33. Chapter 33 #3
Ody stood there pretending everything was normal while guilt piled on his chest. Every smile they gave him, every bit of warmth, every parental fussing made him feel smaller, dirtier.
Her parents kept reminding them to call when they arrived, telling him to be careful, take care of her, and enjoy the trip. Ody nodded at all of it. He didn’t trust his voice not to crack.
He picked up her suitcase, heavy and oversized, and followed her parents to the elevator.
The moment the doors closed, Ody let out a heavy breath.
He felt awful. Truly awful. Like he didn’t belong in that apartment or in their trust anymore.
And walking out with Anna beside him made the guilt sink even deeper.
He kept his eyes on the road as they drove toward Papagou, but his thoughts were a storm he couldn’t quiet.
Every time Anna leaned closer or brushed his arm with hers, the shame twisted inside him harder.
He forced himself to smile, to answer her small talk, to breathe normally. He failed at all three.
By the time they reached Mano’s neighborhood, Ody’s stomach felt tight and hollow.
Meanwhile, Ranya had already arrived at Mano’s place after taking the subway. The apartment was quiet, the early morning light still soft through the balcony curtains.
They sat together on the couch, and she shifted closer with a slow, teasing grin. “Do we have time?” she whispered, brushing her lips against his jaw.
Mano smirked, his hand sliding under her panties. “What do you think?”
Ranya let out a soft breath, leaning into him, her fingers curling into his shirt. She let out a soft moan when his fingers slid into her. “Talk to me,” she pleaded with her eyes half-closed.
Mano’s smirk sharpened, clearly satisfied with the effect he had on her. “You dirty girl.”
She bit her lip and closed her eyes the moment his fingers curled inside her. He then wrapped his hand around her throat. A choked breath escaped her.
“You’re the kinkiest little slut I’ve ever fucked, you know that?” His voice dropped, and she felt herself go dizzy.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the buzzer rang.
They both went still.
Ranya dropped her head back with an exasperated groan. “You’re kidding me.”
Mano pushed himself up. “Yeah?” he answered into the intercom.
Ody’s voice came through. “Hey, Mano, it’s me. You guys ready to come down?”
“Yeah, we’re coming,” He turned back to Ranya, who was adjusting her shorts with a frustrated pout.
“Get up,” he said. “We’re leaving.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You can play with that later,” he teased, his gaze drifting between her legs.
She stood up, and he gave her a light smack on her ass before disappearing into the bathroom. When he came back out, he grabbed his keys and suitcase.
They stepped outside and found Ody and Anna waiting near the car.
“Good morning! I’m Ranya,” she said cheerfully, reaching out to shake Anna’s hand.
“Hi. I’m Anna, and this is Ody, my boyf—”
“Oh, I know Ody!” Ranya cut in quickly, smiling.
Anna froze, her eyes narrowing. “How do you know Ody?”
Ranya laughed awkwardly. “I thought you knew. We met at a café with Maria.”
They all climbed into the car. Mano took the passenger seat, and the girls settled into the back. Ody started the engine, still feeling Anna’s suspicious stare burning into the side of his face.
From behind him, Ranya launched into the story. She explained how she and Maria had approached the boys that day, how Maria had tried to flirt with Ody, and how Ody had shut her down, saying he was loyal to his girlfriend.
The moment Ranya said it, Anna relaxed. A small smile warmed her face. She leaned forward, kissed Ody’s arm, and settled proudly against the backseat.
Ody forced a smile. His stomach twisted like someone had grabbed it with both hands. He didn’t deserve that look on her face. Not after last night, after what he had done with Kash.
Trying to breathe, he shifted his gaze from Anna’s soft smile back toward the road. For a split second he caught Mano’s gaze. They both looked away instantly. Mano’s jaw tightened, unaware of the storm inside Ody or what had happened the night before.
They drove toward Piraeus; the streets already filled with early summer traffic.
When they reached the port entrance, they spotted familiar faces waiting by the cars.
Steve and his girlfriend Danae were the first to wave.
Antony stood nearby with Christina beside him, both smiling as Ody stopped the car near the group.
Everyone crowded together. There were quick greetings, playful teasing, introductions between the girls who hadn’t met yet, and the usual chaos of everyone trying to talk at once.
Someone laughed about how many bags Anna had brought. Steve tripped over a backpack. Then, after making sure everyone had their tickets and snacks, they finally boarded the ferry as a group.
They found seats together on the middle deck, the sea stretching out beyond the windows.
The trip had officially begun.
One week. All eight of them.
And somehow, Ody had a feeling this trip was going to change everything.