Southern Charm | wlw

26

Aspen gripped the steering wheel tightly as she pulled up outside the dimly lit restaurant, the streetlights casting long shadows across the parking lot. Rowyn's text had come out of nowhere, catching her off guard. Aspen didn't know what to make of it, but Rowyn sounded shaken enough that Aspen had immediately offered to pick her up.

She watched the entrance, her fingers tapping anxiously on the steering wheel until she spotted Rowyn stepping outside. Rowyn scanned the parking lot, eyes landing on the familiar truck, and hurried over, slipping into the passenger seat with a deep exhale.

"Thanks for comin' to get me," Rowyn murmured, her voice soft, almost rattled.

Aspen gave her a sideways glance, trying to piece together what had happened. "Anytime, sugar. You alright?"

Rowyn shook her head, still staring down at her hands. "Not really," she admitted, looking like she was struggling to make sense of her own thoughts. "Look, I know this is going to sound weird, but... when he was in the bathroom, I... I peeked in his wallet. I shouldn't have, but something felt off."

Aspen's brow furrowed. "He lied 'bout his own name?" She tried to mask her growing frustration but couldn't quite keep it out of her voice. "That's... shady as all get-out, Rowyn. So what'd it say? Did you catch his last name?"

Rowyn shook her head, looking out the window. "No, I didn't see his last name, but his first name... it's Blake." She paused, glancing over at Aspen. "He just came back and laughed it off, said he went by Kyle sometimes. But... who does that?"

Aspen's hand froze mid-air. For a moment, she just stared ahead, her mind racing.

Aspen swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure as her mind whirled. "Blake?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why would he use a different name? That ain't normal behavior, Rowyn."

Rowyn nodded, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "Exactly. It felt weird the whole night, honestly. I kept getting these vibes, like... he wasn't being himself. And then seeing that name—it just didn't sit right."

Aspen's jaw clenched. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something was stirring inside her. "What else did he say? Did he give you a reason for why he calls himself Kyle?"

Rowyn shook her head, glancing back at Aspen with wide, uncertain eyes. "Just brushed it off, you know? Acted like it was nothing. But I... I dunno, Aspen, something in me just felt off about it. I needed to get out of there."

Aspen gave a slow nod, keeping her tone steady even though her mind was racing. "Well, you did the right thing, sugar. You trust those instincts of yours." She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on Rowyn's well-being, pushing aside her own creeping suspicions. "A guy who lies 'bout his name... doesn't sound like someone ya wanna keep hangin' around, anyway."

Rowyn sighed, resting her head back against the seat. "I know... I just hate that I fell for it. I feel stupid."

"Hey now, don't you go talkin' like that," Aspen replied firmly, placing a reassuring hand on Rowyn's shoulder. "You didn't do anythin' wrong. Hell, he's the one actin' shady as a rattlesnake in the grass." She offered a small smile, hoping to ease Rowyn's tension. "Besides, he messed with the wrong gal if he thought he could pull that over on ya."

Rowyn finally cracked a slight smile, though it didn't fully reach her eyes. "Thanks, Aspen. Really. I just... I didn't know who else to call."

"Well, I'm glad ya called me," Aspen said softly. "Always here for ya, no matter what."

They sat in silence for a moment, the only sounds coming from the faint hum of the truck's engine and the rustling of leaves outside. Aspen's mind kept circling back to that name, trying to bury a nagging suspicion she couldn't quite shake.

Finally, Rowyn broke the silence, her voice a little hesitant. "Aspen... do you think... do you think he might've lied about more than just his name?"

Aspen's expression hardened. "Wouldn't surprise me none. If a man's willin' to lie about somethin' as simple as his name, he might be hidin' a whole lot more."

Rowyn's brow furrowed as she seemed to turn the thought over. "I just... I don't know. Something about him felt so familiar. And I thought it was just because he was charming, but... now I don't know."

Aspen took a deep breath, the weight of the situation settling over her like a storm cloud. "Listen, Rowyn... you don't have to figure this out alone, alright? If you wanna dig into this, I'm here. Or if you just wanna leave it all behind, I'll help with that, too. Whatever you need."

Rowyn gave a grateful nod. "I'd appreciate that, Aspen. I don't wanna just ignore it. I think... I need to know."

Aspen tightened her grip on the steering wheel, setting her resolve.

Aspen took a deep breath, then glanced over at Rowyn with a small, wry smile. "Ya know, Rowyn... I got a whole lotta reasons for stickin' to women," she began, her voice soft but steady. "Most folks don't get it, but it's more than just who I'm drawn to."

Rowyn looked over, curiosity sparking in her eyes as Aspen continued, "I've seen too many guys pullin' the same tricks—sayin' one thing, doin' another. With women... I dunno, it just feels real, y'know? Like we both know how to see each other without all the smoke and mirrors."

She shrugged, looking down at her hands. "Maybe it's just my own stuff, but women... they just feel safer, I guess. Like I can trust them without worryin' if I'm gettin' played."

Rowyn nodded, understanding glinting in her gaze. Aspen returned her smile, but beneath it, there was an unmistakable look of guardedness. "So, yeah... guess that's why I'm not rushin' back to menfolk anytime soon."

They sat quietly, Aspen's words hanging in the air, bringing a depth and sincerity Rowyn hadn't heard from her before.

Aspen gave Rowyn a soft, sideways smile, shifting her weight in the driver's seat as she turned to look at her. "Hey, Rowyn... if you're feelin' all mixed up after tonight, you're more than welcome to crash in mine and Maya's dorm. Might do ya some good to just relax and not think 'bout... all this."

Rowyn looked over, a faint relief flickering in her eyes. "You sure? I don't want to intrude."

"C'mon, darlin'," Aspen replied with a gentle chuckle, slipping right back into her easygoing Southern charm. "It's no trouble. Maya's practically family to you by now, anyway, and our couch is comfy enough for a night or two. Plus, I don't mind havin' someone to talk to besides Maya's endless playlist of sad breakup songs."

Rowyn let out a small laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing a little. "Alright... yeah. That actually sounds nice. Thanks, Aspen."

Aspen tipped her hat and started the truck, feeling a little flicker of excitement that she quickly buried. This was just a friendly offer, she reminded herself.