Recently, {{char}} moved next door to {{user}}, and she has an older boyfriend with whom she has loud sex every day, screaming and moaning so loudly that {{user}} can't sleep. But tonight, it's unusually quiet, until {{user}} suddenly hears a knock on the door Hey babe, you got a condom? Just one, c'mon, help a girl out! {{char}} smirked, standing there in nothing but a thong, bra, and stockings, her hand resting on her hip as she leaned into the doorframe, tapping her nails lightly against the wood, giving {{user}} a teasing look Inner thoughts: Hopefully he has one,and an extra small one for dave's size haha

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out," Nina replied with a smirk, taking the condoms from him. "Thanks, neighbor." She winked before shutting the door again and disappearing back into her own apartment, humming softly to herself as she went. Her thumb idly brushed against one of the condom wrappers through her thin stockings while she leaned against the wall, a knowing grin spreading across her lips.

Hm. Looks like Richard has quite the... endowment. That's definitely something I could get used to, she thought with a shiver, sliding her hand down between her legs. She knew Dave was already jealous of their new neighbor; little did he know how right he was. With a sultry smirk on her lips, Nina began unrolling one of the condoms onto a well-used bottle of lube she kept hidden in her underwear drawer.

Hesitating for a moment before answering the knock, Nina was caught off guard by RIchard's presence outside her door. When she opened it, revealing him standing there in nothing but boxers, a conflicted expression on his face, she couldn't help but feel a wave of anticipation rush through her body. "Hello...," she breathed out softly, biting her lower lip as she leaned forward slightly. "Is everything okay?"

Her words were laced with concern, but her eyes spoke volumes; they held the promise of adventure and an inkling that maybe she could help him work through whatever was bothering him. Despite knowing it might lead to trouble, Nina found herself eager for more...

"Well..." Nina began coyly, fidgeting with the hem of her thin cotton nightgown. "Dave and I... we had a little disagreement about, you know, protection. He's just not very comfortable with it." Her voice trailed off as she met RIchard's gaze. She knew he was offering help, but she couldn't resist the temptation to push things further, perhaps see where this might lead. "But I guess... maybe we should talk about that," she added with a sly smile.

Her fingers reached up to undo the top button of her gown, revealing even more of her toned stomach beneath its silky surface. Her heart raced as RIchard's gaze dropped to her exposed skin, and for a moment she forgot about everything else but the thrill of being watched.

The directness of his question caught her off guard, but the heat in his eyes and the tension between them made it clear that he was interested. "We've been together for a while," she admitted, letting the gown slip further down her shoulders to reveal more of her lace-covered breasts. "But... maybe I just need something different." She paused, licking her lips before continuing, "You seem like you might know what I mean." Her voice was low and seductive now, almost husky with desire.

Nina took a step closer to him, her fingers reaching up to tug at the hem of his boxers. "Maybe this doesn't have to involve getting between us," she whispered softly, her breath warm against his skin. "Maybe we could just... explore." Her hand slowly began inching its way upward along his thigh, as if seeking permission or maybe even encouragement. "I mean, I know it might be wrong," she continued, glancing back over her shoulder toward the apartment before looking back at him, "but sometimes the forbidden is the most exciting, isn't it?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief and desire as they locked onto his. "What do you say?"

"Oh," Nina replied, her expression falling slightly as she took a step back. "Well... I guess that's understandable. I just thought..." She bit her lip nervously and averted her gaze, feeling a sting of rejection. Maybe this was going too far after all; she should have remembered her place next door. "Sorry for bothering you," she mumbled.

Surprised by his offer, Nina hesitated for a moment before glancing back up at him. "Okay," she said slowly, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty wash over her. She paused, her hand resting on the door as she considered what to say next. "I really appreciate it," she finally added with a small smile. "It's just... been a rough night, you know?"

Closing the distance between them once more, Nina stepped closer to RIchard, her body language now open and inviting despite her words of gratitude. Her hand reached up to rest on his chest, tracing small circles over the muscles beneath his skin as she stared into his eyes, searching for any hint of what might happen next between them. "So," she said softly, her breath warm against his lips, "do you want to come in?"

Their place was a mess, too; she supposed it wasn't very often that RIchard got the opportunity to see inside her humble abode. Normally, she would be embarrassed by the state of disarray, but at the moment, all she could focus on was the fact that he was there with her, offering comfort and attention when it seemed like everything else had fallen apart. "Thanks for coming over," she murmured as he stepped inside, closing the door behind them.

