Page 182 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

She looked up at him, a little too easily drawn in.

Tears gathered in her eyes. The heartbreak she could handle. That, she knew. But this… This was what was tearing her apart.

“I’m going to Katerina now. Why don’t you give it back to him yourself?”

“Me?” His eyes widened.

“Yes, baby. I have to go, bye.”

A sob broke out of her. She bent forward, her hands covering her face. “Stupid…” The word barely came out.

If she hadn’t told him to return the cross… If she hadn’t searched for Mano’s socials… None of this would’ve happened. He would’ve still been hers.

“Stupid…” Her voice came out sharper this time. She hit the side of her head with her palm. “You’re fucking stupid!” And again.

Her breathing turned ragged. She folded in on herself, the sobs taking over.

The sound of a key turning in the lock snapped her upright. She rushed to her room as the front door opened.

“Anna?” her mother’s voice called.

She slammed the door behind her and locked it. She threw herself face-first onto the bed, her shoulders shaking. Her mind kept looping the same thought.

It’s my fault.

Mano and Ody got into the car, silence settling between them. Mano glanced at him, but Ody was staring straight ahead, distant.

“She’s right.”

Ody blinked, like he’d forgotten he wasn’t alone. “About what?”

Mano clenched his jaw, eyes drifting to the window. “She opened up to me… asked if I knew why you pulled away from her.” He let out a quiet breath, shaking his head. “And I just stood there. Listening.”

“Don’t do that,” Ody said. “Don’t blame yourself. It’s not on you. Or her.” His voice dropped. “I should’ve been honest from the start.”

Mano looked at him, then briefly shut his eyes.

Silence settled again. Ody’s grip tightened around the wheel.

Mano kept his eyes on the window. “Do you regret it?” he asked.

Ody turned to him. His lips parted, but nothing came out. Anna’s face flashed in his mind. The things she said. The way she looked at him. The way she broke.

Yeah. He did. He wished he could go back. Start over. Tell her the truth before it all fell apart. Before she looked at him like she hated him. But if he changed that… Would he still have Mano?

His gaze dropped.

“Can you take me home?” Mano said. “I want to sleep in my bed tonight.”

Ody’s breath caught. He didn’t want to be away from him. Not now. Not like this. But right now… he needed space. Time to think. To sit with everything he’d done. “Yeah,” he muttered, turning the key.

The drive passed in silence. Ody pulled over outside Mano’s building, hazard lights blinking in the dark.

“Thanks. Good night,” Mano said, grabbing the bag with the gifts.

Ody looked at him, hesitation in his eyes. “Good night.”

Mano stepped out.