Ody glanced toward the group to make sure no one was listening. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because it pisses me off!” Mano snapped, slamming his hand against the lounger. “We went through all that shit because of him, and you hooked up with him!”
“Stop yelling!” Ody tried to cover his mouth, but Mano shoved him away and stood.
“Don’t tell me what to do!”
Ody grabbed his arm. Mano tried to yank free, still seething, while Ody dragged him up the beach toward the rocks.
“What are you doing?” Mano snapped, stumbling after him.
Ody didn’t answer. By the time they reached the rocks, Mano was still fuming.
“You scared Anna might hear?” he spat. “You’ve got Anna as the girlfriend, Kash on the side, and me for entertainment.”
“You’re more than that to me,” Ody shot back.
Silence settled between them. Mano stood there breathing hard, his glare locked on him.
Ody held his gaze. “You think this is a game to me? I’ve never been this serious about anyone.”
Mano scoffed. “Yeah. Right.”
Ody’s jaw tightened. “It’s just you.” He blinked, then added, “…and Anna, I know.”
Mano let out a bitter laugh. “If you’re not someone’s first choice, you walk away.”
Ody stared at him. “What if I told you you are my first choice?”
Mano didn’t blink. His gaze stayed locked on Ody, unreadable. “You prove that with actions. Not words.”
Ody clenched his jaw. “What do you want me to do?”
Mano sighed and looked away. “How should I know?”
“Do you want me to break up with her?”
Mano’s eyes flickered. For a moment he didn’t say anything. Then his expression hardened again. “I’m not giving you the answer. It’s your life.”
Their gazes stayed locked in the silence.
Mano took a step back, ready to walk away, but Ody grabbed his wrist. “Don’t walk away, damn it.”
Mano looked at him, eyes hard. “We have nothing else to say.” He yanked his hand free.
“I’m not done talking.” Ody stepped in front of him, blocking his path, pushing him in the chest.
The touch only fueled Mano’s anger. “Move.”
Ody didn’t. “I just told you how I feel and you’re not saying anything,” he said, frustration bleeding into his voice. “Why can’t you be honest with me?”
Mano’s jaw tightened.
“I know you want this,” Ody added. “I can see it.” Before he could stop himself, he stepped closer and cupped Mano’s face with both hands.
The gesture was gentle. Too gentle. And it was the last thing Mano wanted at that moment. Everything inside him was still burning. The lies. Stella’s manipulation. The humiliation. The beating. “You know nothing,” he said, shoving Ody back.
Ody staggered a step, staring at him. “Stop pretending you don’t care!” he snapped, shoving him right back.
