Why Do People Fall in Love so Hard?

I just moved here from a small town, and honestly, the hardest part is trying not to be too clingy with my neighbors, that's a little embarrassing. But one person stands out: Tom, who I see walking his dog every morning around 8 am sharp. He’s in his mid-20s, has this quiet confidence about him, and always greets me warmly when we pass by. It started as just being curious since it was nice to see someone friendly here but then escalated quickly. I began researching what to say if you run into someone daily for a month (yes, I've been tracking), and even planned to take cooking classes at the community center near his place because one of his posts hinted he enjoys cooking. Yes, I am aware that this sounds incredibly creepy, but also it's about trying new things and getting out of my shell after a lifetime in one spot. So here’s what happened yesterday: I finally decided to invite him over for coffee under the pretense of showing off some newly-bought kitchen gadgets (which is true, I do have them). But then I overthink everything, should I use disposable cups? What if he prefers tea and I don’t offer that? When Tom showed up, my brain was a jumbled mess. We chatted briefly about the weather, but as soon as I tried to steer us toward talking about cooking, it became awkward because all I could think about were my ridiculous plans and how little thought went into them outside of “I like this guy.” Now that this interaction is over and done with, there’s just the lingering guilt. Did I come off too needy? Am I being a stalkerish neighbor by keeping tabs on his daily schedule? Oh dear, maybe it’s best to stick to small talk and smile-and-nod exchanges from hereon out.