“Is that so?”
Liam’s gruff voice cuts through the pause of silence that’s hit his truck.
I wave my hand in the air like I’m waving a magic wand and can make the words I just spoke disappear into the ether.
“My sister may be the most undercover narcissist that exists in this world.” I sigh. “I don’t really like talking about her, to be honest.”
“And yet, it sounds like an intriguing story.”
“We’ve all got stories others would kill to hear, right? Life’s stranger than fiction, after all.”
“Truth.”
We both go quiet again, and it’s while we’re sitting in the silence that somehow doesn’t feel awkward that I realize I’m starving.
“Baton Rouge is just over an hour away,” Liam says as we reach a red light. “We can stop and grab lunch if you’re hungry.”
On cue, my stomach lets out a loud grumble.
Liam chuckles. “Your body answers for you.”
I break into a throaty laugh. “My body never lies.” And then, because apparently I’ve decided to drop the wall of steel that I have up for the world at large, I add, “Especially in bed.”
I have no freaking clue what possessed me to say all of that, and as soon as I do, I want to crawl underneath the seat.
Liam whips his head over to face me. His expression gives nothing away, but his tone is thick when he says, “That’s a lot of information in seven words, darling.”
Yes, it is.
But so is the word he ended his sentence with.
Darling.
He called me darling.
I get it. It’s a Southern term of endearment. He probably says it to lots of people.
And yet, somehow, I don’t think he does.
CHAPTERFOUR
When we stop for gas before lunch, I head for the convenience store to stock up on snacks for us both while Liam refuels.
“We’ve got about ten minutes, fifteen tops,” he calls out as I pass by him at the pump station.
I raise my hand in mock salute. “Yes, sir.”
His green eyes sparkle, and he shoots me a half-grin. “I have a schedule so we don’t get behind.”
I stop and look at him in amusement. “Behind on what?”
“Our road trip. I want to get to Texas by dinnertime.”
“Who are you answering to?” I ask him. “You’ve got the entire summer off work. And your brother doesn’t get married for three weeks.”
“I’ve got Lulu to answer to,” he says. “The answer to any question you ask me will always have her name in it.”
I smile. “You’re a great dad, Liam.”
