“Bathroom.” He walked into the men’s room.
Ody was at the sink, washing his hands. When he noticed Mano in the mirror, he quickly looked away.
Mano stepped to the sink beside him and let the water run over his hands. “You like my outfit?”
Ody tensed. “What?”
“I noticed you’re having trouble taking your eyes off me,” Mano said while rubbing his hands together.
Ody shut off the tap and grabbed a paper towel, voice uneven. “Where are you even getting that from? You think you’re that good-looking?”
“Me? No,” Mano said as he shut off the tap and turned toward him. “You’re the one who called me pretty. Twice.”
Ody swallowed and stared at the tiles.Goddamnit, I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Mano stepped closer. “You were pretty confident in the room earlier. Now you’re quiet?”
“We should get back.” Ody tried to walk past him, but Mano caught his arm. The movement pulled them close, their faces inches apart, the air between them suddenly heavy.
“You started a game you know you’ll lose,” Mano said, without giving him room to move.
Ody’s confidence surged back. “Are you sure about that?”
Mano lifted his chin a little. “What exactly? Who will get flustered first?”
Mano had no idea how different Ody was now. He had crossed lines Mano had not, had seen and done things Manocould not imagine. He wasn’t scared of this anymore. He was ready.
“You’re provoking me again. Careful. You’ll lose,” Ody said.
Mano didn’t know the truth. Ody wanted him. Wanted his mouth, his taste, his body pinned against the sink. He wanted to drag him in by the shirt and kiss him until that smug control slipped. Until he heard the sound Mano would make when he finally stopped pretending he didn’t want this too.
The moment Ody’s words left his mouth, Mano pushed him back against the sink, pressing his body to his and cupping Ody’s jaw as he stared at his lips.
He expected Ody to turn red, panic, and storm out. So why was Ody standing there completely calm, meeting his gaze without even blinking?
Mano frowned. Ody’s eyes dropped to his lips.
Something twisted in Mano’s chest. He pulled his hand back and stepped away, blinking hard. Confusion clouded his face.
How was Ody this calm, this steady? He had been so shy before, especially that time at Mano’s house with only a towel around his waist.
What had changed?
Ody let out a soft laugh at Mano’s expression and pushed himself off the sink. “Two-zero,” he said with a sly grin, opening the door and walking out, leaving Mano standing there full of questions.
When he returned to the table, he sat down and felt Ody’s eyes on him. The moment their gazes met, he looked away fast, suddenly shy and awkward.
Their food arrived, and the conversations eased back into place. Mano avoided looking at him as much as he could, while Ody laughed and joked with the group, perfectly at ease. Mano finished his second beer, and Ody stuck to one since he was driving.
After they paid, the group decided to walk along the harbor. All the couples held hands, except Mano and Ranya.
“Hold my hand,” she said.
“Oh, come on.” He brushed her off, keeping his hands in his jeans pockets.
“Everyone else is holding hands. Why won’t you?”
Mano ignored her. Ranya huffed but let it go, and the group kept walking until they reached the parking lot.
