The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Nineteen

The Dumbing Down of Love
(720 Hours in a Relationship)
DAY NINETEEN

     “Can I ask you a question?” Gray asked, sitting on the coffee table in front of Olivia.
     “Of course,” she answered, looking at him. “Is everything okay?”
     He nodded and took a deep breath. “I’d like to preface this conversation with please don’t jump to conclusions which I know doesn’t really work, but please don’t jump to conclusions.”
     Taking a deep breath, Olivia nodded. She could have really done without the preface because now her mind was jumping to a hundred and one conclusions. “You know, I could have done without the preface.”
     “I know,” Gray smiled, “but I felt I had to say it.”
     Nodding, she looked at him and tried to make all the noise in her head stop. “So what’s your question?”
     “Am I the only one?” he asked.
     “The only one what?”
     “The only guy you’re seeing.”
     Olivia nodded. “Yes. I can’t handle more than one person in my life. I mean aside from the crew. I don’t date more than one person. Hell, until we met, I really didn’t date.” Sighing, she added, “God, that sounds lame doesn’t it.”
     Gray shook his head. “It’s not lame at all. Until I met you, I didn’t date either.”
     “Why do you ask?”
     Taking a deep breath, he looked at her. “I don’t want you to see other people. I don’t want to share you with anyone else other than your friends.”
     “Are you saying you want us to be exclusive?”
     Nodding, Gray moved to sit next to her on the couch. “I am,” he answered. “I don’t know if it’s too soon or what, but I want you to be all mine, but not in a possessive way of course.”
     “I guess I have to get rid of my cell bitch then,” Olivia said with a smile.
     “Definitely,” he replied. “If I’m moving too fast, let me know.”
     Turning to face him, Olivia shook her head. “You’re not moving too fast at all,” she replied. “We’re moving at just the right speed. I don’t want you to see other people either.”
     Gray felt relief course through his body. The dating game was a madhouse for him, but now that he knew where he stood, the craziness in his head seemed to slowly disappear. “So does this make us like boyfriend and girlfriend?”
     Biting her lower lip, Olivia nodded. “I think it does,” she answered.
     “Olivia, my girlfriend,” he said as a smile spread across his heart.
     “I like the sound of that,” she replied, straddling his lap.
     “I do too,” he said, putting his hands on her lower back and kissing her. “I like the sound of that a lot.”
     “Gray, my boyfriend,” she said, feeling a smile that made her cheeks blush. “That’s got a great ring to it.”
     “I definitely like the sound of that,” he said as she rested her forehead against his.
     “Should we do something to celebrate this momentous occasion between two non-daters?”
     “Sex is always a great way to celebrate,” Gray answered.
     “Yes, it always is,” Olivia answered and kissed him.
     “But I’m not finished yet,” he replied as she started to kiss his neck.
     Straightening herself up, she stared at him. “There was more?” she asked, trying to ignore the sudden void in feelings inside her.
     Gray nodded.
     “Okay,” she said and started to climb off of his lap.
     “Don’t move,” he answered, putting his hands on her hips and holding her down. “I don’t even know how to begin this,” he said to her.
     “Begin what?” she asked, feeling all the conclusions jumping back into her head.
     Taking a deep breath, Gray swallowed part of his fear. “Honestly, I’m scared to ask you,” he said, “but fuck it, worse case scenario you say no.”
     “Right, but now you’re jumping to conclusions.”
     “I know,” he admitted. Taking another deep breath, he stared into Olivia’s eyes and felt his fear trying to get the best of him. “I want us to get tested,” he blurted out. “I want us to be fully committed to each other.” He watched her for reaction but she only nodded. “If you don’t want to, I understand.”
     “I can make an appointment tomorrow morning,” she answered. “I’ll see there’s any cancellations. I’ll go get the blood work done. I’m assuming you mean that.”
     Gray nodded and kissed her. “Again, if it’s too much.”
     “Shut up and kiss me,” Olivia said. Her brain took a deep breath and sighed with a great relief because her heart was now happy. “Do you want to go together?”
     “You’d that for me?”
     “Of course I would, you’re my boyfriend,” she said with a smile.

This page copyright © 2009 Shelia Taylor
All rights reserved | This is a rough draft and not the final version

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