Page 196 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Mano dropped his gaze.

“I’m asking you,” Ody pressed. “What didn’t you do that you think you should’ve? Grab a gun and start shooting?”

Mano’s expression faltered, the tension cracking.

“Were you supposed to save them?” Ody went on, quieter now but just as intense. “Stand in front of them? What exactly didn’t you do that makes this your fault?”

“I’m the one who took Mom to the bank that day!” Mano broke. “I’m the one who insisted we go see Dad… I…” His voice gave out, his eyes filling.

Ody’s chest tightened.

“Mom had the day off,” Mano continued. “She wouldn’t have gone if I hadn’t asked. And Dad…” He swallowed. “He hit the alarm because they were hurting her. He was trying to protect us.” He turned away, a tear slipping down his cheek.

Ody pulled him in without a word, one hand sliding into his hair, the other steady against his back.

“There’s no point living in what-ifs,” he murmured. “Because if they’d picked another bank… if they hadn’t brought guns… if one thing had gone differently… They’d still be here.” His voice steadied. “They killed them. That’s the truth. They’re the ones to blame. Not your parents. Not you.”

Mano’s breathing slowly evened out against him. When the tension finally left his body, Ody leaned back into the couch, keeping him close. Mano curled into his chest, holding on.

Ody kept his hand in his hair, gently running his fingers through it until he finally drifted off.

When Mano stirred and opened his eyes, he found Ody watching TV. He stretched, then settled back against him, resting his head on his chest.

“You just can’t get enough cuddles, huh?” Ody said, wrapping his arms around him.

“Play with my hair,” Mano murmured.

Ody’s fingers slid into his hair, moving slowly.

“Ody…” he said, his cheek pressed against his chest.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Are you in love with me?”

Ody let out a small laugh. “What kind of question is that? Don’t you know?”

“A question that needs an answer,” Mano insisted.

“Yeah,” Ody said, gentler now. “I am. Very much.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you in love?”

Ody went quiet, his hand stilling against his hair. “Because you’re perfect.”

Mano ducked his head, a soft laugh slipping out. “And how do you know you are?”

Ody’s gaze drifted upward like he was searching for the words. “I know because when I look at you, and you look back at me…” He paused. “When I touch you… when I hear you laugh… Everything feels better.”

He drew in a quiet breath. “When I see tears in your eyes, it hurts me. When I don’t see you for a few hours, I miss you. When I wake up, you’re my first thought. And before I fall asleep… you’re my last. When I imagine you with someone else, it’s painful. And when I have you in my arms… I forget everything.”

Mano’s cheeks warmed, his heart pounding. “So… that’s what it means to be in love?”

“More or less,” Ody said with a laugh.