Page 148 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Ody set the guitar aside and buried his face in his hands, exhaling.

That night, he called Mano. He didn’t pick up.

Odysseus: Call me when you see this

By morning, there was still nothing.

He stared at their chat for a moment, then sent a voice note. “Mano… where did you disappear to? Do you want to come over tonight? I just want to hold you for a bit. Forget everything. Steve and I fought. You know about Anna…” He hesitated. “Just… come over, okay?” He sent the message and dropped the phone beside him.

Nothing. Not until that evening, when the doorbell rang. He opened the door to find Mano standing there.

Ody blinked, his breath catching. “Why didn’t you answer? I thought something happened. Are you okay?”

“Didn’t you ask me to come?” Mano said.

Ody pulled him into his arms. “Come in.” He grabbed his hand, pulling him inside. “What happened? Where’d you disappear to?”

“Got caught up with England stuff.”

They stayed near the door.

“Your brother?”

“No. Just paperwork for the company.” Mano glanced at him. “Did you eat?”

“Not yet.”

“You hungry? Wanna get takeout?”

Ody’s face lit up for the first time in days. “Supreme and carbonara,” he said, already reaching for his phone.

When the pizzas arrived, they ate on the couch with a comedy playing on the TV.

Ody laughed, a slice in his hand. “This guy’s such an idiot. Last episode, he thought burglars broke in, but it was just his brother and his friends.”

Mano watched him, a small smile forming.

Later, they put on a movie and stretched out side by side, the lights off. By the end, Ody wouldn’t stop talking, jumping from one theory to the next.

“You analyzed the whole movie, mikre,” Mano said, pulling him closer.

Ody’s head dropped onto his chest. Mano’s fingers slid into his hair.

Ody went still, then melted into him. “Hold me tighter.”

“I’ve got you, mikre. I’m right here.”

Ody lifted his head, looking at him. “I missed that…”

Mano’s smile was faint. “Missed what?”

Ody’s lips curved. “Just… you calling me that.”

Their eyes held.

“Did you miss me calling you mine?”

Mano didn’t answer. Then he gave a small nod.