3. Chapter 3
Mano’s glare only hardened. Without a word, Ody turned and walked toward his car, the helmet in hand.
“Hey!” Mano shouted, swinging his leg off the bike. “Where are you going with my helmet?” He went after him, while Ody kept walking at an infuriatingly relaxed pace. “I’m talking to you!” Mano reached for the helmet from Ody’s left side.
Ody switched it to his right at the last second, forcing Mano closer. Their faces were suddenly inches apart. Mano’s gaze flicked to the small beauty mark above Ody’s lip.
“Give it back,” he growled.
“Come get it,” Ody replied, quickening his pace.
Mano shoved him hard. Ody stumbled, caught himself, then turned, jaw tightening.
“Are you giving it back or not?” Mano demanded, fury burning in his eyes.
Instead of answering, Ody broke into a run.
“What the hell is wrong with this guy?” Mano muttered, then sprinted after him.
Ody pulled his keys from his pocket and unlocked the car remotely. He slipped inside, slammed the door, and locked it. Mano reached the car seconds later and leaned toward the driver’s window. “What the hell are you doing?”
Ody raised a hand and gestured for him to go around to the passenger side.
“Open the door!” He pounded on the glass.
Ody shook his head and pointed again to the other side.
“Are you going to open it, or do I have to smash it?”
Ody rolled the window down just enough to speak. “If you want it back, get in.”
Mano let out a dark chuckle and lowered his head before looking up again. “You have a death wish,” he said in English, almost under his breath.
Ody smiled and gestured again.
Mano walked to the passenger side and yanked the handle. It was locked. He looked up at him, eyes sharp.
“Sorry,” Ody said with a quiet laugh, unlocking the doors.
Mano opened it but didn’t sit. He just stood there, staring him down. “Give it back.”
“Sit.”
“I said give it back.”
“I said sit!”
They held each other’s gaze for a moment. Mano’s jaw tightened, but he finally dropped into the seat and snatched the helmet from Ody’s hands, placing it on his lap.
Ody leaned over to pull the door closed, his head brushing briefly against Mano’s chest. Mano stiffened and leaned back.
The door shut. The locks clicked.
“What are you doing? Unlock it!” Mano snapped as Ody started the engine. “Let me out!”
Ody released the handbrake.
“Let me out, malaka!”
Ody turned toward him, voice sharper than before. “I told you I’m taking you home. How are you going to ride like that? What if you hit someone? What if you kill someone? Stop thinking only about yourself.”
Mano fell silent.
Ody shifted into gear and drove out of the parking lot. Two minutes passed in complete silence. “I’m taking you to the hospital. You need to get your hand checked,” he said, eyes still on the road.
“Don’t you dare.”
Ody glanced at him. “Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“If you don’t take care of it, it’s only going to get worse.”
Mano’s jaw tightened. “Don’t fucking take me there.”
Ody’s grip on the steering wheel firmed. “Why are you acting like this?”
Mano turned toward the window. “Unlock the doors.”
Ody frowned. “What?”
“Unlock them.”
“Why?”
“You said you’d take me home. So what’s it gonna be?”
Ody exhaled. “Fine. I’ll take you home. Where do you live?”
“Papagou.”
“Address?”
Mano gave it and Ody entered it into the GPS.
“And how exactly am I supposed to get around tomorrow? My bike’s at school,” Mano added at the next red light. “I have class at eleven thirty. And I’m not taking the bus.”
Ody glanced at him. “What time did you say?”
“Eleven thirty.”
“I’ll take you.”
Mano stared at him. “You’re insane. Why would you do that?”
“Because you don’t have your bike. And you said you won’t take public transportation. Unless someone else can take you.”
Silence.
Ody took that as his answer, eyes on the road. “I have class at twelve thirty. I’ll grab a coffee after I drop you off.”
Mano let out a short breath. “So now I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything. I didn’t ask for anything when I fixed your chain. I’m not asking now.”
Mano looked away. “How much did it cost?”
“It was just a clasp.”
“How much?”
“Why?”
“So I can pay you back.”
Ody laughed under his breath. “No need.”
“I don’t owe people. Especially people like you.”
