Page 43 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“Have fun with her,” Ody said, stepping away.

“You too,” Mano shot back, eyes following him.

Ody opened the door and walked out, slamming it behind him. Mano flinched, his body going tense for a split second.

He pushed himself up and went to the bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror. The red mark on his neck was impossible to miss. “Fuck.”

A few hours later, the doorbell rang. He opened the door to find Ranya standing there, her bright smile already in place, long black hair falling loosely over her chest.

He stepped aside to let her in, offered her a drink, and they settled next to each other on the couch. She asked about the past few days, what he’d been up to since Serifos. She told him she’d spent a few days at the beach with Maria before heading back to Athens.

“You said you were taking more time off in August, right?” he asked, taking a sip.

“Yeah! You remembered?” she said, pleasantly surprised.

“I did. I just don’t remember where it was.”

“Crete.”

He nodded, taking another sip. Silence settled between them, lingering a little too long. But then her hand came up to his face, turning him toward her as her lips met his. She reached for the hood of his hoodie, trying to push it aside to get to his skin, and then she stilled.

Mano knew instantly why.

She let out a small, awkward laugh, pulling back. “That was fast.”

Mano said nothing.

“It shouldn’t bother me, but…” she murmured, then shook her head. “Sorry. That’s on me. We’re not together. You can do whatever you want.”

He turned his head, meeting her blue eyes. “Ranya… I know that—”

“No, please,” she cut him off. “We’ll just pretend I didn’t see it, okay?”

He didn’t answer, just kept looking at her.

She dropped her gaze. “Is it something serious?” she asked, brushing her forehead. “No. Sorry. Ignore me. I don’t even know what’s wrong with me.”

Mano hesitated, watching her. He knew she had feelings for him. But he didn’t know what to do with that. And then Ody crossed his mind. With Anna. Looking at her. Touching her. Kissing her. Something tightened in his chest. Sharp. Unfamiliar.

“Mano—”

He didn’t let her finish. He caught her mouth before she could say another word.

Fuck. He wanted him. Wanted to feel him again. His touch, his mouth, his voice low against his ear. Just the thought of it was enough to make him hard.

It didn’t take long before she was on her knees in front of him. He leaned back against the couch, his eyes slipping shut. But he wasn’t seeing her. He was seeing Ody. That day, lying beneath him, looking up at him with those green eyes.

Time blurred, and when it was over, they were both breathless on the couch.

“I’m gonna get dressed,” Ranya said.

“You can stay here if you want,” he said, scrolling through his phone.

She paused near the bathroom door. “Here?” she asked, surprised. When he didn’t respond, she added, “Are you sure?”

“Do whatever you want. It’s late,” he replied, his eyes still on the screen.

I want to stay with him so badly. But if I do, I’ll fall for him even harder. And then I’ll get my heart broken… again.