Page 220 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Elias and Pierce froze.

Mano stopped too, staring at him, eyes widening.

“What did he just say?” Pierce muttered.

Ody turned back, raising his voice. “Mano and I are together. Chris and Steve will fill you in. Bye. Drive safe.” Then he grabbed Mano’s arm. “Come on, baby.” He was barely holding it together.

Behind them, Elias and Pierce just stared at each other.

“Why would you say it like that?” Mano asked as they reached the car.

“I’m not ashamed of us,” Ody said. “And I don’t want to hide it anymore. Not from my friends.”

Mano let out a breath. “Yeah, it’s just… a lot of people already know. Kash, his boyfriend, Stella. Anna. Probably half her circle. And now yours too.”

Ody’s expression shifted. “Are you ashamed of me?”

“No. You know I’m not.” Mano didn’t hesitate. “But we’re standing here because some homophobic assholes stabbed you.”

“And what? You think my friends will do the same?” Ody huffed out a short laugh.

“It’s not about your friends, Ody,” Mano said, his voice dropping. “It’s the fucked up society we live in. I don’t want us to become a target.”

Ody saw it. The fear. Not for himself. For Ody. After a moment, he nodded. “Okay. I won’t tell anyone else.”

They got into the car, Mano behind the wheel. He made a quick stop at his place before heading to Ody’s. By the time they reached the apartment, exhaustion had settled into both of them. Ody dropped onto the couch, then groaned and pushed himself back up. “Right. I’m still in Steve’s clothes.”

Mano gave a quiet huff of amusement. “Sit. I’ll get you something.” He disappeared into the bedroom and came back with gray sweatpants and a T-shirt. As he helped Ody undress, his hands slowed at the sight of the fresh stitches. He went more carefully after that, dressing him with quiet focus, making sure nothing pulled or pressed the wrong way. “Do you need anything?” he asked.

“Some water.”

Mano was already heading to the kitchen. Ody watched him go, a soft smile forming. He hadn’t seen this side of Mano before. And he liked it. A lot.

Mano came back and settled beside him on the couch. “If you need anything, tell me. Don’t just sit through it.”

Ody grinned. “Are you nervous?”

Mano sighed softly. “I’ve never taken care of someone before. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Ody’s expression softened. He reached up, brushing his fingers along Mano’s cheek. “You’re doing great,” he said, his voice gentler now. “Actually… there’s one more thing I want.”

Mano didn’t wait for him to say it. He leaned back, opening his arms. Ody’s face lit up, a wide smile breaking through as he shifted carefully into him, resting his head near his shoulder, keeping the injury lifted.

After a moment, he tipped his head up. “And one more thing.”

Mano glanced down at him. “What?”

“A kiss.”

Mano smiled, sliding a hand behind his head to support him, then leaned in, their lips meeting in a quiet kiss. They fell asleep like that. Or tried to. Ody kept waking from the pain, shifting, unable to get comfortable. Each time, Mano stirred with him, half-awake, asking if he needed anything, adjusting him, staying close. Eventually, the couch wasn’t enough. They moved to the bedroom.

That’s where morning found them. Mano helped him get up and made breakfast. His phone started ringing. He glanced at the screen, his eyes narrowing at the British number.

“You’re not gonna answer it?” Ody asked, noticing he didn’t move.

“I don’t answer unknown numbers,” Mano said, continuing to eat, though his thoughts drifted back to the man from the record label.

“I wanna take a shower after I eat. Can you help me get undressed?”