32. Chapter 32
The following afternoon, Ody went out for a drink with Anna. Most of their conversation drifted back to the holiday trip getting closer. Anna was glowing, excited about finally going away with such a big group of friends.
Later that night, they went back to Ody’s place together. She kissed him first, the dim lights turning everything warm around them.
And still, after two years of kissing her without a single doubt in his mind, Mano flashed through his thoughts. And Kash, whose lips had been on his chest.
Anna pushed him onto the couch, her fingers slipping toward his zipper. Later, lying side by side, he tried to make sense of what he’d felt while making love to his girlfriend. He liked it. He wanted it. There was nothing wrong with any of it, and yet the guilt lingered anyway.
For a moment, he thought about talking to her. He turned toward Anna, the words almost forming. But what could he possibly say? That he was confused? That he couldn’t stop thinking about Mano? That he had let Kash kiss him?
The thoughts tangled in his mind until none of them made sense anymore. In the end, he said nothing.
Anna prepared something to eat while Ody checked his phone. A message from Steve came in about a basketball game on Thursday, and Ody replied that he would invite Mano. After they finished eating, Ody relaxed with Anna in his arms, and the two of them fell asleep on the couch.
The next day, he headed to campus for his exam. Steve and Chris met him at the main hall, and the three of them walked together toward the canteen.
As they moved through the corridor, they crossed paths with Kash and his group. Brandon slipped into an exaggerated tough-guy strut, mimicking a bodyguard beside Pablo, clearly making fun of how glued Steve and Chris were to Ody. Pablo chuckled as they passed, and Steve tensed beside Ody.
“Got a problem, guys?” he snapped.
Ody grabbed his arm, silently telling him to let it go, but the other three had already turned.
“I’ve got a question, Ody,” Brandon said. “Do you pay these guys to be your bodyguards, or do they do it for free?” He smirked, right before Steve lunged.
Chris and Ody held him back, while Brandon and Pablo burst out laughing. Ody turned his glare on Kash, anger burning in his eyes.
“If you think you’re tough, then start something.” Steve challenged, stepping toward Brandon. “Let’s see who really needs a bodyguard then.”
“Steve!” Ody pulled him back.
Pablo sneered. “I think Kash already told you. We’ve got more people than you. You wanna go right now? See who comes out on top?”
Kash stepped forward before anyone else could speak, slipping right back into the role he always played around his friends.
“You really think that just because you ambushed us last time, we’re gonna back down?
Don’t test us.” As he said it, he met Ody’s eyes for a split second.
The others didn’t notice, but both of them knew exactly what that look meant.
“Guys, leave it,” Ody said, jaw tight as he pulled Steve away. Steve kept shooting hostile looks over his shoulder.
Pablo’s voice rose behind them, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Where’s the other guy? I heard Kash busted his lip. Damn, man, why’d we miss that?” He laughed with Brandon.
Ody stopped and turned, his jaw clenching again.
“How’d you do it?” Brandon asked, still laughing.
“Clocked him in the jaw and kept hitting the same spot till he bled,” Kash said, sounding proud of himself.
Ody felt sick watching him pretend.
“So yeah, good call keeping an eye on him,” Brandon added, jerking his chin toward Steve and Chris.
The group walked off, still laughing.
“I’m gonna beat the shit out of them.” Steve growled, watching them leave.
“Dude, stop,” Ody said. “You don’t see what they’re doing? They want us to take the bait. Just ignore them. Come on, let’s get coffee.” He pulled Steve forward, and the three of them kept walking.
He exhaled, trying to shake the tension out of his shoulders. He reached into his pocket to grab his phone, planning to check the time, when it buzzed in his hand.
A message lit up the screen. Kash: I’m sorry…
Ody stopped for a moment, turning instinctively. Kash was already looking at him from down the hall, guilt written all over his face before he turned back to his friends.
After his exam, Ody headed to the parking lot, the tension of the morning still sitting heavy in his chest. He got into his car, shut the door, and let out a long breath before pulling out his phone. They had a game to plan. And the trip.
He called Mano. It rang twice before a deep, groggy sound came through the speaker, something between a hum and a half-formed word. Mano was clearly still half-asleep.
Ody cleared his throat, trying to ignore how that voice affected him. “We planned a basketball game tomorrow at noon. What time’s your exam?”
He made another soft, sleepy sound. Then, he muttered something about ten, his voice rough and warm, making Ody’s grip tighten around the phone.
“Alright. And we need to pack for the trip after.”
A quiet, barely awake agreement came back, followed by a soft click as Mano hung up without another word.
Ody stared at the screen, his pulse picking up for no logical reason. That voice lingered, annoyingly hot in his ears. He smacked himself, tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, and started the car.
Thursday came, and Mano headed to campus for his final exam. By noon, he changed into sportswear, got on his bike, and rode to the basketball court.
A few guys were already there. The court was loud with shouts.
“Pass it!” Elias shouted.
Pierce sank a three-pointer, and everyone cheered.
Ody spotted Mano first. “You made it.”
“Yeah.”
Elias gave him a quick nod. “All good?”
“Uh… yeah,” Mano said, a bit awkward.
They started passing the ball around while waiting for the rest to arrive. Once everyone showed up, the game began, and by the end they were all panting, drenched in sweat. They grabbed their water bottles and sat down to catch their breath.
Mano leaned back on his palms, chest rising and falling.
Ody glanced at him. “You go hard when we’re on opposite teams.”
