightly.
They sat across from each other at the small table, eating in comfortable silence.
Eric ate with genuine appreciation, as if he hadn't had a home-cooked meal in a long time.
"This is really good," he said, twirling noodles around his fork.
"Thank you. It's just instant noodles," Hailey said, but she was pleased by his comment.
"Sometimes the simple things are the best," Eric replied, his eyes meeting hers across the table.
As they finished eating, the rain outside began to slow, the steady downpour becoming a gentle patter against the windows.
Eric glanced toward the window, then back at Hailey.
"I should probably call a cab," he said, though he made no move to reach for his phone.
"You could stay," Hailey said quickly, then immediately felt her cheeks heat up. "I mean, if you want to wait until the rain stops completely. I have a guest room."
Eric studied her face, as if trying to determine whether she really meant what she was saying.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "I don't want to impose."
"You're not imposing," Hailey said, standing up to clear the dishes. "Besides, it's late, and the weather is still terrible."
Eric helped her carry the dishes to the sink, his shoulder brushing against hers as they worked together.
"Okay," he said finally. "Thank you. I'll stay."
Hailey showed him to the guest room, which was small but comfortable, with a single bed and a dresser that held some of her books and extra linens.
"There are towels in the bathroom," she said, pointing down the hallway. "And I'll see if I can find something dry for you to wear."
"You don't have to—"
She cut in. "Unless you want to sleep in wet clothes, I kind of do."
She searched through her closet and found an oversized sweatshirt that she had bought but had never worn, along with a pair of sweatpants that might fit.
"These should work," she said, handing them to him. "They might be a little big, but they're clean and dry."
Eric took the clothes, his fingers brushing against hers as he did.
"They are perfect. Thank you," he said softly. "For everything. For the ride, for dinner, for letting me stay."
"It's nothing," Hailey said, though they both knew it was more than that.
She left him to get changed and went to her own room, closing the door behind her.
Her heart was still beating faster than normal, and she could feel the lingering warmth where he had touched her.
She changed into her own pajamas, a soft cotton set that was comfortable but modest.
As she brushed her teeth, she could hear Eric moving around in the guest room, the sound of water running in the bathroom.
It was strange having someone else in her apartment, especially someone who affected her the way Eric did.
She had lived alone for years, and the presence of another person made the space feel different, more alive somehow.
When she finally settled into her own bed, she found that sleep wouldn't come.
She lay there listening to the sounds of the building, wondering if Eric was having the same trouble sleeping.
The rain had stopped completely now, leaving behind a deep quiet that seemed to every small sound louder.
After what felt like hours of tossing and turning, Hailey heard a soft knock on her door.
"Hailey?" Eric's voice was quiet, muffled by the wood. "Are you awake?"
She sat up in bed, her heart racing.
"Yes," she called back softly. "I'm awake."
"I can't sleep," he said through the door. "Would you mind if we talked for a while?"
Hailey hesitated for a moment, then got out of bed and opened the door.
Eric was standing in the hallway, wearing the clothes she had lent him.
The sweatshirt was indeed too big, hanging loose on his frame, but somehow it made him look younger and more vulnerable.
"Of course. Come in."
"I keep thinking about things," he said, his voice quiet in the darkness. "My mind won't turn off."
"Join the club," Hailey said, stepping back to let him into her room. "I've been staring at the ceiling for hours."
"Really?"
"Really. Apparently my brain thinks three in the morning is the perfect time to replay every awkward moment from the past decade."
Eric smiled at that, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Only the past decade? You're lucky."
"What, you go further back?"
"Oh, I'm an overachiever. I start with elementary school embarrassments and work my way up."
They sat on her bed, both of them careful to maintain some distance between them.
The room was dark except for the streetlight filtering through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the walls.
"What are you thinking about?" Hailey asked, pulling her knees up to her chest.
Eric was quiet for a long moment, his hands folded in his lap.
"Everything," he said finally. "Work stuff. Family stuff. The way I've been feeling lately."
Hailey watched his profile in the dim light, seeing the tension in his jaw and the way his shoulders carried the weight of whatever he was struggling with.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked gently.
Eric turned to look at her, his eyes reflecting the faint light from the window.
"I don't know if I should," he said. "It's complicated."
"Most things worth talking about are complicated," Hailey said. "That's what makes them worth talking about."
"When did you become so wise?" he asked with a small smile.
"Must be the instant noodles. They're brain food."
Eric laughed despite himself. "Is that your professional medical opinion?"
"Absolutely. I have a degree in noodle science."
"From where?"
"The University of Being Broke and Hungry. Very prestigious," she replied with a smile.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the darkness making it easier to be honest with each other.
"Can I ask you something?" Hailey said eventually.
"Of course."
"Earlier, when we were about to..." she trailed off, not sure how to finish the sentence.
"When I ruined the moment?"
"You didn't ruin anything," she replied gently. "You said you weren't thinking clearly. What did you mean?"
Eric sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I meant that my feelings are all mixed up right now," he said. "I'm attracted to you, Hailey. But I'm also confused about a lot of things."
"About someone else?" Hailey asked, though she already knew the answer.
Eric nodded, his expression pained.
"Among other things, yes."
Hailey felt a stab of something that might have been jealousy, but she pushed it down.
"You care about them," she said, trying to keep her voice neutral.
"I thought I did," Eric replied. "But lately, I'm not sure what I feel is real or if it's just an idea I've been holding onto."
"What do you mean?"
Eric was quiet for a long moment, as if trying to find the right words.
"Sometimes we create an image of someone in our minds," he said finally. "And we fall in love with that image instead of the actual person."
Hailey considered this, thinking about her own feelings for Eric and wondering if she was guilty of the same thing.
"That must be confusing," she said.
"It is," Eric agreed. "And it's not fair to anyone involved."
Hailey shifted, tucking her feet under her. "Have you tried talking to them about it?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not sure they'd want to hear it. And I'm not sure I'm ready to hear their answer."
"So you're stuck," she said.
"Pretty much."
"That sucks."
Eric looked at her, surprised by her bluntness. "Yeah, it really does."
"Sorry. I'm not good at this deep, meaningful conversation stuff. I tend to just say what I'm thinking."
"Don't apologize for that," he replied quickly. "It's refreshing."