"Where are we going?" Kieran finally asked.
"You'll see."
That earned me a suspicious look. "I hate when people say that."
"Good thing you're trapped in a moving vehicle."
His eyes narrowed. "You're lucky you're attractive."
I grinned and focused on the road. "You're judging me right now, aren't you?"
"A little."
"I spent twenty minutes researching the best Christmas lights in Seattle."
His eyebrows climbed. "You researched this?"
"I take my holiday-themed dates very seriously."
The smile that spread across his face made every minute of that research feel worthwhile.
The city gradually gave way to quieter neighborhoods. Houses grew larger. Decorations became more elaborate. Strings of lights wrapped around trees and fences. Inflatable snowmen guarded front lawns. One house appeared determined to single-handedly solve the region's electricity needs.
Beside me, Kieran shook his head. "That family definitely has a competition with somebody."
"The neighbors."
"The entire city, more like."
A laugh escaped me.
The neighborhood continued unfolding around us, each street brighter than the last. Families strolled along sidewalks bundled in scarves and winter coats. Children pointed excitedly toward decorations while parents followed behind carrying cups of coffee.
I slowed as we approached a corner house wrapped in so many lights it looked visible from space.
"Okay," Kieran said. "That one's my favorite."
"We've been here five minutes."
"I know what I like."
"You haven't even seen the giant inflatable reindeer yet."
His head whipped toward me. "The what?"
"Patience." I stole a glance toward the passenger seat. The lights reflected in Kieran's eyes. He looked genuinely happy.
"I used to love this stuff when I was little," he said after a while. The admission came quietly.
"My mom and I would walk around our neighborhood looking at lights."
I glanced at him. He was still looking out the window.
"Did she go all out with decorations?"
A small smile touched his mouth. "Not really. We couldn't afford much." He paused briefly. "But she always hung lights by the apartment window. Every year."
Eventually, he continued. "After she got sick, we stopped doing most of the Christmas stuff."
