Page 19 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

They drove in silence before Ody spoke again. “So… did anyone see the hickeys I gave you?”

Mano glanced at him, then back at the road, one hand steady on the wheel. “By ‘anyone,’ you mean a specific girl?”

Ody kept his eyes on him, swallowing. “Why aren’t you answering me?”

“Ask what you really want, and I’ll answer.”

Ody hesitated. “Fine. Did you go out with anyone these past few days?”

“Why do you want to know?”

Ody’s jaw clenched. “Was it Ranya?”

Mano’s eyes snapped to him, sharp, then returned to the road. “Did you enjoy your date with your girlfriend?”

“Actually, no,” Ody said, his voice steady now. “I felt terrible pretending everything was fine. I almost told her I want to break up.”

For a split second, Mano lost control of the wheel. “What?” His eyes widened. “You’re not breaking up with her.”

“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do with my life.”

“Why do you want to break up with her?”

“Because I want to be with you.” He didn’t hesitate this time.

Mano kept his eyes on the road. “Do I get a say in that, or are you just going to decide on your own?”

Ody looked at him, stunned. That was more than enough to remind him. Mano didn’t want this. It was just like he’d said back in Serifos. “I’m angry because you think this is something more than what it is!”

Ody turned back to the road, his expression hardening as he fell silent. By the time they reached Kineta, Ody had his eyes closed.

He blinked them open, stretching. “Where are we?”

“Almost to Corinth.”

“Pull over.”

“Why?”

“You’ve been driving the whole time. I’ll take over.”

Mano didn’t argue. He slowed down and pulled off to the side.

Ody stepped out, letting the cool air hit his face. Mano joined him a moment later.

“When you finish school, are you going back to Volos?” Ody asked.

Mano looked out over the fields. “I don’t know. There’s nothing for me there. Just a house.”

“So you’ll stay in Athens?”

“I’ve got another year. I haven’t thought about it.”

“If I don’t find a job right away, I’ll probably go back to Patra,” Ody said.

Mano glanced at him.

“Though that’s two years from now…” Ody let out a small breath. “I don’t even know why I’m thinking this far ahead…”