The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY THIRTY      “Where are we going again?” Olivia asked as Gray’s car zipped along a quiet tree lined road.     “To brunch,” he answered, gripping the steering wheel tighter.     Watching his knuckles turn white, Olivia followed the stress in his hands to his jaw line. “What’s up?” she asked. “You’ve been gripping that steering wheel … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Thirty

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-NINE      “I now give to you Kyle and Dean Chance,” Simon said as the two of them took the center of the dance floor. “On their first dance, they have requested that their dearest friends join them. Olivia, my dancing queen, may I have this dance with you?”     Olivia covered her face with … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Nine

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-EIGHT      Gray stared at the building in front of him and looked down at his phone to make sure he had the right address. Looking up again, he saw the address and it matched the one in his phone. Getting out of his car, he walked to the entrance. A note on the … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Eight

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-SEVEN      Dean paced back and forth across the steps of the courthouse. His stomach was in knots and despite all Olivia was doing for him he could not shake his nerves.     “Take a deep breath,” she said, stepping in front of him. “They’ll be here any minute. You know traffic sucks at this … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Seven

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-SIX      “How much crap do you have?” Heather asked as she dropped an empty box and packing tape onto the floor.     “You’re lucky you didn’t have to help pack the whole house,” Olivia answered. “You’re helping with closet and that’s it.”     “Yeah well, when I took the day off from work to help … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Six

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-FIVE      Olivia sat in Susan’s hospital room staring at the monitor next to her bed. She had been designated with the morning watch and Susan wasn’t happy with it.     “You don’t have to stay,” she said as she stared at the television above Olivia’s head.     “Doesn’t work that way,” she replied. “We’re here … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Five

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-FOUR      Gray stared at the boxes lined against the wall of Olivia’s place. They were uniform in size, had been neatly labeled by room, and numbered. It was perhaps the neatest packing job he had ever seen. “Did you pack all this?” he asked as she loaded the dishwasher.     “No. I had a … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Four

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-THREE      “Thanks,” Zane said as the bartender placed three glasses of beer in front of him. He spun on his heel with the three glasses and walked to the table where Chris, Gray, Thom, and Simon sat. “Gray, Simon.”     “Thanks,” Gray said, grabbing his beer and sliding Simon’s to him. Taking a drink … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Three

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-TWO      “Hello. How many?” the hostess asked as the door closed behind Gray.     “I’m meeting two people here,” he answered. “They’ve already been seated.”     The hostess nodded. “Smoking or non?”     “Non.”     “Then they’re seated that way,” she answered as she pointed to her right.     Gray nodded and walked in the direction of her … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Two