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She pictured her faood food They wouldher there The kids must be confused She’d been a constant in their lives for the last year, and not seeing them felt like someone had punched a hole in her heart They were so close to the restaurant… Gia thought of telling Jason about the gathering and suggesting they go But as she glanced down at her three thousand dollar outfit and the gorgeous rock on her finger, she knew her parents would be shocked If she remained Jason’s wife, she would tell her family when they’d married and why she’d hidden the union from them, but not while they celebrated her father’s birthday Not in public Not when she wasn’t sure if she and Jason had a future

As the fa profile and waited for an answer Finally, he turned off one of the town’sdown as they approached Delvecchio’s Her heart stopped as he pulled into the parking lot

Crap! He’d overheard her on the phone with Mila earlier "Jason…"

He shoved the car in park and turned to her "You adh The fact that I haven’t e obstacle I want to remove it now Hell, do they even knoe dated?"

No She’d been worried when she’d met Jason that her folks wouldn’t understand He represented so s her old-school, old-world parents didn’t like--establishment and money He’d never worked with his hands He wasn’t a part of the Church No one in her fale one of her sixteen cousins--had married anyone asn’t both intensely Italian and devoutly Catholic She didn’t care about any of that, but her parents would They would understand even less that she’d concealed her e from them

Most of all, she didn’t want to put her fah this upheaval unless she believed that she and Jason could truly ether

"It’s complicated"

"It’s not," he contradicted "I’m not who they would have chosen for you I understand that, but it’s your life and ultimately your choice You say they ‘love’ you"

"They do, but--"

"No buts If they value your happiness, then they will allow you to ?"

"You’re oversi They’re parents; they always think they know best"

"You’re an adult with your own life"

He was absolutely right "But they’ve been the biggest part of it for years I couldn’t do without them"

"Well, I won’t be your dirty little secret any longer" Jason gritted his teeth and sucked in a breath "We are going to walk into that restaurant, and you’re going to introduceto say your safe word Tell ain what it is"

"Divorce," she choked out

"That’s right And ill never escape that possibility as long as you hideto introduce us does is prove that you never intended to incorporate me into the important parts of your life"

"I need time" But as soon as the plea slipped from her lips, Gia knew she asked for too much

"You’ve had nearly a year"

She hadher fa to endure their shock and anger Waiting did nothing but convince Jason that he wasn’t important to her And that wasn’t true If they could work it out, she wanted to stay with him She loved him and wanted his happiness

Her world tilted on its axis for a breath-stealing second She steadied herself against his car as her thoughts raced Could she even ripped her Gia had no idea what Jason really saw in her Maybe nothing

Maybe that’s why he cared but didn’t love her

God, she needed answers and she simply didn’t have the his voice as the setting sun slanted through the windshield and cast a golden glow over his inky hair and bronzed skin He watched her with blue eyes, fixed and unwavering

"I’m fine," she said automatically

But she wasn’t She’d been that insecure girl who’d let self-doubt cloud her brain and screw her up She’d let fear rule her--and still did She wasn’t a superround or even finished college All along, she’d been unclear what she could possibly give hiations had separated them, she’d allowed her doubts to creep in and craft a million excuses for why they should reuilt blistered through her

"Then it’s ti divorce?"

Instantly, Gia knew that if she uttered that word, he would take it literally and file tomorrow On the other hand, if she stayed with him and he lost interest in a few months or years? It would hurt so much more

No, she couldn’t look at it that way She refused to lose his It reeked of cowardice and self-doubt, and she would not be that woman Even if she disappointed her parents, she had to believe they would never stop loving her She owed it to the hirabbed her purse fro froh the shadowed parking lot Jason took her hand, holding her father’s professionally wrapped gift in the other, leading her to the door He opened it for her, and the heavy wooden thing squeaked on its hinges Delvecchio’s wasn’t big The s a steady business already A dining area big enough for maybe fifty people lay beyond the hostess stand in front of a half wall just inside the foyer

Gia sed, her pal sweaty as the familiar hostess turned to her "Hi, Renee"

"Gia!" The Delvecchio’s youngest daughter, only recently graduated froh school, called out to her with a little squeal "I haven’t seen you in forever" She eyed Jason not so discreetly "Your parents said you weren’t coht They’ll be surprised to see you"

Completely That filled her with an anxious dread, but she wasn’t backing down

"What corner did you sit theht?"

"Mila warned ht outside the kitchen Need aa little star struck

"I’ll wing it" He gripped Gia’s hand aze up to her husband He’d pushed tohappen…but he was nervous ThisMaybe she should still be mad at hi shade of green

"Can you have your brother bring a bottle of that Cabernet I like?" Gia asked the girl