“Then let’s take the bike. We’ll get stuck in traffic for nothing.” He started to step out.
“There’s no traffic today. I got here fast,” Ody said quickly, trying to stop him.
Mano raised an eyebrow. “You love that car more than your own sanity, huh? Leave it here. I’ll bring you back to get it later.” He closed the door before Ody could argue.
He swung a leg over his motorcycle. Ody hesitated at first, then locked the car and walked over.
“Here.” Mano handed him the spare helmet. “Hop on.” He put on his own helmet and grabbed the handlebars while Ody stood still for a moment, the helmet in his hands.
“What’s up?” Mano lifted his visor and met his eyes.
“Nothing.” Ody climbed on.
“Hold on.”
“Just... don’t go too fast.”
“We’re in the city. How fast do you think I can go? I said, hold on.” He took Ody’s hands and wrapped them around his waist, pulling him closer. Through the thin fabric of the tank top, Ody felt the firm lines of his abs. Mano kicked up the stand, started the engine, revved it, and took off, making Ody tighten his hold.
During the ride, Ody noticed the way Mano’s arms flexed as he steered.
“Gym’s paying off, huh?” he shouted over the wind.
Mano smirked.
Ody’s gaze drifted, catching on the tattoo curling over his right shoulder. He’d only ever seen glimpses of it before, half-hidden under T-shirts, but now more of it came into view, dark wings sweeping down his arm, the rest slipping out of sight beneath the tank top.
He tightened his hold slightly, eyes tracing the lines, following them higher, trying to picture where they began. They didn’tlook decorative. They looked like they meant something. Like they belonged to a version of Mano he didn’t know yet.
“Got a place in mind?” Mano called back, raising his voice.
“Huh?”
“For coffee.”
“Your call.”
Mano kept riding until they reached a street lined with shops and cafés.
“Hop off,” he said. Ody did, while Mano shut off the engine, lowered the stand, and took off his helmet.
Ody struggled with his own clasp, fumbling.
“Not again,” Mano muttered and leaned in to unbuckle it for him, his fingers brushing under Ody’s chin.
“I’ll get the hang of it someday...” Ody huffed a quiet laugh, and they walked side by side down the sidewalk. “Where are we going?” he asked.
“Not sure. There are plenty of cafés. You pick.”
“I don’t mind. Wherever you want.”
Mano walked ahead and stepped into a café with outdoor seating. Only four tables were free. He chose one and sat.
Ody slid into the seat across from him, his gaze flicking to a nearby table, catching two girls whispering and stealing glances their way, one of them lingering on Mano’s arms.
Mano didn’t seem to notice. “So, what did you want to tell me?” he asked, pulling Ody’s attention back to him.
“Right. I talked to the group, and we said we’d book the tickets by the end of the week.”
