Once in a Lifetime: Part 1 (The Ruin of Us)

They say some loves only happen once. For Ody and Mano, that once changes everything.Mano doesn't do vulnerability. Aggressive, tattooed, cold, and impossible to like, he plays the villain on purpose, because being hated is safer than being seen. And losing someone again isn't a risk he's willing to take.Ody is the opposite. Bright, extroverted, charming, and painfully sincere, he notices when you're hurting, even when you pretend you're not. He remembers your birthday, offers you the last slice, and apologizes even when it's not his fault.For someone like Mano, that kind of softness is dangerous.When their lives collide, nothing about them makes sense, except the way they keep gravitating toward each other. What starts as tension becomes something neither of them can name, and soon, something they can't stop. But between secrets, buried trauma, and a world that won't let them exist without consequences, wanting each other comes at a cost.One keeps pushing him away. The other keeps reaching past every warning sign. Together, they burn.But when everything catches fire, love may not be enough to save them.A slow-burn MM romance filled with angst and yearning. This story explores themes of grief, bullying, and the lasting effects of past trauma. Contains explicit sexual content and other mature themes. Please review the content warnings at the beginning of the book before reading.This is Part 1 of Once in a Lifetime. Ody and Mano's story continues in Part 2.