Page 20 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Mano exhaled. “Even if we go back to our hometowns… it’s only a few hours’ drive.”

“Four hours,” Ody said, meeting his eyes.

Mano frowned. “You looked that up?”

“Yeah.”

Mano held his gaze a second longer, then looked away. Ody got into the driver’s seat without another word.

They got back on the road. As they neared Patra, Ody’s phone rang. He put it on speaker, giving his mother a quick update on where they were. She told him lunch would be ready and reminded him to drive carefully, adding that she’d prepared a bed for Mano.

The two of them exchanged a brief glance before Ody ended the call.

They entered Patra, Ody driving straight toward his house. He pulled up outside an apartment building and parked, unbuckling his seat belt. “We’re here,” he said, stepping out first. He grabbed the suitcases, while Mano glanced up at the building.

“Marco! Our boy’s here!” a woman’s voice rang out.

They both looked up. She was standing on the third-floor balcony, practically glowing with excitement.

“Mom, come on, go back inside,” Ody called up, dragging a hand over his face. He gestured for Mano to follow and pushed open the entrance.

“How long’s it been since you’ve seen them?” Mano asked.

“A couple of months,” Ody said, then added, “My parents are Marco and Artemis. My sister’s Anastasia.”

Mano nodded as they stepped into the elevator. The doors opened on the third floor.

“Aaah! My baby!” Ody’s mother rushed forward, pulling him into a tight hug.

Mano stepped out after him, staying back.

“Come on, Artemis, you’re not the only one who missed him,” a tall man with brown hair said, stepping out of the apartment. He pulled Ody into a hug next.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Oh, Mano, welcome!” Artemis said, taking his hand warmly.

Mano blinked, caught off guard. “Hello…”

“Was the trip okay?”

“Yes, all good.”

“You must be hungry. Come in, come in.” She ushered Mano inside before he could say anything else. “I’ve made keftedes with red sauce, horiatiki, fresh bread… there’s a lot of food, don’t worry. Oh! And dessert, of course.” She gave his arm a couple of quick pats. “You look like you eat well. Do you work out?”

Ody and his dad exchanged a look.

“Typical Greek mom,” Ody muttered with a small laugh, dragging his suitcase in.

His dad chuckled. “Just wait until the day you leave. She’ll have twenty containers of food packed before you even get to the door.”

Mano stepped inside, taking in the space. It felt warm. Lived-in. Familiar in a way he hadn’t known in years.

“How’s university?” his dad asked.

“Good. I passed everything,” Ody said, glancing briefly at Mano.

“That’s great. What about you, Mano? What are you studying?”