“And what’s wrong with people like me?” Ody asked as they stopped at another red light.
“They get on my nerves.”
“Xanax and Lexotanil. Or valerian, if you prefer something natural.”
“Don’t act like you’re my pharmacist,” Mano shot back.
Ody blinked. “You remember what I study?”
“I have ears. Unfortunately.”
“I thought you weren’t paying attention that day. You were glued to your phone.”
Mano shrugged. “It was more interesting than you.”
Ody let out a short breath through his nose. “You didn’t have to come.”
Mano’s gaze drifted back to the window. “I didn’t want to. Katerina wouldn’t stop pushing.”
“And you broke up right after.”
Mano’s head turned toward him. His eyes narrowed. “Don’t talk about things you don’t know.”
“Actually, I do.” Ody kept his eyes on the road. “But fine.”
Mano turned slowly in his seat. “What do you know?”
Ody didn’t look at him. “You said not to talk about it.”
“Tell me.”
Ody glanced at him. “You slept with another girl while you were still with her. There’s proof.”
Mano exhaled. So Katerina had told Anna. And Anna had told him. Of course.
“Looks like we’re here,” Ody said as he pulled up in front of an apartment building. “This is where you live?”
“Yeah.” Mano reached for the handle.
“Go to a pharmacy for your hand. They’ll know what to give you.”
Mano stepped out, helmet in hand.
“I’ll be here tomorrow at eleven,” Ody said, one hand resting on the steering wheel. “Don’t be late.”
“Go to hell.” He slammed the door.
Ody watched him unlock the building’s front door and slip inside before driving off. Back on campus, he slipped into the lecture hall late. The professor gave him a sharp look but kept lecturing.
Steve lifted a hand subtly to signal him over. “Where the hell were you?” he whispered.
“Overslept?” Chris added.
“I’ll explain later. Where are we?”
After class, the three of them stepped outside.
“So?” Steve said. “Why were you late?”
Ody told them what had happened. “Can you guys come an hour earlier tomorrow? Keep me company?”
“You want me to wake up earlier because some guy punched someone and can’t drive?” Steve groaned.
“Come on. We’ll grab coffee.”
He sighed. “Fine.”
Ody headed home after class. Later that evening, Anna called.
“Hey, baby. What are you doing?” she asked.
“Just got home. You?”
“Want me to come over?”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “Do you even have to ask?”
“I’m on my way.”
When she arrived, he told her about the fight and that he’d be driving Mano to class the next day.
“Oh, my sweet boy,” she said, kissing him. “You always want to save everyone. Remember that time you walked that lost girl across town because she couldn’t find her way? My feet were killing me,” she laughed.
“She looked completely lost. I couldn’t just leave her.”
“I have the best boyfriend,” she said, curling into his arms.
The next morning, Ody left early and drove to Mano’s address. He arrived at eleven sharp. Five minutes later, the building door opened. Mano stepped out, helmet in hand. He spotted the car and walked over, getting in without a word.
“Good morning,” Ody said.
Silence.
“Good morning,” he repeated.
Still nothing.
“Good morning, Mano.”
Mano slowly turned his head and looked him up and down. “Morning,” he muttered.
Ody smiled faintly. “How’s your hand?” he asked.
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”
“Did you put anything on it?”
“No. Just drive.”
“If you don’t treat it, it could get worse.”
“If you’re going to lecture me at eleven in the morning, I’ll take the metro,” Mano snapped.
“Alright. Fair enough.” Ody started the car. “Why are you carrying the helmet?”
“Because I’m riding back.”
“We’re not doing this again.”
“What are you, my dad, or something?”
“No.” Ody hesitated, grip tightening on the wheel. “The guy you fought with… he said—”
“Said what?” Mano turned, his voice sharp.
“That your parents are gone.”
“Stop.”
“Okay. If you don’t want to talk about—” Before he could finish, Mano opened the car door while they were still moving.
Ody’s heart nearly stopped. “Okay, okay!” he shouted.
Mano slammed it shut. “If you say one more word before we get there, I’m getting out.”
Ody kept his eyes on the road and didn’t say another word, his pulse still kicking hard.
Mano never looked at him again. When the car stopped, he got out and slammed the door behind him.