Page 159 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Ody opened his eyes and reached for his phone.

A message from Anna waited on the screen. Are you okay? Steve told me you fought with Mano… I want to see you

He stared at it and wished he could just disappear, stop existing long enough for everything to go away.

Odysseus: We need to talk. Just not today. I’m not doing well

Anna showed the message to Nicky.

Nicky read it, her brows lifting. “So you’re finally going to ask him?”

Anna didn’t answer right away. Her eyes stayed on the screen. “Yeah,” she said after a moment. “But first I need to know if Mano told him anything.”

Nicky shifted in her seat. “And when are you meeting him?”

“Now.”

“He said he’s not okay.”

“I don’t care,” she snapped. “I need to know.”

Ody stepped into the living room.

Steve looked at him. “You feeling better?”

Ody gave a small nod. Steve held his gaze, then got to his feet. A few minutes later, he was gone.

He had just pulled on clean clothes when the doorbell rang. He frowned and moved toward the door. He leaned in, glancing through the peephole.

His eyes widened. He stayed there, hand hovering near the handle. Then he stepped back, running a hand over his face.

The bell rang again.

He let out a breath, stepped forward, and opened the door.

Anna walked in. “We need to talk.”

Ody didn’t turn. He closed the door, his gaze fixed ahead.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

“Something’s wrong,” she said, her eyes fixed on his back. “You’ve been distant. Cold.”

Ody stayed where he was, shoulders tense.

“I ignored it. Because I love you.”

His hand flexed at his side.

“I thought… maybe she didn’t matter.”

Ody let out a quiet breath, but didn’t turn.

“Did Mano talk to you?”

He frowned and turned to face her. “About what?”

“About what we said outside the gym.”