He didn't comment on the sleeping-together thing. They'd get there. Maybe tonight. Or tomorrow since they both were off for Columbus Day. As for the ring, Chris might be right. He didn't want to scare Steph off. On the other hand, Chris was still bitter about her ex divorcing her to marry his pregnant girlfriend, so she was probably not the best person to ask for diamond-ring advice.
He turned down a street that went past his old elementary school. “Okay, I’ll skip the Diamond District. I'll research diamonds online, just in case.”
“I'm telling you—too soon.”
He thought of last night, how Steph had said she loved him. How she’d said “I love you” a second time before she fell asleep. He found himself smiling.
“Are you sure she'll say yes?” Chris asked quietly.
He grinned. “Yes.”
“Well, now I've got to meet her. She must be something awfully special.”
“She is, she really is.” Then he proceeded to tell her all of Steph Moore's many virtues.
~ ~ ~
Steph made sure to ask for a back booth for lunch with Dave at Garner's Sports Bar & Grill the next day. Last night he’d called when he got home from Brooklyn, but she’d already been in her pajamas, exhausted from the previous night’s partying. Knowing she needed to have their big talk, she’d put him off until today. She wanted this relationship to work, wanted to see where things could go. She was rusty on relationships, but she knew Jaz was right—honesty was the most important thing. She’d spent the morning going over possible ways to break the news, but there really was no good way to tell your steady boyfriend that you still had a husband. That was probably why she made it through the entire lunch without a peep about Griffin.
“You're awfully quiet,” Dave said. “Everything okay?” He pushed the last sliver of their shared dessert of apple pie toward her. “Let’s split it. Pi divided by two means you’re the one.” He grinned and waggled his brows.
Another math joke. He meant the number pi divided by two equaled one. She shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “Those pi jokes never get old.”
He smiled. “That’s why I always order it.”
“I'm full. You eat it.”
She watched him eat and tried to calm the jitters in her stomach. She just had to say it. Dave would understand. Hopefully.
She took a deep breath. “Dave, we need to talk.”
He straightened up. “That sounds ominous.”
“No…it's…I don't know.” She blew out a breath, suddenly at a loss for words. How did you tell the man you loved that you were married?
He set down his fork. “You’re making me nervous. Are you breaking up with me?”
A hysterical laugh escaped. “No!”
He flopped back in his seat. “Good. Because after all the I love yous…” He gestured back and forth between them.
“I know, right?” She laughed maniacally and clamped her mouth shut.
He became serious, leaning forward to study her across the table. “I’m glad.”
“Sorry. I mean, me too.” She barked out a laugh. “I’m sorry. This isn’t funny.” She forced herself to stop the insane smiling. “It’s just so hard to talk about.”
He took her hand. “Steph, I love you.” His thumb rubbed small circles across her palm, warming her. “You can tell me anything.”
He was so fucking sweet, and she was going to ruin everything. She felt sick. “Oh, God…”
He squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. Just say it.”
“I'm married,” she blurted, then all in a rush, “I filed for divorce after I met you, but Griffin hasn't signed the papers.”
His eyes widened. He dropped her hand and leaned back from the table as if to get away from her words. “You're married?”
She grimaced. “Only technically. We've been separated almost the entire five years.”
Hurt washed over his face, and she felt that like a stab to the heart. She hated that she’d put that look there.
He stared at the table. “Technically married is still married.”
“It’s not a real marriage,” she said. “It’s over.”