The group exchanged glances.
“Why are you mixing drinks now?” Ranya asked, concern in her voice.
He ignored her and took another sip.
“Should we stop him?” Anna asked Ody, but he didn’t answer.
After everything that had happened between them, he had no idea if stepping in would make things better or worse.
They watched as Mano headed to the bar again. A few minutes later he came back empty-handed. Then the waitress appeared at their table carrying eight shot glasses.
“On the house,” Mano announced, grabbing one and knocking it back.
“Thanks, Mano!”
“Thanks!”
“Another round,” he called after the waitress as she walked past.
“Man, he’s still holding up, huh?” Antony said to his girlfriend.
“He doesn’t look great, though. He’s barely standing,” she replied. “But who’s gonna stop him? He’ll kill us.”
The second round of shots arrived. Mano downed his, and staggered toward the bathrooms. On the way there he bumped into several people, nearly losing his balance.
Ody had been watching him the whole time. With every drink, his worry grew. “I’m gonna go check on him,” he told Anna.
“Be careful, okay?”
Ody pushed through the crowd and stepped into the restroom. He waited by the sinks just as Mano stumbled out of one of the stalls, zipping up his pants.
He looked dazed, wobbly. Barely able to stand.
“You okay?”
“What do you want now? Get off my back.” He reached the sink and turned on the faucet, but the room spun around him.He stopped, trying to steady himself. But then his body swayed backward.
“Whoa!” Ody caught him before he could hit the floor.
“Don’t touch me!” Mano snapped, pushing him away. Or at least, that was what he intended. Ody barely felt the weak shove.
“You’re dizzy, aren’t you?”
“I’m fine. Just leave me the fuck alone!” Mano tried to grab the sink again, but his legs gave out beneath him.
Ody quickly bent and caught him from behind, trying to lift him, but Mano barely budged. “That damn gym…” he muttered. He threw Mano’s arm over his shoulder and dragged him out of the restroom. Their friends spotted them from the table and pushed through the crowd.
“What happened?” Antony asked.
“What do you think after all that alcohol? Help me get him to the car.”
The three of them carried Mano outside while the girls exchanged uneasy looks. Ody unlocked his car. Antony and Steve helped maneuver Mano into the back seat.
“Where are you taking him?” Steve asked.
“Back to the hotel. Tell Anna not to worry.”
“Got it. Text us later. And try not to kill each other, okay?” He shot Ody a warning look.