“That’s the point,” Mano replied, taking a sip. He lowered the bottle. “Hey, uh… what are you packing for Serifos? I have no idea what to bring.”
“You haven’t packed yet?”
“No clue what to take.”
“You want help?”
“Yeah, sure.”
They said goodbye to the others, grabbed their bags, and headed toward the bike. Mano took off his helmet and held it out to Ody.
Ody frowned. “What about you?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“No. You should wear it.”
Mano didn’t argue. He simply stepped closer and settled the helmet over Ody’s head before he could protest again.
Ody stared at him for a second, then climbed on behind him and wrapped his arms around Mano’s waist.
A short ride later, they stepped into Mano’s apartment, and he kicked off his shoes. “I’m taking a quick shower.”
“Okay. I’ll wait.”
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened.
Ody looked up and froze. Mano stepped out with only a towel around his hips, his wet hair pushed back from his face.
Water slid down the lines of his chest and over the ink on his arms, the muscles beneath shifting with every step.
Ody jerked his gaze forward again, pulse jumping.
“I’ve got the suitcase open. Come tell me what to pack,” Mano called from the bedroom.
Ody followed, his eyes drifting to Mano’s back. “Wow.”
Mano turned. “What?”
“It’s the first time I’ve actually seen where the wings tattoo starts.” Ody’s gaze traced the dark feathers spreading from Mano’s shoulder blade and flowing down his arm toward the elbow.
As Mano shifted, another tattoo came into view on the left side of his chest.
“Is that the one you told me about?” Ody asked.
“Yeah.”
“Roman numerals. What do they say?”
Mano swallowed. “The date when…” He didn’t finish, but Ody understood.
His eyes flicked to the silver cross hanging against Mano’s skin, the same one from the day they met.
“So, what should I pack?” Mano asked, turning back to the suitcase.
Ody stepped beside him. “Shirts, jeans, shorts, something nicer for the evenings, a jacket, swimwear…”
Mano opened his wardrobe and pulled out clothes at random.
“You’ll need trousers too. Sweatpants won’t work if we go out at night.”
Mano chuckled. “I need to dress up, right?”
Ody didn’t answer, and Mano laughed under his breath. He tossed a pair of trousers in.
“Don’t throw them in like that. They’ll wrinkle.” Ody kneeled and folded them properly.
Mano watched him with a small smile from above.
Ody felt it before he even looked up. “What?”
“Nothing,” Mano said, but the smile didn’t fade.
Ody forced his attention back to the suitcase. “Put on a shirt.”
“Why? It’s hot.”
“So what? You plan to stay in a towel?”
“If I were alone, I’d walk around without it.” Mano’s fingers slid to the edge of the towel. “Want me to take it off?”
“No!” Ody said too quickly, rising from his knees.
Mano laughed, low and amused.
Heat climbed up Ody’s neck, before he cleared his throat. “Grab your shoes, boxers, socks, whatever else you need, and you’re good.”
Mano tilted his head, studying him. “Are you in a rush?” His voice was deeper now, the kind of tone that hit straight in Ody’s stomach.
“I need to check things at home. And shower. I’m sweaty.”
“You can shower here,” Mano said, watching him with a focus that made the offer feel anything but casual.
Ody’s gaze darted away. “N-no. I need clean clothes too. I’ll go.”
Mano said nothing. Ody didn’t look back, but he felt that stare on him as he walked out, a slow heat following him into the hallway.
“How are you getting to the port tomorrow? You going with Ranya?” Ody asked.
“I think so.”
“She has a car?”
“No.”
“Then how are you getting there?”
Mano shrugged. “Didn’t think about it.”
“Come with us. Anna and I are taking my car.”
“With you?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright. I’ll talk to Ranya and let you know.”
“Good.”
Ody reached the door, but before he could open it, Mano’s hand slammed it shut. Ody’s breath caught as Mano stepped close behind him. “Why are you looking at me like that?” he murmured near his ear, his voice low enough to scrape along Ody’s skin.
A shiver ran through Ody. He didn’t turn around. He couldn’t.
Mano didn’t wait. He caught Ody’s shoulders, spun him around, and pressed him against the door. Their faces were inches apart. Mano’s skin was still warm from the shower, the towel sitting low on his hips, water sliding slowly down his collarbone.
Ody swallowed, his gaze flicking instinctively to Mano’s lips before he could stop himself.
“So, Ody,” Mano said. “I want the truth.”
Ody’s heartbeat thundered against his ribs, his eyelids fluttering. “I-I’m not… looking at you,” he managed, unable to meet his eyes.
“Exactly.” Mano leaned in just a fraction. “You won’t even look at me.”
Ody kept his gaze off to the side, face hot, back pressed to the door like he needed it to stay upright.
“Huh, Ody?” Mano reached up and took his chin between his fingers, turning his face forward, forcing green eyes to meet honey-colored ones.
Ody felt everything inside him pull tight, breath catching in his throat. He held the stare for a second too long before finally tearing his gaze away. “Y-you and Ranya need to be ready tomorrow morning,” he blurted. “We’ll come pick you up.”
He shoved Mano’s hand away, wrenched the door open, and bolted. The slam echoed behind him as he ran down the stairs, gripping the railing, chest heaving. He stopped at the bottom and leaned against the wall, his breathing unsteady.
Why was Mano doing this? Why was he pushing him, testing him? Did he know? Could he see it on him?
But even so… every time Ody had crossed the line before, Mano had pulled away. Pushed him off, put distance between them.
So what the hell had changed?