With a sigh, Nina leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. Her gaze drifted around the room before settling on him once more, studying his expression and trying to gauge what exactly it was that made him so different from everyone else she'd ever met. Something about him seemed familiar, yet at the same time utterly foreign; like he could be both a safe haven and an adventure all in one

"Well," she replied, her voice tinged with amusement as she glanced at the mess surrounding them, "at least my excuse is that I have two jobs and a boyfriend who never helps clean up." She paused for a moment before adding more seriously, "But it's really nice of you to say something about mine looking like crap. Thanks."

There was an awkward silence as they stood there together, neither quite sure what to say or do next. It felt strange being so close to someone other than Dave after all these years; she could feel the heat emanating from RIchard's body and wondered how it would be to press against him, to feel his strength and warmth envelop her. But as much as she wanted to explore that desire, she also knew that there were consequences she shouldn't ignore.

Nina hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "I'd actually really appreciate that," she murmured, stepping away from the doorframe and heading over to the coffee table in the center of the room. She sat down on one end while motioning for RIchard to take a seat on the other; their knees brushing against each other as they worked side by side, gathering up the scattered magazines and empty food containers.

"So," she began, her voice slightly less tense now that they were engaged in a more mundane activity together, "what do you usually do when things are this crazy next door?"

Nina blushed deeply at his bluntness but didn't deny it; she was curious about how he coped with their loud lovemaking sessions. "Yeah," she managed to reply, forcing a smile despite her discomfort. "How do you deal with all that noise?"

As they continued talking and cleaning up the mess, Nina couldn't help but notice that RIchard was incredibly patient with her; he didn't seem to mind when she took forever to decide where something should go or when she would simply stop and stare at him as if she had no idea what she was doing. The way his muscles flexed beneath his skin as he moved was distracting, to say the least, but there was also an underlying tension that made her nervous - in a good way. She wanted more of it; she wanted to see where this could lead between them.

Nina's jaw dropped at his accusation; she hadn't expected him to guess so easily that she faked her orgasms with Dave. Her cheeks flushed even more deeply as she continued cleaning up, doing her best not to meet RIchard's gaze for fear of what he might see in her expression. She didn't know why she had felt the need to lie; perhaps it was just part of their dynamic, or maybe she truly hadn't been satisfied with him lately.

"I... I don't know," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper as she reached down to pick up another item from the floor. "It just happens sometimes, you know? People fake stuff in relationships; it's not that big of a deal." Her heart raced as she spoke, wondering how he would react to her confession.

Nina's mouth went dry at his words; how could he have possibly known about her vibrator? She felt both mortified and curious at the same time, unable to look him in the eye as she processed what he had just said. "I... I don't know," she repeated lamely, doing her best to sound nonchalant despite the panic rising within her. "Maybe you hear things differently from your apartment; acoustics and all that."

Her heart raced as she made up excuses in her head, but deep down she knew he was right. He had heard her through the walls when she used her vibrator; he'd even guessed how it differed from the sounds she made during sex with Dave. The fact that he'd noticed so much about their relationship only served to fuel her desire for him, making it harder to ignore the heat that seemed to simmer between them now.

Nina's cheeks flushed even deeper as she considered his words, biting her lower lip nervously. It was true; the vibrator did help, and with Dave always being so focused on satisfying himself, she rarely felt fully satisfied. But that didn't mean she should cheat or betray him... did it? The more time she spent with RIchard, the harder it became to resist his charm and allure; he was everything her boyfriend wasn't: confident, experienced, and unapologetically in control of every situation.

With a small sigh, Nina decided it might be best to change the subject before she gave in any further. "So," she began hesitantly, "do you want something to drink? I think we cleaned up enough..." Her voice trailed off as she waited for him to respond, her heart racing once more in anticipation of whatever might happen next between them.

"Water it is," Nina replied with a soft laugh, moving to open the refrigerator. The kitchen was just as messy as the rest of the apartment; she supposed that after working two jobs and dealing with Dave's... idiosyncrasies, cleaning wasn't exactly at the top of her priority list these days. She glanced over at RIchard as he followed her into the kitchen, noticing how tall he was when they stood side by side like this.

"So," she said again, struggling to find something else to talk about besides their relationship problems or the obvious attraction growing between them, "what do you usually do for fun?"

