Page 18 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Mano didn’t budge.

Ody leaned in again, softer this time. “Mano...” He pressed a light kiss to his ear, making him twitch.

“Mm...” Mano stirred.

“Wake up, sleepyhead…” Ody murmured. “Hugging your pillow like that… Want me to get you a teddy bear?”

“Shut up,” Mano mumbled, his voice deep and raspy.

Ody blinked, then grinned. “Why is your voice so sexy in the morning…”

“You like it?” Mano asked, glancing at him from the side.

“I love it,” Ody said, smirking before leaning in to kiss him.

The second alarm went off, loud and sharp.

Mano groaned. “How many alarms did you set?”

Ody reached for his phone, tapping the screen, eyes flicking down for a moment like he was setting something up. Then he looked back at him. “Say something.”

“Like what?” Mano asked, frowning.

Ody huffed a small laugh. “Just talk. I wanna hear your voice.”

“Ody, come on. Get up, we’ve got a trip.”

“Come on… a little more.”

Mano exhaled. “I am talking. What, you want me to sing for you?”

Ody’s grin widened. “Yeah. Actually, I do.”

Mano turned toward him, narrowing his eyes. “Get up, you little brat, or I’ll beat your ass.”

“You’ll beat me?” Ody shot back, amused.

“Why, you doubt it?” Mano leaned in, just close enough to make it feel real.

“No,” Ody laughed. “Alright, I’m up.” He tapped his phone again and slid out of bed.

An hour later, they were downstairs with their suitcases. The rain hadn’t let up, and the temperature had dropped enough to make them both throw on hoodies and jackets.

They loaded the luggage into the trunk, and Ody moved to the driver’s side.

“Want me to drive?” Mano asked.

Ody smiled. “Sure.”

They swapped seats. Mano started the engine, the low hum of it filling the quiet. Ody didn’t look away.

“What?” Mano asked.

“Are you ready to meet my family?”

Mano turned his eyes forward, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “No.”

Ody let out a quiet laugh.