Page 230 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“Do what?” Mano asked. “What am I doing?”

Ody’s eyes squeezed shut. “I want you to stay.” He forced himself to look at him again. “I don’t want you to leave. I can’t imagine my life without you. I want you here. With me.”

The shock on Mano’s face only made him push on. “I told you before… about us living together—”

“Honestly…” Mano let out a breath, shaking his head. “You’ve completely confused me. One moment you’re telling me to leave, that we’ll make long-distance work… and now you want us to live together? What the hell is going on? Have your friends been getting in your head?”

“No. This is—” Ody stopped himself, frustrated. “These are my thoughts.”

“They don’t make sense. You can’t want both.”

Ody dropped his gaze, his chest tightening. I want you to leave and follow your dream… but I can’t lose you…

Neither of them spoke.

The silence stretched between them, heavy, unresolved.

“You can sleep here tonight if you want,” Ody said.

Mano looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

That night, they slept in the same bed. The following morning, Mano went back to his place to grab a few things, then returned. And the day after that, he did the same. By the end of the week, he hadn’t officially moved in, but he was there every night, his clothes in Ody’s closet, his presence settling into the space.

The deadline was approaching. Mano had to give Dominic an answer tomorrow. Neither of them had forgotten, but they didn’t talk about it. They hadn’t decided, so they pushed it aside, pretending it wasn’t weighing on them.

They went out shopping, and Ody spotted a black leather jacket. He held it up with a small grin, already telling him it would look good on him. They entered the store, and Mano went to try it on while Ody stared wide-eyed at the price tags.

Back at the apartment, Ody asked him to put it on again. His eyes moved over him, taking in the way it fit, while Mano glanced at himself in the mirror.

Ody stepped closer, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. Their faces drew near, Mano’s gaze dropping to his lips. They didn’t need to say anything. Their lips met, slow at first, then deeper, familiar. Ody’s hands slid to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Mano held him firmly at the waist.

When they pulled back, it wasn’t for long. They moved to the bedroom without a word. Clothes came off almost impatiently, like neither of them wanted to think. Ody’s hands weren’t careful. He needed to feel him, to make sure he was still there. He stayed close, watching him like he didn’t want to miss anything. Taking him in. Trying to memorize him. “I love you.”

Mano’s gaze flicked between his eyes, something shifting in his expression.

It looked like he might say it back.

But he didn’t.

Ody’s chest tightened. Why doesn’t he say it back? At first, it made sense. I was still with Anna. But now…? Why won’t he say it? Why can’t he say it?

He fell asleep beside him, still close.

Mano lay there for a while, eyes open. Then he slipped out to the living room and pulled up a music event on his phone, earbuds in. The video cut off when his phone vibrated. Seeing his brother’s name, he closed his eyes and sighed.

“What do you want?” he asked when he answered, careful not to wake Ody.

“I called to see if you’ve thought about Dominic’s offer.”

“And now you care?”

“I care about you. When are you going to understand that?”

“I’m not going. Can you leave me alone now?” he snapped, exhaling.

“Why?” Nick asked. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“So? Do you have any idea what I actually want?”