I barely had time to swallow the last sip of coffee before he stood, tossing a few bills on the table.
“Come on,” he said, not bothering to explain.
I followed him out of the café, the midday sun glaring down. The street was busy people walking dogs, delivery bikes weaving through traffic, a bus rumbling past. He didn’t slow down until we reached the small park across the street.
It wasn’t a quiet park. There were joggers on the path, office workers on benches eating lunch, and kids playing near the fountain.
“What are we doing here?” I asked, my voice low.
His hand closed around my wrist. “You’ll see.”
He led me down a winding path lined with tall hedges. They gave the illusion of privacy, but I could still hear voices, footsteps, the hum of the city just beyond.
He stopped near an
