Mano went still, the brief flicker of relief in his expression disappearing just as quickly. “Can I see you later?” he asked, his voice lower now. “When we’re back in Athens.”
Ody stared at him, stunned. The same Mano who had spent so long denying everything between them was now asking to see him. “I’ll be home tonight… if you want to come by,” he said softly.
“I will.” This time Mano didn’t hesitate. He meant it. He needed to fix this. To show Ody he could trust him. That last night had been a mistake. That the man he had been then… wasn’t really him.
At the port of Piraeus, Mano took the driver’s seat.
“Let’s drop Ranya off first,” Ody said as they pulled onto the road toward Athens.
“You sure?” Ranya asked from the back.
“Yeah. It’s on the way.”
They stopped at Ranya’s house, and she got out with Ody, who helped her with her suitcase.
“Thanks so much, guys. I had an amazing time.”
“Get some rest!” Anna called from the back seat.
Ranya leaned down to the driver’s window and kissed Mano on the lips. “See you later.”
Ody’s jaw tightened. He looked away and shut the trunk a little harder than necessary before climbing back into the passenger seat.
Mano drove the rest of the way in silence. Outside his building, he parked the car. He and Ody stepped out and walked to the trunk while Anna stayed inside, scrolling through her phone.
Mano opened the trunk and lifted his suitcase out, setting it beside him before pushing the trunk closed. Then he looked at Ody. “Will you wait for me?” he whispered.
Ody nodded and brushed his fingers over Mano’s arm. The touch was brief, but Mano felt it long after Ody pulled away. He turned and headed toward the building entrance.
Ody slipped back into the driver’s seat while Anna moved to the passenger side.
At Anna’s place, Ody carried her suitcase to the entrance. “Thank you,” she murmured, the words sounding a little distant as she leaned in to kiss him.
“Get some rest.”
“You too. We’ll talk later.” She disappeared inside the building.
After the drive home, Ody dropped his suitcase by the door and headed straight for the shower. Then he changed into something comfortable and collapsed onto the couch.
It was July 2nd, and he still hadn’t decided when to go to Patra to visit his family. His mind kept drifting back to Mano. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Around 9 p.m., the intercom buzzed. Ody pressed the button without answering and heard the downstairs door click open. He waited in the doorway of his apartment. Mano stepped out of the elevator and their eyes met.
Ody moved aside to let him pass. “Do you want something to drink?”
Mano shook his head. “Better not.”
For a moment neither of them spoke. Ody sat down on the couch first. Mano followed, leaving a small space between them.
“Did you rest?” Ody asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
Silence settled over the room.
“Mano…” Ody said at last, turning toward him. “I want to talk about the beach fight.”
Mano kept his eyes lowered.
