Ody lowered his gaze.
“And who do you want?” Kash continued. “Anna?”
One look up was enough to make Kash raise his hands mockingly. “Whoa, whoa. My bad,” he said. “Maybe Mano?”
Ody swallowed. “I told you,” he said carefully. “Mano and I are just friends. I have a girlfriend.”
Kash scoffed. “Yeah, Ody. Sure.” He tilted his head. “Did you have fun in Serifos? Just the two of you… getting closer?”
“Why are you doing this?”
Kash opened his mouth to answer, but the words died before they came out. He closed his eyes and exhaled, like he was trying to keep himself under control. “You know what he did to my sister,” he said through clenched teeth. “And you remember what happened between the three of us not long ago.” His jaw tightened. “I don’t want to picture you with him. Not him.”
“What’s your problem?” Ody shot back. “You told me you wouldn’t touch him again.”
“I did that for you!” Kash snapped. “I can’t stand him, and I never will.”
“And why are you telling me all this?”
Kash hesitated. “Because if you’re choosing him over me—”
“I’m not!” Ody cut him off. “Even if Mano wasn’t in the picture, nothing would ever happen between us.”
Kash stared at him. “You don’t know that.”
“I do, Kash.”
For a moment neither of them moved. Then Kash stepped forward and grabbed him by the back of the neck, pulling him closer.
Ody shoved him away instantly. “Kash, leave!” he shouted.
Kash stumbled back a step, staring at him. His jaw tightened, the control he’d been clinging to finally slipping. “You think Anna’s gonna be okay when she finds out about you and Mano?”
Ody froze, his gaze locked on him. “What did you say…?”
“Something happened between you two in Serifos. I know it,” he said. “Did he see the message I sent you? Is that why you reacted like that?”
“Did you just threaten me?” Ody’s voice rose. “I kept your secret after everything you put me through, and now you’reblackmailing me?” He stared at him, anger burning in his eyes. “Threatening to tell Anna?”
Their gazes remained locked. For a brief moment, something uncertain flickered in Kash’s expression. Then he turned away and slammed his fist against the door. He yanked it open and stormed out. It slammed shut behind him.
Silence filled the apartment. What if he told Anna everything? Ody dragged a hand through his hair. No. He couldn’t let that happen. Not like that.I have to stop him. But what am I supposed to say? If I ask him not to tell Anna… it’ll be like admitting something did happen between me and Mano. And then it’ll be even worse.
The next morning, Ody was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when his phone buzzed on the counter. He wiped his hands and picked it up.
Mano: Can you come over?
Ody frowned, a knot tightening in his stomach.What happened?He texted back.
Nothing. Just come
Ody stared at the screen.Are you okay?
I’m fine just come
I’m on my way
He left his breakfast half-finished and grabbed his keys. His mind went straight to Kash. What if he had gone to Mano?
