“You said you like me. So what exactly do you like?” Mano pressed, tilting his head like he could see straight through him.
Heat crawled up Ody’s neck. “I… D-don’t ask me that,” he whispered, staring at the floor.
“What’s wrong? Did you go back to the old Ody?” Mano pushed himself upright, leaning in. “Where did your confidence go?”
Ody’s shoulders tightened, his back still turned to him.
“I’m asking you,” Mano said, reaching out. His hand closed around Ody’s shoulder, gently turning him toward him. “What do you like about me?”
“S-stop…” Ody muttered, still refusing to look at him.
Mano studied his face carefully. “Is it because I’m good-looking, like you said before?”
He lingered on the tiny beauty mark above Ody’s lip, the pink flush spreading across his cheeks, the way his lashes lowered like he couldn’t handle being seen.
“Look at me,” Mano said, sliding a hand up to tilt his face.
Ody’s chest rose and fell too fast, his breath catching, his body reacting before he could think.Don’t touch me like that. Not when I want you this much.
“Answer me.”
Don’t look at me like that…
“Answer me, Ody,” Mano insisted, firmer now, watching him closely.
Ody finally lifted his gaze. Their faces were so close he could feel the warmth coming off Mano’s skin. His eyes dropped to Mano’s lips without meaning to. The pull was sharp, almost painful.
Slowly, Ody leaned in. He couldn’t help it. The fear, the guilt, every line he had crossed today dissolved until the only thing left was the shape of Mano’s mouth.
Mano didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. He just watched him, letting him bridge the distance, letting him choose.
Their breaths mingled. Ody leaned closer. And closer. His heart pounded like it was trying to tear out of his chest.
One more second and—The door burst open.
Ody jolted back like he’d been electrocuted, stumbling to his feet.
“Ugh, I forgot my eyeliner!” Anna walked in, then stopped shortwhen she saw Mano sitting on the bed. “Mano?”
Ody felt his stomach drop. His face drained of color. Shame punched the air out of him so hard he couldn’t think.
Mano’s gaze went straight to Anna. His expression was dangerously unreadable.
Anna’s eyes darted between them. “What are you doing here?”
The silence that followed made Ody feel like the room was collapsing around him.
Chapter 37
Anna’s question hit the air like a slap. Ody answered too quickly, desperate to make the moment sound innocent, even though nothing about it was. “He just came to get me for the pool.”
“The pool?” she repeated, still confused.
“Yeah. Steve and Antony are already there while you girls get ready.”
“Oh. Okay, so we have time. I’ll grab what I forgot and head over.” She walked straight into the bathroom, accepting his explanation without a second thought.
Mano looked at Ody with an unreadable expression, then exhaled and turned away, jaw tight.
