Page 208 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“No,” Mano answered without hesitation. “I like this. What we’re doing.”

Ody smiled. “So? We stay on the main road and see where it takes us?”

Mano returned the smile. “Why not?”

They pulled into a small roadside rest area, stretching their legs after hours in the car. A warm breeze drifted through the parking lot as they wandered toward a vending machine.

A low engine growl turned both their heads. A black Jaguar rolled past them before disappearing back onto the highway.

Ody’s eyes went wide. “No way... Did you see that? That’s a Jaguar XF!” His face lit up. “God, that’s my dream car.”

Mano glanced at him. “Seriously?”

“Hell yes!” Ody smiled. “I know it’s completely unrealistic, but if someone told me I could have any car in the world... that’d be the one.”

“Those weren’t Greek plates,” Mano said.

Ody blinked. “You noticed that?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t even look. I was too busy admiring the car.”

Mano’s gaze lingered on the empty road a moment longer before he looked back at him. “It’s nice,” he admitted.

“Nice?” Ody laughed. “That’s a crime. It’s gorgeous. Have you seen the interior?”

Mano grabbed a soda from the vending machine, opened it, and took a sip. “Black?”

Ody frowned. “What?”

“If you could choose.”

Ody grabbed an energy drink and tucked it under his arm. “Definitely black.” He tossed Mano the keys. “Come on. Your turn to drive.”

Mano took the wheel and drove for a while, until both of them agreed they were starving. Ody found a restaurant in Tripoli, and about an hour later, they were sitting across from each other, eating like they hadn’t in days. Dessert, of course, wasn’t optional. They argued over who would pay until they finally settled on splitting it, neither willing to give in.

A couple of hours later, they were back on the road, Ody driving again, heading farther south. They reached Sparta just as the sun set. Clouds streaked across the sky, colors shifting slowly as the light faded.

After a quick search, Ody found a small chapel on top of a hill and convinced Mano to go see it. They parked at the base and climbed the rest of the way on foot. By the time they reached the top, night had already settled in.

It was quiet. Peaceful. Trees surrounded the hill, their branches heavy, the ground soft beneath their feet. The chapel stood ahead of them, small and beautiful.

Ody glanced around. They were alone. He reached for Mano’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Mano didn’t pull away. They walked the remaining distance side by side until they reached the chapel and stopped. Lights flickered in the distance, scattered across the dark landscape below.

“It’s beautiful,” Ody said.

Mano nodded.

Ody turned to him. “I want us to do something we’ve never done before.”

Mano looked at him. “Like what?”

“Take a picture together.” Ody grinned. “Do you want to?”

Mano hesitated, then nodded.

Ody lifted his phone. “Hey, smile.” He nudged him.