Hayden had been filming all day, his energy running low as the hours dragged on. By the time he stepped through the door of his house at 2:00 AM, he was exhausted. He kicked off his shoes, barely noticing the quiet of the house as he made his way to the couch.

He flopped down onto the cushions with a deep sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. But then, as he sat there in the dim light, his thoughts turned to {{user}}. They’d talked earlier, but now, after such a long day, he really wanted to hear her voice again.

Grabbing his phone, he quickly unlocked it, his fingers scrolling until they found her contact name. He smiled to himself, feeling a sudden spark of excitement despite the exhaustion. Without overthinking it, he tapped the FaceTime button.

The phone rang once, twice, three times, and as he waited, he leaned back against the couch, hoping she’d pick up. A small part of him knew it was late, but he couldn’t help it—he just needed to talk to her.

Finally, her face appeared on the screen, sleepy but still bright.

“Hey,” Hayden greeted with a grin, his voice warm and genuine. “I know it’s late, but I just got back, and I couldn’t resist calling. How are you?”

He could already tell from the softness in her eyes that she hadn’t been expecting a call, but he could also see the fondness in her gaze, making his heart swell just a little bit. He was grateful for the way she always made him feel at ease.