Ody laughed in his face, not even trying to break free.
“Hey, hey, guys!” Steve shouted, rushing over.
“Ody?” Anna gasped.
Mano glared at Ody, anger boiling, while Ody smirked like he already knew he had won.
“Come on, guys, what’s going on?” Steve said, trying to pull them apart.
Ody shot Mano one last triumphant look before walking away with his plate.
Mano’s fists stayed clenched. His jaw tightened as he stared at Ody’s back.
That was it. He had just crossed the line.
Chapter 36
Ody walked back to the table like nothing had happened. Mano stayed behind at the buffet, fists still clenched, jaw tight.
“What happened, dude?” Steve asked as he and Ody returned to the table.
“Nothing, man.”
Anna leaned closer. “Baby, what was that? Why did Mano grab you like that?” she asked when Ody sat beside her.
“Everything’s fine. That’s just how Mano and I are. Nothing happened,” he said, trying to sound casual.
Ranya stood and walked over to Mano. “Babe, are you okay?” she asked.
His glare stayed locked on Ody, who had his back turned. He took his plate and moved to another table, away from everyone else.
Christina frowned. “Why’s he sitting alone?”
“Ody, what the hell did you say to him?” Antony asked, suddenly serious.
“Nothing guys, jeez,” Ody muttered. “Stop asking. Everything’s fine. Just eat so we can go to the beach.”
After breakfast, they went to their rooms to change. When they met outside again, Mano hadn’t said a word. His jaw was still tight, his mood unreadable.
As they walked toward the car, Ody unlocked it with the remote. He was about to get in when Mano stepped forward and snatched the keys out of his hand.
All three remained still as Mano opened the driver’s door and slid into the seat. Without looking at them, he buckled his seat belt, started the engine, and released the handbrake. They stood there staring.
“Are you getting in, or am I leaving without you?” he snapped and they climbed in quickly.
Mano shifted into first and hit the gas, quickly shifting to second, then third, his jaw locked.
Ody kept watching him from the passenger seat.
“Driving suits you,” Ranya said from the back.
Ody reached for the radio and turned it on, trying to cut the tension.
He entered the beach destination into the GPS and pointed at the screen to show Mano.
Mano shifted into fourth. Anna braced herself as the sudden acceleration pushed her against the seat. “Maybe slow down?” she asked.
“There’s no need to speed,” Ody added.
