We drovethrough the quiet evening traffic for several minutes before curiosity finally got the better of me.
I shifted slightly in my seat and glanced over at Liam.
He was driving with both hands on the wheel, his face set in concentration. Every few seconds, his attention dropped briefly to the dashboard clock before returning to the road.
Finally, I said, “Where are we going? This is not the way to Korean barbecue.”
He didn’t look over. “I have to make a stop on the way.” He checked the clock again.
“Why do you keep looking at the time?”
“There’s something quick I want to do before dinner.”
“What kind of something?”
“You’ll see.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
He glanced at me briefly, then returned his attention to the road. “You’ll like it.”
“That’s also not reassuring.”
We drove another thirty seconds in silence before a new thought occurred to me.
I turned toward him. “Are you taking me up a mountain to murder me?”
Liam smiled wryly. “No.”
“That was a very quick answer.”
“It’s an easy question.”
“You didn’t even think about it.”
“I don’t need time to consider whether I’m planning to murder you.”
“That sounds defensive.”
He exhaled through his nose. “I’m not taking you up a mountain to murder you.”
“Okay but that does raise a follow up concern.”
“What concern?”
“You are taking me up a mountain.”
Liam’s mouth twitched again. “Yes.”
I nodded slowly. “That is exactly how every true-crime podcast begins.”
He shook his head slightly. “I promise you’re safe.”
“That is exactly what a murderer would say.”
Liam finally looked over at me. His expression held that quiet patience he seemed to reserve exclusively for me. I cracked a tiny grin so he could see I was mostly kidding.
“If I wanted to murder you,” he said calmly, “I wouldn’t plan to do it during a public evening outing that begins with dinner reservations.”
