Page 134 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Mano stepped in front of him. “Leave. You’re making it obvious.”

“I’ll do whatever I want,” Ody said. “Don’t go with her.”

“Go where?” Mano snapped, louder than he meant to.

Ody hesitated. “If she asks you to leave with her…” The edge in his voice slipped. “Don’t go.”

Mano held his gaze, steady, trying not to draw attention.

“Don’t go with her,” Ody said again, louder now, his chest rising and falling too fast. “Do you hear me?”

“Man, these girls are hilarious,” Elias cut in, breaking the tension. “Girls, girls! This is my friend, Odysseas. Say it with me. O-thee-SEH-as.”

The redhead laughed, slapping his arm. “Don’t make fun of us!”

“Hey…” Elisa’s hand brushed Mano’s arm. She nodded toward the exit, motioning for him to follow.

Ody’s eyes widened as he grabbed Mano’s arm.

Mano’s gaze flicked to Steve, already turning their way. He pulled free before he could notice and followed Elisa.

Ody stood there, breath uneven as they vanished into the crowd. He didn’t move. He watched Mano follow her, her hand still on him. They disappeared between bodies. Ody’s hands curled into fists.

Then he snapped. He pushed through people, barely noticing who he shoved aside as he went after them. He scanned the street, pulse hammering in his ears. Past the lights. Past the trees.

And then he saw them. Elisa pushed Mano back onto the bench, straddling him.

“Get her the fuck off you now, or I’ll do it.”

Both their heads snapped toward him.

“Get her hands off you, Mano,” he said, stepping closer.

Mano shifted her off his lap, guiding her to sit beside him. “What do you think your friends will say when they realize we’re both gone?” he said, his gaze sharp.

“I don’t fucking care.” Ody’s voice dropped. “No one flirts with you. No one touches you. You hear me?”

“Guys?” Elisa cut in, glancing between them.

Mano exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair before looking at her. “We need to go back.”

“Why?” she asked.

Mano stood. She let out a frustrated breath and walked ahead of them. He stepped toward Ody and stopped him with a hand to his chest. “Give it a few minutes,” he said. “Don’t make it obvious.”

Ody’s jaw clenched as Mano moved past him, following Elisa, who pushed through the crowd without waiting. He stayed where he was, watching them go.

“Where’s Ody?” Steve asked, glancing past them.

Mano barely spared him a look. “He’s not here?”

“I saw him leave.”

“No idea.” He shrugged, heading straight for the bar.

The guys stayed with the girls, the music loud around them, laughter blending into the noise.

Mano didn’t join them. He stayed at the bar, drink in hand. A while later, his eyes landed on Ody slipping back into the group, leaning close to Steve as they talked over the music. He finished his drink in one go, set the glass down, and pushed himself off the bar.