Ody blinked fast, panic spiking through him.
“What the hell did you just do?” He grabbed Ody’s shirt and yanked him forward, their faces inches apart.
Ody’s breath came unsteady. His gaze dropped to Mano’s lips again. He couldn’t stop it.
Mano saw it and shoved him back harder, standing up so fast the couch shifted under him. “Get out,” he said, his voice trembling. His eyes stayed wide, disbelief written across his face.
“I’m sorry,” Ody whispered, touching his own lips like he couldn’t believe what he’d done.
“Get out. Now.”
Ody pushed himself up on unsteady legs. He walked toward the door without looking back. His hand froze on the handle for a single second. “I’m so sorry,” he said, then left.
Mano stood frozen for a long moment before he dropped onto the couch, staring at nothing.
Ody stumbled out of the elevator, dazed. He reached his car and dropped into the driver’s seat. His hands trembled as he buried his face against the steering wheel.
Mano replayed it all in a loop. Every second leading up to that kiss.
Ody fastened his seat belt with shaking hands and rubbed his face.God, what have I done?
He got home and fell onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling. During that kiss, he’d felt completely disconnected from his own body. Like it had acted without him.
Neither of them slept. Both lay in their beds, wide awake.
For Mano, the kiss made no sense.
For Ody, the kiss made him feel insane.
Yes, Mano’s words had made him feel seen for the first time in his life. But what did that have to do with leaning forward? Touching his lips? What the hell had he been thinking? He cursed himself, turning over in frustration.
Mano stared at the dark ceiling, furious at himself for even remembering the way it felt. Ody had been saying it for days. That he was his friend.
Friends don’t kiss each other.
Hours passed. Both replayed the moment, each time worse than the last, each detail sharper and heavier.
Mano rolled onto his side, eyes squeezed shut, trying to block the memory out. But he kept hearing Ody’s voice. The things he had said. Ody’s lips against his. He exhaled through clenched teeth and flipped onto his other side.
Ody lay with his eyes closed, tortured by the same memories. The softness in Mano’s voice. The warmth in his eyes. The gentleness he hadn’t expected.
Then the kiss.
And the look on Mano’s face after.
Ody’s eyes flew open as the thought hit him like a punch.What if he never wants to see me again?
Chapter 23
The alarm clock blared. Ody’s eyes opened slowly at 10 a.m. He felt drained, his body heavy from the few hours of sleep he’d managed. His mind went straight to Mano, replaying everything. He pushed himself out of bed anyway.
After a quick breakfast, he opened his textbook and tried to read. “Inflammation and anti-inflammatory drugs, various non-pharmaceutical vasoactive substances, and antihypertensive medications impact arterial properties—”
“I understand why you put up with it. So don’t let me hear you call yourself a coward again.”Mano’s words surged through his mind.
He shook his head and tried to refocus. “...Impact arterial properties of both micro and macro circulation and the nervous system, resulting in—”
“You let them bully you because you knew that if you resisted, they’d come after me. You’re not a coward. Maybe just a little dumb.”
