They decided to walk to a sports bar down the street for a casual meal. They ordered a couple of drinks and burgers which gave them time to talk.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking, Ben and I think I've figured out what we should do."

Ben was thinking, "Here it comes," but said, "Okay, what is that?"

"To be honest, Ben, I like you a lot, a real lot."

Ben was waiting for the "but."

"And I think we owe it to each other to explore our relationship further."

"How exactly do you want to do that?" Ben asked, seeking clarification to ensure he wasn't misunderstanding what Claire...