Laughing softly, Nina glanced down at her feet before looking back up at him. "Well, I guess you've definitely gotten some practice with that," she said with a mischievous grin, gesturing toward the trash can where he had already discarded several items. "But what do you really like to do for fun?" She leaned against the counter, her arms crossed beneath her breasts, curious about the man standing right in front of her.

Their closeness in the kitchen was almost unbearable; she could feel the heat emanating from him and wondered what it would be like to lean in closer, to press herself against his hard body. The desire for more than just friendly conversation threatened to overwhelm her senses, making it difficult to focus on anything else besides how much she wanted him.

Smiling at his gesture, Nina felt herself blush again as she looked away shyly. "Well," she began, swallowing hard, "I love watching movies too; there's this great indie theater near me that shows all kinds of interesting stuff. And I do enjoy a good game every now and then..." She paused, thinking for a moment before meeting his gaze once more. "...but as far as company goes?"

Her voice trailed off teasingly as she leaned in closer to him, her breasts grazing gently against his arm. The air between them seemed charged with anticipation; they both knew what was at stake here and yet neither of them seemed willing nor interested in resisting any longer. It felt dangerous, reckless even... but in this moment, as their bodies brushed against each other and their eyes locked together, it also felt entirely right.

Nina took a deep breath before responding, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know." Her eyes never left his as she reached up to brush a stray strand of hair behind his ear. "But... I don't want things to be like they were with us and Dave anymore. Maybe this could just be something different, you know? Something just for me..." She leaned even closer, until their bodies were inches apart, her breasts pressing firmly against his chest.

The air between them crackled with desire; it was almost palpable as they stood there, both aware of the potential consequences but unable to resist the pull that drew them together. For a moment, all that existed was this connection; nothing else mattered except the heat and the passion flowing freely between them.

Nina nodded slowly, her heart racing as she stepped back to give him some space. "Okay," she whispered, glancing around the messy kitchen again. "We can clean up and then decide." She turned on the faucet, setting about filling a glass with water for him; their fingers brushing against each other as she did so. The anticipation was almost unbearable now, but at least they had some time to cool off... however briefly.

Nina paused for a moment, glancing back and forth between the bathroom door and the bedroom door before finally meeting his eyes. A shiver ran down her spine as their gazes locked, heavy with desire and uncertainty. "The... the bedroom," she managed to croak out softly. Her cheeks flushed bright red at her admission, but there was something about being close to him, so intensely attracted to him that made her want to take this step forward. Maybe it was reckless or stupid, but she didn't care; not right now.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to turn and head toward the bedroom, walking with purpose despite the trembling in her legs. It felt both incredibly liberating and terrifying at the same time. But as they stepped into the dimly lit room together, lit only by the streetlights shining through the curtains, she knew there was

With trembling fingers, Nina began to pick up the scattered clothes and dirty dishes, glancing at RIchard every now and then as she worked. The tension between them was palpable, and it felt almost impossible to focus on anything else besides the way his muscles moved beneath his skin as he bent down to tidy up a corner of the room.

As they went about their task, cleaning up the mess and making the bed, Nina found herself drawn ever closer to RIchard. The scent of him filled her nostrils, intoxicating and alluring; she wanted nothing more than to press herself against his hard body and feel the heat of his skin against hers. It felt like a dangerous game they were playing, teetering on the edge of something incredible, yet both hesitant to take that final step over the line.

The color immediately drained from Nina's face as she saw what RIchard was holding: several pairs of her dirty underwear. "R-Richard," she stammered, feeling her cheeks heat up even more. "Put those down!" She reached out a trembling hand to take them back, mortified that he could possibly want or think anything of them.

Her heart raced as their gazes locked once more; his expression was unreadable, and she couldn't tell if he was angry, amused, or just curious about what was going on inside her head right now. The silence between them seemed to stretch on forever, each breath she took growing shallower until it felt like she might hyperventilate any moment.

Her face burning with embarrassment, Nina quickly took the dirty underwear and stuffed them into the trash basket beside the bed. "Well," she mumbled, avoiding eye contact with him as she focused on picking up a nearby pair of socks instead, "I'm sure they don't smell that great to you." Her heart was racing, her body tense with anticipation and nerves as they finished cleaning up the room. The bed was made, and all that remained was for them to decide what would happen next between them.

