Page 188 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“What?” Mano muttered, still not looking at him.

“I want us to go out with Steve and Chris.”

Mano stilled.

“Now that they know, we don’t have to hide,” Ody went on. “They’re my best friends. And… I want you to make peace with Steve.”

Mano rolled his eyes, exhaling as he looked away.

“Please,” Ody added, softer this time. “I asked you back in Mykonos too. Just… try.”

Mano’s jaw tightened, but one look at Ody was enough to break whatever resistance he had left. “Only because he’s your best friend,” he said, firm. “I wouldn’t agree otherwise.”

Ody’s face lit up. He pushed himself up, then dropped back down on him, pressing quick kisses all over his face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Their eyes met, the moment softening. Mano leaned in and kissed him.

“Ready for round two?” Ody murmured, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

“Only if I’m the one fucking you this time,” Mano said, raising an eyebrow.

Ody let out a quiet laugh against his skin, his lips already trailing along his neck. “Yeah… that’s not happening, big guy.”

Chris lounged on Steve’s couch with a coffee in hand. “Who was that?”

“Ody. He says we should all go out tomorrow,” Steve said, setting his phone aside.

“Oh, nice. We haven’t done that in a while.”

“With Mano,” Steve added, his tone sharpening.

Chris turned to him, suddenly serious. “What the hell is your problem with him, man?”

“He pisses me off. You know that,” Steve muttered, starting to sit.

“Yeah, because you’re basically the same person,” Chris said, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Same? With him?” Steve snapped, straightening. “Are you serious?”

Chris just looked at him. “Right now? Yeah.”

“Fuck off,” Steve shot back, finally sitting down.

“It just keeps getting better,” Chris said, barely holding back a laugh.

Steve grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.

Chris caught it, laughing. “Come on, man. Make an effort. He’s our best friend’s—” He froze. “Oh, shit.”

Steve frowned. “What?”

He sat up straight. “Our best friend has a boyfriend.”

Steve blinked.

Chris pointed at him like he’d just cracked something. “Ody has a boyfriend. And that boyfriend is Mano.”

Steve narrowed his eyes at him.