Page 60 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“Uh… okay…”

Mano ended the call. For a moment, he didn’t move. Then he set the phone down. “So?” He leaned forward, elbows brushing the table. “Got any advice for me and Odysseus?” A faint smirk formed on his lips. “Or should I fill you in on the details?”

Nick stared at him like he was trying to make sense of something that didn’t fit. “You’re… You’re seeing a guy?”

Mano raised an eyebrow. “I dunno. Unless there’s a female version of the name Odysseus I’ve never heard of.”

A brief silence followed.

“That’s who you’ve been talking about this whole time?”

Mano held his gaze, then fake smiled. About time... Now leave me the hell alone. Stop acting like you care about me and go back to when you couldn’t have given less of a damn.

“Does he make you happy?”

The smile vanished. Mano didn’t move, didn’t blink. “What?”

Nick leaned forward. “Are you happy with him?”

Mano stared at him. It didn’t register. Or maybe it did and he just didn’t know what to do with it. “…Yeah.”

Nick exhaled. He stood and walked around the table without breaking eye contact. Mano’s body tensed instinctively as he got closer. Nick pulled out the chair beside him and sat. Then he leaned in and pulled him into a hug.

Mano froze. His hands stayed where they were, his shoulders stiff. He didn’t hug him back, but he didn’t pull away either. It had been so long he’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be held by him.

“I’m really happy for you,” Nick said. “You deserve happiness. I know I don’t get to say much after everything…” His hold grew firmer. “But I love you, Mano.”

Mano’s fingers twitched against the table. Something tightened in his chest. He didn’t move, didn’t react. He just sat there, rigid in his brother’s arms, keeping everything buried.

Chapter 14

The realization hit him. Mano blinked fast, forcing back the tears. His body stayed stiff in Nick’s arms. Then he pushed him away, their eyes locking. “Go sit over there. What do you think you’re doing?”

Nick didn’t argue. He moved back to the chair across from him.

Mano shifted in his seat, glancing around, unable to settle. “I love you.” The words wouldn’t leave his head. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard them. Only a distant memory remained, his parents’ voices, soft and fading.

The rest of the conversation blurred after that. Mano didn’t stay much longer.

By evening, he was back in Athens. The moment he landed, his phone started ringing. He stared at Ody’s name on the screen before answering. “Nice timing,” he said.

“What do you mean?” Ody asked, confused.

“I just got back.”

“Seriously? You’re here? I’m coming to see you!” His excitement came through instantly.

“Mikre, wait—” The call cut before he could finish.

He took a taxi home. As he unlocked the building door, a familiar voice cut through the quiet. “Mano!”

He barely had time to turn before Ody was already out of the car, running toward him. Mano just stood there. Then Ody crashed into him, the impact pushing him back a step as he wrapped himself around him like he wasn’t planning to let go. “I missed you...” he whispered, smiling.

Mano let out a quiet breath as his hands came up, resting against his back before finally holding him. “It’s been two days.”

“Felt like a month,” Ody murmured, tightening his grip.

Mano huffed. “Okay, mikre, you’re gonna crush me.”