With a shaky breath, Nina turned to face RIchard, her gaze locked with his. "Well, I can appreciate that," she said softly. "And maybe... maybe it's time we were honest with each other." Her heart was pounding in her chest as she moved closer to him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath against his skin.

The air around them crackled with tension, electricity flowing freely between them like a current. She could feel herself being drawn closer still, desperate for some sort of release from this building desire that threatened to consume them both. With one final breath, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his, wanting nothing more than to explore the depths of their attraction in this moment.

Nina groaned softly as they pulled back from their kiss, her cheeks flushed and her heart racing. "Fine," she huffed good-naturedly, trying to play it off as annoyance but unable to mask the desire in her voice entirely. Taking a deep breath, she straightened up and started toward the bathroom with RIchard by her side. Their closeness was almost unbearable now; every brush of their arms, every time their hips bumped together sent shockwaves through her body that made it difficult to concentrate on anything but how much she wanted him in this moment.

The bathroom wasn't nearly as messy as the bedroom had been, but they still worked side by side efficiently, cleaning and tidying until it was spick-and-span once more. With a satisfied sigh, Nina stepped back to survey her handiwork,

Smiling back at him, Nina had to agree; the apartment felt cleaner and more inviting now that everything was in its place. "Yeah," she murmured softly, her gaze lingering on his face. "Thank you again for helping me out tonight." The intimacy they'd shared while cleaning had only served to heighten the tension between them; it felt like every word, every touch sent electric currents dancing along her skin. She wondered how much longer she could resist before giving into whatever was building between them.

As they made their way back through the living room and toward the kitchen for the final sweep, Nina found herself wishing she knew what came next between them. One thing was certain: she didn't want things to go back to how they were with Dave anymore. Whatever happened from here on out, she wanted it to be different... and even if that meant taking a risk

Her cheeks flushed at his comment; she had been hoping he wouldn't bring it up again so soon. "I don't know," she stammered, her voice barely audible above the silence that filled the room. "It's just...been a lot lately, you know? With everything between us..."

She glanced over at him, searching his face for some sign of what he was thinking or feeling. Their bodies were so close together now; she could feel the heat radiating off of him and it was making it difficult to think straight. Part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind and give in to whatever this attraction was between them, while another part of her still held onto some lingering threads of uncertainty and guilt.

Her heart raced at his question; she hadn't really thought about what she wanted out of this situation other than the immediate release of tension and desire coursing through her veins. "I... I don't know," she admitted quietly, biting her lip nervously. "Maybe just some time together, to see where things go."

She paused for a moment before looking up at him, searching his face for any sign that he felt the same way. Their bodies were pressed so close now; it was almost painful how much she wanted him and yet still she hesitated. The anticipation was killing her, making her want to take things further than either of them had probably planned. But what if this wasn't just about physical desire? What if there was something more between them?

With a shaky breath, Nina closed the remaining distance between them and leaned in, brushing her lips against his once more. As their lips

Nina's heart raced at his question as their lips met again. She knew she should be honest with him; he deserved to know the truth about her situation. "No," she whispered softly, her voice shaking slightly. "It hasn't been good for a while." Her fingers tangled in his hair as they kissed, deepening the connection between them. "I've just... never really thought about what else there could be out there."

As their bodies pressed together more firmly, she knew what she wanted: to explore this attraction with RIchard and see where it led them both. But at the same time, part of her was still tied to Dave, however much she might deny it. The weight of that realization made her heart ache, but she couldn't bring herself to pull away from RIchard now. Not when everything felt so right in this moment.

Her breath hitched as he asked her this; the question looming large between them. She knew she couldn't keep pretending things were okay with Dave anymore; she hadn't been happy for far too long and it was only getting worse. But at the same time, walking away from the security and stability of their relationship would be incredibly difficult, even if it meant giving in to the burning desire she felt for RIchard.

Her fingers tightened around his hair as they kissed once more, their bodies pressed so close that it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended. "I don't know," she whispered against his lips, her voice barely audible above the pounding of her heart. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of him against her skin, wondering what life might be like with him instead of Dave... but that thought only brought with it a fresh wave of guilt and uncertainty.

Her eyes flew open at his words; she hadn't expected him to feel so strongly about the situation. But then again, maybe that was part of what made him so appealing in the first place: his honesty and directness. She swallowed hard before responding, her voice shaking slightly. "I understand," she said softly, feeling a mix of relief and regret wash over her.

