WANTED A FLING BUT IT'S A NIGHT

CHAPTER 2 (RIDE BACK HOME)

CHAPTER TWO

The night air hit Asher’s face like a slap—sharp, cold, and sobering.

He stumbled a little as he stepped out of the house, the heavy bass of the music still vibrating through the walls behind him. Rhett walked ahead, not saying a word, just a few paces in front, like he expected Asher to follow. And he did. Quietly.

The car was black. Sleek. Low to the ground and polished like someone actually cared about it. Asher blinked under the streetlights, uncertain if he was hallucinating the way it gleamed.

Rhett unlocked it with a click. “Get in.”

Asher opened the passenger door slowly and slid in, the seat warm from the sun earlier, or maybe Rhett had just been here before. He didn’t ask.

Rhett got in, started the engine. Silence filled the car, thick and weirdly calming after the party noise.

Asher glanced at him. He looked older in the quiet—less intimidating, somehow. Just a guy in a hoodie, jawline sharp, eyes fixed on the road.

“You don’t even know my name,” Asher said softly.

Rhett didn’t look at him. “Didn’t ask.”

That stung a little. Asher turned to the window. Lights blurred past. His head buzzed—not just from the alcohol, but from the absurdity of the night. He was in a stranger’s car. And he didn’t feel scared.

“Where’s your hostel?” Rhett finally asked.

Asher told him.

They drove in silence again for a few minutes. Then Asher’s voice cut through the stillness.

“Thank you... for not leaving me there.”

Rhett gave a small nod. “You looked like you were about to pass out in a rat-infested room. Didn’t feel right.”

Asher chuckled, then winced. “God, was it obvious?”

“You’re not the first freshman who thought punch meant juice.”

Silence again. Comfortable now.

When they pulled into the hostel compound, Asher hesitated before opening the door.

“Hey…” he said, his voice smaller than he wanted it to be.

Rhett glanced at him.

“My roommate… Zayn, he’s not coming back tonight. He told me earlier. And I… I don’t do well alone. I know it’s stupid, but I just—”

Rhett cut him off. “You scared of the dark?”

Asher looked down. “Not exactly. I just… I had a thing, when I was a kid. Locked in somewhere. Ever since then, I—can’t sleep alone. It’s dumb.”

Rhett didn’t laugh. Didn’t smirk. He just sat there a second longer. Then he killed the engine.

“Come on. I’ll stay.”

Asher blinked. “Seriously?”

Rhett was already getting out. “I don’t do this either. So don’t make it weird.”

Inside the room, Asher fumbled with his keys, still buzzed. Rhett walked in behind him, looked around, then kicked off his shoes like he’d done this a hundred times.

“I’ll take the floor,” Rhett said, pulling off his hoodie and tossing it on Zayn’s bed.

Asher stood there awkwardly. “You can take the bed if you want. I mean, we can share. Or—”

“Dude. Relax. I’m not trying to sleep with you.”

Asher flushed. “Right. Sorry. I didn’t mean—”

Rhett just shook his head and lay back, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

After a moment, Asher climbed into his own bed. The light stayed on.

“Hey,” Asher whispered into the stillness.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks again.”

Rhett didn’t reply.

But he didn’t leave either.