“Babe, come on in. The water’s perfect,” Ranya called out.
He stepped closer to the edge and dove cleanly into the pool. He surfaced with a short breath and shook water from his hair. His gaze locked with Ody’s. The annoyed look in Mano’s eyes deepened when he noticed the small, smug smile on Ody’s lips.
Ranya wrapped her legs around Mano and placed her hands on his shoulders. She pulled him in for a kiss while Ody watched from a distance.
Mano opened his eyes mid-kiss. Over Ranya’s shoulder, he glanced at Ody again, then shut his eyes and kissed her harder.
Ody’s smile disappeared. He turned away before anyone could see the shift in his expression.
“Cannonball!” Steve shouted and leaped into the water, sending waves everywhere.
“Steve, you idiot.”
“Dude, you almost landed on me,” Antony joked.
Mano swam to the edge and rested against the pool wall.
Ranya approached him with a mischievous grin. “I wish we were alone right now,” she murmured, her hands sliding to his chest.
“Is your mind wandering to dirty thoughts again?”
“With you, always,” she teased before kissing him again.
“Get a room!” Steve shouted and everyone looked their way.
“Leave them alone. They have their own thing,” Antony said.
Ody watched the couple for a moment. Then he looked down and blinked slowly, trying to reset his expression.
“Babe, look. I tanned a bit,” Anna said, showing him the lighter patch of skin on her shoulder.
“You did,” he said, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her into a kiss.
“Danae, our turn,” Steve said.
“Christina, come here,” Antony added, and the group burst into laughter.
Steve glanced at Ranya and Mano. “You guys are one step away from climbing on each other.”
“Wow, how could you tell?” Ranya shot back before shifting her attention to Mano. “Do you want to come back here alone one night?” she asked, her intentions very clear.
“Do I even want to ask why?”
“Oh, come on. The pool is nice,” she said with a playful pout.
“Other people swim here.”
“We’ll just make out.”
“Fine.”
She grinned and pulled him into another kiss.
An hour slipped by, and eventually they all climbed out of the pool to get ready for the night out. Mano grabbed his towel and dried off his muscular body. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Ody watching him. Mano paused, smirked, and Ody quickly looked away.
Christina checked the time and Ranya suggested they head back inside.
Mano slipped into light blue jeans and a white button down shirt. When Ranya stepped out of the bathroom, she stared.
