Page 173 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Ody smirked. “Yours or mine?”

Mano glanced around before smacking him with his towel.

“Yours,” Ody added, grinning. “You’ve got a bigger shower.”

Mano shot him a look and Ody didn’t even try to hide his smile.

They got into the car and drove to Mano’s place. As soon as they stepped inside, Mano went straight to the fridge, grabbed a protein shake, and drank most of it in one go.

“What are we eating? I’m kinda hungry,” Ody asked.

“I’ll make eggs later. What do you want?”

“Same,” he said with a small smile, heading to the bathroom. He stripped and stepped into the shower, turning the water on.

Mano followed, pulling off his clothes and stepping in behind him.

“Hi,” Ody said, grinning, his gaze moving slowly over him. “Even though you wrecked me today… I liked it. We doing this again?”

“Are you signing up?”

“That’s the plan.”

The water warmed, and Ody shifted the stream toward him. Mano ran a hand over his torso, while Ody, still holding the showerhead, shamelessly looked him over. “God… the things one-forty kilos can do,” he murmured.

Mano huffed a quiet laugh. “You’re not bad either.”

Ody blinked. “Did you just compliment me?”

Mano shrugged. “You can’t have everything in life. I’ve got the body, the face, great hair, great style, the voice, the tattoos.” He tilted his head. “You’ve got the height. What is it, five centimeters? We all make sacrifices.”

Ody’s jaw dropped as he punched his arm. “Oh, really?”

They both laughed.

“So that’s it?” Ody said, still smiling. “That’s the only good thing about me?”

“Yeah,” Mano said, taking the showerhead from him.

But Ody’s smile faded. “I know you’re out of my league,” he said, his gaze dropping. “Sometimes I don’t even know if I deserve you.”

Mano stilled.

“You know how I felt when I saw you with Andreas?” Ody went on, staring at the tiles. “I thought… that’s what someone like you should have. Not me. I looked like a kid next to him.”

The water shut off. Mano set the showerhead back in place, then reached up, holding Ody’s face between his hands. “How stupid are you, huh?” he murmured.

Their eyes locked.

Mano exhaled, his voice quieter now. “You’re tall, yeah…” His gaze flicked between his eyes. “And your hair… it’s practically gold in the light.”

Ody’s breath caught.

“And your eyes…” Mano went on, softer. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like them.”

Ody didn’t move. His heart raced.

“You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.” His thumb brushed against Ody’s cheek. “With the prettiest smile… and the most beautiful soul… Don’t you ever compare yourself to anyone. No one compares to you.”