Page 183 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Ody didn’t move. Not until the door shut. The moment he walked into his house, his body gave out. He dropped onto the couch, and his phone buzzed.

Chris: Where have you been man? Steve told me what happened. I kept pushing him to talk… Haven’t seen you in forever. You good?

Ody frowned. A weight settled in his chest. What did he tell you?

Chris: That you and Anna broke up. You alright? Want me to come over?

Ody stared at the screen, thumb hovering. Relief flickered through him. Steve hadn’t said anything. But he was done hiding.

Odysseus: Yeah come over

Half an hour later, the doorbell rang and Ody opened the door.

“Man…” Chris looked at him, brows pulling together. “You okay?”

“I’ve been better,” Ody muttered, already turning away.

Chris closed the door behind him and followed. He sat on the couch, leaning forward as he studied him. “I didn’t get many details,” he said carefully. “Steve said you’d tell me when you’re ready.”

Ody kept staring ahead.

“Why’d you break up? You guys were good… what happened? Did you fight?”

He didn’t respond.

“Is it official? I mean… I’m sure you’ll work it out. You always do. You’ve been together for—”

“I’ve been dating Mano for the past two months.”

Chris blinked. Then a small laugh slipped out. “Okay… yeah, not the time for jokes, but I’ll take it. Come on, what actually happened?”

Ody didn’t move. He just stared at him.

Chris’s smile faded. His expression dropped completely, his blue eyes fixed on him. “You’re not joking… Are you?”

Ody held his gaze.

Chris leaned back, like he needed space just to think. It all hit at once. University. Mano stepping in during the Kash mess. Mykonos. The girls, the double bed, the conversations.

“Oh shit…” he whispered, turning to him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Ody didn’t answer.

“You like guys? Since when? You were with Anna for two years, I—wait, I don’t get it.” He ran a hand through his blond hair. “Wasn’t Mano with Ranya? And like… half the female population? So what, he was pretending?”

“He’s not into men.”

Chris froze. “…What?”

“He likes women.”

Chris just stared at him. “But you just said… you’re together. So how does that even—”

“If we need a label,” Ody cut in, exhaling, “then I’m bi.”

Chris blinked fast, trying to keep up. “O-okay… but Mano—”

“He just…” Ody hesitated, then shook his head. “He just felt something for me. That’s it. He’s not into guys.”