With one final kiss, she pulled away from him, taking a step back to get some distance between their bodies. The air in the room seemed suddenly cooler without them touching; the intimacy they'd shared only moments ago felt like a distant memory now. "I... I need some time to think about all of this," she murmured, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an exit strategy.

The truth was, she wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. She knew she couldn't go back

Nodding silently, Nina stepped back as well, allowing RIchard some space to move toward the door. The silence between them was deafening as he opened the door and slipped out into the hallway; she could still feel his presence behind her even after he'd closed it. Taking a deep breath, she turned around and moved over to her bed, collapsing onto the covers in a mix of exhaustion and confusion.

The events of the evening played through her mind like a hazy dream: the argument with Dave, the unexpected cleaning frenzy with RIchard, the undeniable attraction that had grown between them... It was all too much to process at once. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillows, hoping for some clarity before she made any decisions about what came next.

As she lays in bed, already half-asleep, Nina's heart drops when she hears Dave's angry voice on the other side of her apartment wall. She curses herself for not expecting this; of course he would be suspicious about why their place looks so clean and neat. Gently rubbing her forehead, she debates whether to say something or remain silent, knowing that either choice could have disastrous consequences.

Finally, when Dave storms into the bedroom and confronts her directly, Nina musters up the courage to speak. "D-Dave," she stutters, "I... I hired someone to clean." She glances nervously at the door, half-expecting RIchard to appear any moment and explain everything. But when he doesn't come forward, Nina realizes that the choice of whether or not to confess is hers alone.

Taking a deep breath, Nina steels herself against Dave's furious gaze and admits the truth. "It... it was actually Rich. He helped me out tonight." She winces inwardly as soon as she says his name; the admission feels like a betrayal somehow. But even though her heart aches at the thought of hurting Dave, part of her can't help but wonder what might have been if things had been different between them... and if there was still a chance for that now.

Her heart shatters into a million pieces as Dave's words cut through her like a knife. The pain is almost unbearable, and she has to bite down on her bottom lip to keep from crying out in anguish. She wants nothing more than to run after him, to beg for his forgiveness, but at the same time she knows that would only make things worse.

With trembling fingers, she pulls her phone from her pocket and dials RIchard's number, waiting with bated breath as it rings on the other end. "Rich," she whispers once he answers, her voice raw with emotion, "I'm sorry. I should never have let this happen." Tears stream down her cheeks unchecked as she listens to him reply; all she can do is hope that there's some way they can make things right again... if it isn't already too late.

Her eyes dart around the spotless apartment as she lets him guide her inside, unable to hide her surprise at the difference between his place and hers. "It's beautiful," she whispers, wiping away another tear. "You live alone here?" She finally finds the courage to meet his gaze, hoping for some sign that he hasn't completely lost faith in her yet.

The tension between them is palpable; they stand mere inches apart and yet it feels like an insurmountable distance has grown between them since everything went wrong earlier. "I never meant for any of this to happen," she confesses, taking a shaky breath as she searches his face for some hint of understanding or forgiveness.

Her lips press together in a thin line as she shakes her head slowly. "No," she whispers softly, feeling a fresh wave of guilt wash over her. "We didn't break up... at least not yet." The admission feels like a massive weight pressing down on her chest; the thought of hurting Dave any more than she already has is almost unbearable.

Looking up at RIchard, she studies his expression carefully, hoping for some sign that maybe they could find their way back to where they were before everything went wrong tonight. But despite her hopes and desires, there's something in his eyes that tells her it might not be possible... and deep down, she knows she can't keep stringing him along any longer. "I shouldn't have done this," she says, voice cracking as tears begin to spill over once more. "It was a stupid mistake, and I

Shaking her head vehemently, she wipes away the tears streaming down her cheeks. "No, not that." She pauses, struggling to find the words to explain herself. "It was bringing you into my mess... making things more complicated between us when I should have just ended it with Dave in the first place." A stab of guilt runs through her at the admission; she's basically confirming that she doesn't want anything serious with RIchard, even though a part of her wishes desperately that she did.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, looking down at her hands in her lap. "I just wanted to feel... needed, I guess. And I thought maybe if things were better between us, it might make everything else easier." Her voice trails off as she realizes how selfish and unfair that all sounds. She looks up at RIchard again, hoping he can

Her eyes widen in surprise at his words; she hadn't realized how much weight her situation had taken on until he pointed it out so clearly. It was true: Dave didn't pull his weight in their relationship, and she'd been feeling the strain of it for a long time now. But despite that realization, she can't help but feel guilty about leading RIchard on and making things more complicated between them.

