Page 108 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“Mykonos?”

“Yeah. Chris’s sister had tickets with her boyfriend, but they’re not going anymore, so we took them.”

“Who’s going?”

“Steve, Chris, Pierce, Elias and Mano.”

“Oh.” Her fingers curled around her glass. “Okay.”

Say it. Just say it. She knows something’s off, there’s no way she doesn’t. But what if she freaks out, tells everyone, starts yelling right here… No. Not here. Not like this. Somewhere quieter. Somewhere I can do this without hurting her more than I have to.

“What’s that?” Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

He followed her gaze and realized she was staring at his wrist.

“Did you get a tattoo?”

His eyes flicked down. “Oh… yeah.” He shrugged. “There was a tattoo shop in Volos. The owner was covered in them. I just… felt like it.”

Anna let out a quiet laugh, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Okay.”

Ody lowered his gaze to his glass, taking a sip.

“Do you want me to come over tonight?” she asked.

“Uh… John had a fight with his girlfriend. I told him he could stay the night.”

“Oh… okay.” She glanced down at the table.

They finished their drinks in silence, neither of them making an effort to stay.

Anna set her glass down first. “I have to wake up early tomorrow. I should get going.”

Ody nodded and stood with her, grabbing his keys.

The drive was quiet. He didn’t reach for her hand, didn’t even look her way. When he pulled up outside her place, she didn’t move right away.

“Thanks,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips as she reached for the door. “Good night.” She stepped out without a kiss.

The door shut behind her. Ody’s hands stayed on the wheel, fingers tightening as a breath left him, slow and heavy. Then he started the engine.

The following day, Ody and Mano met the others at the basketball court. They sorted out the rooms for Mykonos, splitting into pairs. Elias with Pierce, Chris with Steve and Ody with Mano.

After the game, they went back to Mano’s place, showered, then dropped onto the couch.

“So… uh…” Ody shifted. “I met Anna yesterday.”

Mano’s eyes lifted from his phone.

“I was distant. We didn’t even kiss. But she didn’t ask anything.” He frowned. “After what happened at her place, I thought she’d at least… say something.”

“You think she knows?” Mano asked.

“How?” Ody let out a breath. “And if she did… she wouldn’t just act like everything’s fine.”

“I’ve never been in something like that,” Mano said. “I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not good with emotions.”

Ody looked at him, then turned his attention back ahead.