Sexting My Ex’s Dad (Forbidden Silver Foxes)

1. Stella

1

STELLA

“ T his restaurant is nice,” I comment, unable to stop the smile that comes to my face, as I look around. It’s by far the nicest restaurant Owen has ever taken me to, not that the standards have been very high honestly since his version of ‘eating out’ typically equals fast food…cheap and easy is what he always says.

He always said it was because he never had any money. I’m happy that’s changed.

It only took him four years.

Soft candlelight flickers across our table, casting a warm glow on the elegant silverware and crisp white linen. I could get used to this.

“Stella,” Owen begins, his green eyes avoiding mine as he fidgets with his napkin which is unlike him…he’s never been afraid to look me right in the eyes. That’s one of the reasons I’d agreed to go out with him in the first place. “I’ve been doing some thinking lately.”

“About what?” I ask, my brow furrowing in concern. He’s been distant these past few weeks, but I assumed it was just stress from his new job.

“Us,” he replies, finally meeting my gaze. “I think we need to take a break.”

The words hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me breathless and reeling. A break…? “What?” I manage to choke out, my voice barely audible above the low hum of conversation around us. Why bring me to such a restaurant just to call it quits? I bet there’s no other man proposing a break here…

“Look, Stella,” Owen continues, his tone cold and detached. “I need some time to find myself, you know? Figure out what I really want.”

Figure out what he really wants? This has to be some kind of a joke?!

“Are you kidding me?” My shock morphs into anger, hot and fierce, as I confront him. “After everything we’ve been through, you’re just going to walk away? I supported you for four years, Owen! I put my dreams aside so you could chase yours??—“

And now that he’s some big hotshot, he’s just going to throw all of that away? Because he managed to get a job that scores him six figures a year?

“Stella, calm down,” he interrupts, glancing around at the curious stares we’re starting to attract. “It’s not like I’m saying we’re done forever. It’s just a break.”

Just a break…what does he think this is? Some kind of tv show?

“Is there someone else?” The question slips from my lips before I can stop it, but now that they’re out there, I find myself desperate to hear what the answer is. Honestly, Owen is selfish enough to cheat…

“Of course not.” He rolls his eyes, annoyance flickering across his face. “Can’t I just want some time for myself without it being about another person?”

No.

“Maybe you can, but you’re not the only one in this relationship.” I’m seething now, my hands shaking as I clench them into fists under the table. “I can’t believe you would do this to us, Owen. To me. What happened to you loving me?”

“Stella, please,” he mutters, his voice low and dismissive. “Let’s not make a scene.”

“Not make a scene?” My voice is tight with anger and pain. I wonder if the man sitting across from me is the same person I fell in love with four years ago. “Do you, seriously, think I care about making a scene? You’re so selfish! What about all the sacrifices I’ve made? What about Leo? I never would have…” I trail off, nose scrunched up. “I quit my jobs, just so I could go to school because you said…”

“Look, Stella.” He cuts me off, leaning back in his chair, arrogantly brushing a hand through his dark hair. “You’re strong. You’ll figure it out. And Leo will be fine too. You’ve always managed before, right?”

I can’t believe the callousness in his tone; it’s as if our time together and everything we’ve shared means nothing to him. The weight of betrayal sits heavy on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I should just get up and walk away, but I can’t stop thinking about the last four years with him…our relationship may not have been the most passionate, but there was love there. That had been enough for me, so why was he feeling differently all of a sudden? Because he thinks he has more options now since he has more zeros in his bank account.

“Owen, you’re throwing away everything we’ve built,” I say, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “You’re choosing your own selfish desires over me, and leaving me out to dry. And you don’t even feel bad.”

“Maybe it’s time we both put ourselves first,” he replies, shrugging nonchalantly, as if we’re discussing the weather and not the end of our relationship.

That’s it. That’s the final straw. In one swift motion, I grab the glass of water sitting on the table and hurl it at his face. The cold liquid splashes against his skin, leaving him dripping and wide-eyed. It’s a small satisfaction, but I take it.

If I thought people were looking at us before, they were really staring now, whispering between each other, a few of them even pointing. In any other case, I would have been embarrassed, but not this time. If there’s anyone who should feel ashamed, it’s Owen.

I stand rooted to the spot, chest heaving with anger and frustration, as my vision blurs with unshed tears. Owen wipes his face with a napkin, his eyes narrowing in irritation. “Are you out of your mind, Stella?” he snaps, his voice laced with contempt. His previous care about other people overhearing seems to be long gone.

“Me? I’m not the one throwing away four years like they meant nothing!” I retort, my voice shaking with emotion. “You don’t even care about what this will do to me or Leo you selfish bastard!”

“Stella, I’m not responsible for you and your brother,” Owen says dismissively, leaning back in his chair with an air of detachment. “You can’t force me to sacrifice what I want for you.”

“Really?” I choke out incredulously. “You want to talk about sacrifice right? I worked two jobs just to support us while you were in school! I put my dreams of becoming a nurse on hold so you could become some hotshot programmer, and now that you are…” I laugh sarcastically, shaking my head. “Now that you’ve got a little money lining your pockets…Now, you want to go find bigger and better things, right?”

The words tumble out of me, fueled by years of unknown pent-up resentment and sacrifice. An uneasy knot forms in my stomach as I think about the financial implications of our breakup. How am I supposed to support myself and Leo without Owen’s help?

I never should have quit those jobs…I never should have trusted him.

This is what I get for thinking I could rely on a man.

“Look, Stella, I appreciate everything you did for me, but it’s time for a change,” Owen replies, unfazed by my despair. “We both need to grow and find ourselves.”

“Grow and find ourselves?” I scoff, choking back a sob. “If that’s what you want, then you can go find yourself. But don’t expect me to be here waiting for you when you come crawling back.”

The words leave my lips with a finality that signals the end of our relationship. As I stare into Owen’s eyes, I see a man who will never understand the impact of his actions or the pain he has caused. And he doesn’t care.

“Goodbye, Stella,” he says with a cold finality.

“Goodbye, Owen.” I turn away from him, blinking back tears that threaten to spill. I leave the restaurant, my heart heavy.