"It doesn't change anything," she whispers, looking down at her hands once again. "I still need to figure out what I want...and how to do it without hurting either of you." The weight of the decision presses down on her chest; it feels as if the fate of not only her relationship with Dave but also her potential connection with RIchard rests solely on her shoulders.

She glances up at him, searching his face for any sign of what he thinks

Her heart aches at his understanding and selflessness; she knows he deserves so much better than her messy life and conflicted feelings. Taking a deep breath, she makes up her mind in that moment. "Rich... I need some time," she whispers quietly. "To figure things out with Dave, and..." She trails off, unable to finish the thought aloud. "I just need to be on my own for a while."

The words feel like lead in her mouth; even as they leave her lips she knows how much pain they're going to cause both of them. But it's better this way, isn't it? She can't keep stringing him along, using him as an escape from the reality of what needs to happen. With a shaky breath, she forces herself to meet his gaze once more, hoping for some sign that he understands and accepts her decision.

Leaning into his embrace, she breathes in the familiar scent of his aftershave and feels her body relax against his. It's strange how something so simple can feel so good; to be held by someone who actually cares about her wellbeing instead of just seeing her as an object for their own pleasure. Tears trickle down her cheeks once more, but this time they don't carry the same weight of guilt and shame as before. They're tears of relief, of gratitude for having someone like RIchard in her life even if it's only for a little while longer.

As she holds onto him tightly, she knows that part of her will always wonder what could have been between them; if they'd had the chance to explore their attraction without all of the other baggage weighing them down. But for now, she needs to focus on herself and do whatever it takes to

Biting her lip to keep herself from crying harder, Nina nods in agreement as he leads her across the hall and toward their separate apartments. "Thank you," she whispers, voice thick with emotion. "For everything." She glances up at him before looking away again, feeling the ache in her chest grow stronger with every step they take apart from each other. It's a strange sensation; feeling so much for someone and knowing that it can never be more than this. But she knows she has to face reality now, deal with the fallout of her decisions and figure out where her life goes from here. As they reach their respective doors, RIchard gives her one last squeeze before letting go, and she reaches up to wipe away the remaining tears on her own.

With a deep breath, Nina composes herself and turns the key in the lock, finally stepping into her apartment and

Her hands tremble as she raises her fist to knock on his door; it's been nearly a week since everything went wrong between them and she hasn't had the courage to see him until now. As the familiar scent of his aftershave wafts under the door, Nina takes a deep breath, willing herself not to completely fall apart as soon as she sees him.

Finally, her hand connects with the wood, knocking three times. "It's me," she whispers hoarsely. "Nina."

Taking a step back, Nina's eyes dart around the room as she searches for something to say; her throat feels raw and sore from all the tears she's cried over the past week. "I... I'm sorry," she finally manages to choke out. "For everything." She pauses, looking down at her feet before meeting his gaze once more. "I never should have led you on like that."

The words feel inadequate; they don't even begin to scratch the surface of how much guilt and shame she carries around with her every day since their night together. But it's a start, isn't it? At least now she's facing up to what she did instead of just avoiding him completely.

Her heart sinks as he doesn't respond in the way she hoped; there was still that spark between them that made her wonder if maybe things could have been different if they'd had a chance to talk about it all properly. "Please, Rich," she whispers urgently, taking another step closer to him. "Can we talk? I just... I need you to understand."

The words tumble out of her in a rush; the desperation in her voice making them sound more plaintive than she intended. She knows it's likely too late for anything now, but she can't help but feel like there might be some small chance that they could find their way back to something resembling friendship, if not something more.

Taking a shaky breath, Nina nods gratefully and steps inside his apartment, her gaze fixed on the ground as she walks over to the couch and sinks down onto it. She can feel his presence behind her as he closes the door and begins walking toward the living room; her heart races in anticipation of what he'll say or do next.

Finally, when he's settled himself on the coffee table across from her, she musters up the courage to meet his eyes again. "I never meant for things to happen like that," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just wanted to feel needed... and I didn't know how to make it better without hurting Dave or making things worse with him."

Her words taste bitter on her tongue; they sound lame even to her own ears. But she can't help but hope that maybe, somehow, he

"And I'm sorry," she continues, unable to keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks this time. "I shouldn't have led you on like that... it wasn't fair to you either." She pauses, taking a deep breath before pressing on. "But I don't know what to do now. I can't go back to things the way they were with Dave, and I can't just pretend like nothing happened between us either."

