“I hope it wasn’t because of me.”
She laughed. “No. She just talked about you a lot. That’s how I know you.”
Mano raised an eyebrow. “And what did she say?”
She tilted her head. “Do you really wanna know?”
Mano just shrugged.
“That you went out. Ended up at her place. And then you disappeared.” She gave him a knowing look. “You know. The usual.”
Mano leaned back in his chair. “Let me be clear. I’m not looking for a relationship. Not even something complicated.”
“So you just date around?” she asked.
“If that bothers you, we don’t have to do this again.”
“It doesn’t bother me.” She smiled. “I’m just observing.”
“Good.”
“I hope you don’t expect to end up in my bed after one coffee.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “How about after the second?”
She shook her head with a quiet chuckle. “You really don’t do subtle, do you? At least you’re honest.”
“I don’t like complications. Relationships come with questions, expectations—”
“You don’t get attached,” she finished.
Mano didn’t answer right away. “Something like that.”
“Alright then.” She sipped her coffee, studying him.
Back home, Ody dropped onto the couch, dragging a hand over his face. He’d gone all the way to campus just to drive Mano, only to be told to leave. He knew it wasn’t Mano’s fault. He’d insisted.
He turned on the TV and stared at it.
Later, his phone buzzed. Steve texted about basketball for the next evening. Everyone was in. Elias was still sick, so they were short again. Steve told him to ask Mano and reminded him of the promise.
Ody said he would.
He didn’t.
The next morning, Ody went to class alone. Mano was still asleep, his lecture scheduled later. Ody parked and headed toward Molecular Pharmacology.
“Come on, you idiot!” someone shouted down the hall.
He recognized the voices before he saw them.
“Hey, Stavrinos!” one of them called. “Save us three seats.”
Ody stopped in his tracks. “How exactly am I supposed to do that?”
“Use your jacket. Your bag. Figure it out.”
“Why don’t you just come in now?”
