Page 168 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“For what?”

“For believing in me.” The words landed heavy.

Ody’s expression softened. “Of course I do.” He reached up, cupping his face. “You’re the best.”

Mano dropped his gaze, a shy smile pulling at his lips. “Stop…”

“I love it when you get shy.” Ody leaned in, their lips meeting.

Mano’s arms wrapped around him, holding him there. When they pulled back, they didn’t move far.

“Want to go out?” Ody asked, glancing toward the balcony. “Get some air.”

Mano nodded. “Yeah.”

They were about to leave when Ody’s phone rang. He checked the screen, then looked up at Mano. “It’s Steve.” He answered. “Hey.”

“What happened? Are you okay?”

Ody’s lips curved. “Yeah. We’re good.” He glanced at Mano. “We got back together.”

“…You’re kidding. That was fast.”

Ody chuckled. “I’ll call you later, okay? We’re heading out.” He ended the call before Steve could say anything else. He pulled the phone away from his ear, looking at Mano. “I think his brain just stopped working.”

They got into the car, Ody taking the driver’s seat, and drove along the coast toward the port. They walked side by side past the small boats, the streetlights casting soft light along the path. A light summer breeze brushed against their faces. They sat on a secluded bench, only a couple of distant silhouettes further down.

“I still can’t believe Anna knows everything,” Ody said, staring out at the sea. “After all this time… we broke up. It doesn’t feel real.” He fell silent for a moment. “I hurt her so much. She said she hates me… That she doesn’t know who I am anymore. That I’d never do something like this. And she’s right. I don’t recognize myself either. If I had fallen for someone else, I should’ve just… told her. But instead I kept lying. For months.”

The silence lingered.

“Knowing all that… knowing I treated her like shit…” He swallowed. “Why do I feel so good right now?” He looked up at Mano. “Why do I feel… free?” His hand lifted, resting at the back of Mano’s neck. “I feel good with you. But at the same time… I feel guilty for it. I know I’m supposed to feel awful. And I do, about what I did to her. But right now… Being with you… it just feels right. Is that wrong?”

Mano looked ahead. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I don’t know what you’re supposed to feel. I’ve never been in something like that.”

The quiet stretched between them.

“Were you… jealous? When I was with her?” Ody asked.

Mano exhaled, not answering, his eyes fixed ahead.

Ody’s lips curved. “I think you were. You just don’t show it like I do.”

“I don’t get jealous,” Mano said.

Ody let out a small huff. “That’s a lie. You know it.”

“No, it’s not.”

“So you weren’t jealous when you saw that message from Kash in Serifos?” Ody pressed.

Mano’s jaw clenched.

“Asking if I fucked him.” A smirk tugged at Ody’s lips. “If he fucked me.”

Mano’s eyes darkened. His breathing turned heavy as he stared at him, barely holding himself back from grabbing his throat and shutting him up.

“Ody?”