Ody looked down briefly. “You really dislike me, don’t you?”
“You’re not my chauffeur.”
Ody’s head snapped up.
“You’ve already done enough,” Mano added, quieter now.
“I don’t mind,” Ody said, their eyes meeting again. “To repay me, when your hand’s better, you’ll come play basketball with us.”
“I’d rather pay for the gel. And the clasp. And the gas.”
“I don’t want money. I want you to play. Promise.”
Mano exhaled. “Fine.”
“Not fine. Promise.” He smiled.
Mano hesitated. “I promise.”
A grin spread across Ody’s face.
“I’m leaving,” Mano announced.
“You still haven’t told me what time your class is.”
“Ten. If it’s not convenient—”
“I’ll be here at nine thirty.”
Mano stared at him. Then he got out and disappeared inside.
Ody drove back toward campus. His friends would be finishing soon, so he waited outside instead of going back into class.
At two thirty, Steve and Chris came out.
“Where’d you vanish to?” Steve asked.
“Nowhere. You guys up for basketball?”
“You took him home again, didn’t you?”
“He promised he’ll play with us when his hand’s better.”
Chris grinned. “Alright. Let’s go.”
After the game, his phone rang. It was Anna. They made plans to go to the movies that evening. Ody hung up smiling while Steve teased him about the date night.
Once he was ready, he drove to Anna’s house. “You look beautiful,” he said as she got into the car, brushing a strand of her long light brown hair from her face.
“Thank you. You look handsome too.”
They kissed before heading to the cinema.
“Want anything to eat?” he asked after they picked up their tickets.
“Just popcorn.”
They went inside. The movie hadn’t started yet, commercials were still playing.
