WANTED A FLING BUT IT'S A NIGHT

CHAPTER 22(I LIKE ME HERE)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The golden hour spilled softly through the trees as Asher stretched awake in Rhett’s bed, the heavy scent of sleep still clinging to his lashes. He turned slightly, watching Rhett beside him—hair messy, chest rising and falling gently in sleep. The silence between them felt full, not empty.

Asher blinked slowly, letting the morning hold him. He didn’t move yet. He didn't want to. The night before had stripped more than their clothes—it had peeled away fears, doubts, masks. He wasn’t sure what this meant yet, but it felt like something worth naming.

Rhett stirred. "You’re staring."

Asher blushed but didn't look away. "You have bed hair."

"So do you," Rhett murmured, voice low and sleepy, a smirk playing on his lips. "But you make it look soft."

They lay in silence again, but this time, it was warm. Asher rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling.

"I didn’t know you’d let me in like this," he said quietly.

"I didn’t know I would either," Rhett replied.

There was a beat.

Then Rhett sat up, pulling his knees to his chest. "I meant to ask this before... but it was chaotic and—anyway, I want to do this. Properly."

Asher turned to him, brows lifted. "Do what properly?"

Rhett looked him straight in the eyes. "Be with you. No games. No disappearing. Just... me and you. If you want that."

Asher’s chest lifted. He sat up slowly. "You’re serious?"

"More than I’ve been about anything."

A smile spread across Asher’s lips. "Then yes."

Rhett leaned in, kissing him on the cheek. "I’m not perfect."

"I’m not asking you to be."

They got up eventually, brushing teeth together in Rhett’s surprisingly minimalist bathroom, and arguing about who used up the last of the soap.

When Asher was finally dressed, he paused at the door. "So... does this mean we’re dating? Officially?"

Rhett pulled him back gently by the wrist, kissed his forehead, and whispered, "You’re mine. Deal with it."

---

Later that day, the campus buzzed with usual weekday chaos. Asher and Zane sat in the cafeteria, sipping juice.

"You slept at his place again?" Zane asked, eyebrows arched.

Asher nodded.

"And you’re glowing. Disgusting."

Asher laughed.

Just then, Jude slid into the seat beside Zane, nudging him playfully. "I heard a rumor that your best friend finally bagged the phantom himself."

Zane rolled his eyes. "It’s not a rumor if it’s true."

Jude smirked, then turned to Asher. "Good luck. He’s a lot. But he’s real. And you… might be exactly what he needs."

Asher blinked, surprised by the softness in Jude’s voice.

"Thank you," he said.

Jude nodded. "Don’t mess it up. I like you."

As they laughed and bantered, Rhett walked into the cafeteria. His eyes met Asher’s across the room. Just one look. Just one soft smile.

And Asher knew.

He was exactly where he was supposed to be.