The Small Stuff by Paul Davidson

Author:Paul Davidson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hadleigh House LLC
Published: 2022-02-03T21:02:01+00:00

Fourteen

Cameron held her heart, eyes swollen with emotion, lip quivering.

“That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” she gushed. She moved to take a sip of her green juice, then had to stop because she was so verklempt. She got up and grabbed more napkins from the Juice Den-branded self-service station, then returned to sit opposite Maggie.

“You would think it’s the most romantic thing ever,” Maggie countered. Then thought about it. She nodded, smiling mischievously. “I think I do, too.”

“Roses, diamonds, flowers, opening doors, beating the shit outta some guy who called you a skank …” Cameron continued. “Cliché. Tired. The testosterone-fueled actions of a man just trying to get down to your G-string. But cleaning up your soiled bed sheets? After you already had sex with him? Now that’s a real man. That’s the kind of thing a dude does, maybe if you’re lucky, after fifty years together.”

Maggie nodded, affected. “It’s true. You’re right.”

“This relationship is on the fast track, that’s for sure,” Cameron said.

“He invited me to have dinner with him and his parents tonight,” Maggie grinned.

“The really fast track,” Cameron corrected, eyes wide.

“Is that bad?” Maggie wondered. “I mean, I didn’t think it was. How could it be? It’s just his parents.”

“Just his parents,” Cameron grinned. “Brace yourself, Mags.”

“We had a Big fight,” Josh said to Damon, as the two of them hiked up the Fryman Canyon loop.

“A big fight about what?” Damon asked, stopping to catch his breath.

“No. A fight about the movie Big. She’d never seen it. Then once I forced her to watch it, we fought about the fact that she didn’t like it.”

“Please tell me you didn’t call it a cinematic masterpiece?” Damon pleaded.

Josh looked guilty.

“And what happened after you read her the cinematic riot act?”

“We had sex.”

Damon stopped, floored. “Let me get this straight. You forced an adult female to watch Big, criticized her lack of understanding or interest in the film … and then she slept with you?”

“That’s right.”

“Now that’s a woman you don’t let go of, my friend,” Damon said, impressed. “That’s the kind of thing a woman does, maybe if you’re lucky, after fifty years together.”

Josh nodded, affected. “It’s true. You’re right.”

“This relationship is on the fast track, that’s for sure,” Damon nodded. “Don’t let this one go, buddy. I’m serious.”

“I won’t,” Josh nodded, then remembering, “she’s coming to dinner with me at Casa de Allen this evening.”

Damon spun, stopping him. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Your mom isn’t necessarily the most welcoming individual. I mean she is, but it’s all an act.”

They kept walking, reaching the top of the trail. Before them, they took in the entire San Fernando Valley, stretching out as far as the eye could see. It was a clear, crisp day. Josh took a breath, sucking in the fresh air.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” he posed, then reached down to stretch his hammies.

“Don’t ever ask the universe that question,” Damon said. “It’s bound to give you an answer you don’t expect.

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