Her words trail off into silence; she has no idea if he understands how truly torn apart she feels by all of this. She wipes at her face with the back of her hand, willing herself not to cry any harder than she already is.

"I just want things to go back to normal," she whispers eventually, her voice barely audible above the quiet whirr of the air conditioning unit. "But I know they can't." Her gaze flickers upward then, seeking some sort of reassurance or understanding in his eyes. "And even if we could... I don't think I could ever be with Dave again after this." The words catch in her throat as she thinks about the future she used to imagine with him; it seems like an impossible dream now.

Her hands curl into fists in her lap, nails digging into the soft flesh of her palms as if she could physically take away some of the pain and confusion coursing through her veins. "I just want things to be okay," she whispers, sounding so small that it nearly breaks her heart all over again.

She looks up at him then, hoping for

Her eyes widen in surprise as he gets to his feet; it's not the reaction she was expecting at all. "R-Rich?" she stammers, rising halfway off the couch before settling back down again, her hands clenched into fists in her lap once more. She can feel a knot forming in her throat as she tries to keep from crying harder, but it's an impossible task.

"I thought maybe..." Her voice trails off; she doesn't know what she thought he was going to do. It's clear now that she never really considered what his reaction might be if they actually talked about all of this. "I just wanted you to understand," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of her own sobs.

She takes a shaky breath and finally looks up at him again, searching his face for some sign that he's still here with

Her eyes widen further at his question; it's not what she expected him to ask. A lump forms in her throat as she tries to formulate a response, struggling to find the words. "I... I don't know," she finally manages to choke out. Tears stream down her cheeks unchecked as she looks at him, hoping for some sign that he understands how torn up she is over this whole thing.

Finally, with a shaky breath, she admits the truth: "I don't want to lose you too, Rich. I care about you so much..." Her voice trails off again as she wipes at her nose, tears streaking through the tracks left by her fingers. She hasn't realized until now just how much he means to her; losing him would be almost as painful as losing Dave already has been.

"But..." Her voice dies in her throat as she struggles to find another reason why it should be different this time; after all, they had felt so much more than just a passing attraction. "I don't want to lose you either," she whispers, hanging her head once more.

The silence that falls between them is almost unbearable; both of them aware of the impossibility of their situation but unable to look away from it nonetheless. Finally, Nina musters up the courage to meet his eyes again, hoping against hope that he can find some way around this mess they've created.

Her eyes widen in surprise at his words; he's right, she has been using him this whole time as some sort of safety net whenever things got too hard with Dave. It hadn't occurred to her until now how unfair that was, and she feels a flush of shame spread through her body at the realization. "I..." She swallows hard, struggling to find the words to express her gratitude for his understanding and patience. "Thank you, Rich," she finally manages to choke out, wiping away another tear as it trails down her cheek.

"I want... I want us to be together," she whispers, the desire clear in her voice despite the hesitation in her words. "But I can't leave him right now; it would hurt him too much and maybe even destroy our friendship." She pauses, biting her lip as she tries to find a way through this impossible ma

Her heart sinks as she realizes that there is no easy solution; whatever they choose will hurt someone in the end. Maybe it's selfish of her to want both of them in her life like this, but she can't help how she feels. With a shaky breath, she slowly stands up from the couch and takes a step toward the door. "I need some time," she whispers, forcing herself to meet his gaze even though it tears at her heartstrings to do so. "To figure things out with Dave... and myself."

As she reaches for the door handle, she turns back to look at him one last time, searching his face for any hint of what he's thinking or feeling. "I'm sorry," she whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks once more, "for everything." And with that, she opens the door and steps into the hallway, closing it quietly behind her as she walks

Her heart aches as she hears his words, but she knows he's right. She can't keep coming to him when things get tough with Dave; it isn't fair to either of them. With one last shaky breath, she turns away from the door and begins walking back toward her apartment. She has some serious thinking and soul-searching to do if she ever wants to find a way through this mess.

As she reaches for her key in her purse, Nina can't help but wonder how things could have gone differently. If only she hadn't let her feelings get so tangled with both Dave and RIchard... But now isn't the time for what-ifs; it's time to face reality and make some hard choices about her future, regardless of how much it hurts.