Is this the hill, or just a hill?

“You're in the passenger seat on the way to your partner's friend's birthday dinner, and they've taken the long way — the same long way they always take to avoid the highway, adding fifteen minutes to every trip. You've mentioned before that the highway is faster and you actually don't mind it. They just prefer surface streets, end of story. You're already running a little late, and you can feel the familiar flicker of wanting to say something.”