Page 88 of My Killer Blind Date

‘We’ll figure it out.’

‘It’s not just Zoe, though. There are two other women who disappeared before her that I know are linked. And now there’s Brooke, that influencer …’

‘You think they’re connected?’

‘Yeah. I think there’s a serial killer involved.’ And then, my eyes are leaking again. ‘Sorry,’ I sniffle, ‘I don’t know if I’m up for talking it all out right now. I think right now I need to go home and sleep for about twelve hours.’

‘I completely agree. And as your boyfriend—’ Liam waits to see if I challenge him. I don’t. ‘—I think you should consider taking some days off work.’

‘I don’t know how to do that.’

‘It’s easy. You call and say you’re not coming in.’

‘That’s not what I do, though. I always keep pushing. I don’t know if I know how to stop.’

His voice is tender. ‘Maybe it’s a good time to try.’

I take in a shivery breath. ‘I feel weak as shit, Liam.’

‘That’s normal. But you’re an incredibly strong person, Margot. I hope you know that.’

Oh, no. I can feel a knot in my chest loosening, like I’m about to cry. It’s been a shit day. Maybe one of the worst days of my life. The memorial was a lot. My friend is gone. I thought I was holding it together, but … Fuck. All I want to do now is fall into Liam’s arms and weep.

‘I mean, more like an obsessive wreck.’

Instead of cracking a smile, his gaze intensifies. ‘No. You’re tenacious. Intelligent. Passionate. Interesting.’

‘I’m not that interesting,’ I say quickly, trying to cinch myself back together. ‘I’m really kind of average, if you think about it—’

‘Average?’ His voice is low. ‘You move bodies so you can investigate your friend’s disappearance. You think the world is unhinged chaos but you’re still living from a place of hope, you’d date a guy who you thought was a serial killer just to get answers about your friend. You’re loyal to a fault, and stubborn and maybe a little reckless too, and you don’t try to say the right thing, you’re just yourself, outspoken and smart and funny, and that’s so – so damn—’

At that, I burst into tears.

Liam gently folds me in his arms.

‘Let’s get you home.’

Chapter Thirty

Liam insisted on seeing me to the door, and I have to admit I’m a little self-conscious as we walk up the steps of my apartment building to the third floor. His apartment building is state of the art – clean, modern, well maintained – not to mention his actual living space, which is impeccably decorated. Whereas I’m becoming very aware that the carpeted stairs leading up to my floor have a funk to them. It’s not like I’ve never noticed this. It’s more like I’ve learned not to notice. Now that I’m taking everything in through Liam’s eyes, it’s all catching my attention. The crumbling plaster. The worn handrails. The way every single step creaks like you’re murdering it.

‘Here we are,’ I say as we reach the third-floor landing. I unlock the door.

‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’ He leans in for a kiss, but I touch his arm.

‘Actually … you want to come in? Check for murderers?’ I shiver.

‘Absolutely,’ he says, walking in ahead of me.

It’s dark. The floor is a bit sticky in the summer heat. There’s no central air, just a couple old window units, so I spend the first minute turning on lights and opening windows and getting the box fan going so the cooler night air comes in while Liam opens closet doors and checks behind the shower curtain.

‘No murderers,’ he announces, returning to the living room.

‘OK.’

I reach over and grab his hand. He squeezes mine twice in a wordless message of comfort. But when he attempts to let go, I hang on.

He levels his gaze at me. ‘Want me to tuck you in or something?’