Ody froze, swallowed and blinked fast. “For some reason they do. All those girls you go out with.”
“And you have a different opinion, huh?” Mano asked, a hint of playfulness in his voice.
Ody’s shoulders tensed. “I… I don’t have an opinion,” he stammered. “What matters is whatyouthink. If you like what you see in the mirror, no one else’s opinion matters.” He scratched the back of his neck.
Mano’s grin faded, but his eyes stayed locked on him.
“What?” Ody asked.
“You’re such a good guy that I’m actually starting to like you.”
Ody blinked. “Oh. Nice. So you didn’t like me all this time.”
“You were just okay.”
“For someone who was just okay, you sure took a beating for him,” Ody shot back.
“What are you trying to say?” Mano’s brows pulled together.
“You did so much for me. Things even best friends wouldn’t do. So don’t tell me I was just okay.”
“Why, what else could you be?” Mano asked, attitude rising.
“Mano…” Ody leaned in, closing the distance. “In the bathrooms, when I thought you left because you were scared for yourself, I was wrong. You let him threaten you so he wouldn’t hurt me. You protectedme. Not yourself.”
“You did the same thing,” Mano snapped. “That note said they’d beat me up if you didn’t go to the backyard.”
“But I admit it. I consider you my friend.”
“Well, the same goes for me!” Mano raised his voice.
A few guys at the next table turned their heads.
Mano looked over, realizing his own volume, then rubbed his forehead, hiding part of his face. His leg bounced under the table.
Ody watched him with a small, surprised smile. “Did you just call me your friend?”
Chapter 21
Mano blinked hard, shutting the door on the vulnerability from seconds ago. “I didn’t call you anything. If you’re hearing voices, you should see a doctor.”
Ody couldn’t help the grin tugging at his lips. “Alright then. I’ll talk to the guys and book the tickets. When it’s time to look for hotels, I’ll let you know.”
“Fine.”
“You going out with Ranya?” Ody asked, shifting the topic.
Mano finally looked at him. “If she texts, yeah.”
“And if she doesn’t? You’re not gonna text her?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t care that much. Just another hookup,” Mano said. Ody stayed quiet. “Why didn’t you give your socials to that other girl?”
“Because I have a girlfriend.”
