Sexting My Ex’s Dad (Forbidden Silver Foxes)

32. Stella

32

STELLA

T he scent of roses and champagne wafts from the open door of the fancy restaurant. I stand on the edge of the sidewalk, my fingers nervously twisting the hem of the black dress Anastasia and I had settled on the night before.

What am I doing?

When Anastasia had brought up this date, I had no clue she meant the next day! I hadn’t had any time to prepare.

What would Elio say if he found out? Even if I don’t actually feel anything for Paul, isn’t this sort of cheating? Maybe it would be if we were actually in a relationship. Still, it doesn’t feel right.

“Maybe it’s not too late to back out,” I whisper to myself, my eyes darting back and forth between the entrance to the restaurant and the safety of the street behind me.

Is it too late to tell Anastasia I’d gotten sick? Knowing her, she’d bring the party to my condo.

I have to do this.

Where is Anastasia?

I fish my phone out of my purse and scroll through my contacts until I find Anastasia’s name.

“Stella, my love! What’s up?” Anastasia answers the phone. I frown. It doesn’t sound like she’s in a car – although I guess I’m used to her showing up late.

“Ana,” I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. “I’m standing outside the restaurant. Where are you?”

“Oh, sweetie..” she stops talking for a second. “I’m so sorry. I won’t make it.”

That’s perfect news!

“Is everything okay?”

“Well, me and Fabio are…well…you know what I mean.”

I know exactly what she means. That’s just like Anastasia - to get whisked away by some guy.

“Aw, well, maybe we can do this double date another time.”

“What? No. It’ll just be you and Paul. I want you to still have fun. He’s waiting on you.”

The truth slaps me right in the face. Anastasia had never wanted us to go on a double date – she just wanted me to be face to face with Paul. Oh that conniving little…”Can’t wait to hear all about it. Good luck, love! You got this!”

She hangs up before I have the chance to say anything else.

Sometimes, I really hate my best friend.

The quicker I get this fake date out of the way - the better.

New plan…I’d just tell Paul the truth and beg him not to tell Anastasia. That’s not as foolproof, but it still might work.

Taking a deep breath, I push open the heavy glass doors and step into the fully decked out restaurant. The warm glow of crystal chandeliers casts a golden hue over elegant tables adorned with crisp white linens and delicate floral arrangements. A pianist plays softly in the corner, adding to the sophisticated ambiance.

“Wow,” I whisper under my breath, feeling a mix of awe and discomfort at the stark contrast to my own life. This kind of opulence is foreign to me, a world away from the small apartment I share and the long hours spent working multiple jobs just to make ends meet.

“Good evening, Miss,” a sharply dressed host greets me with a polite smile. “May I assist you in finding your party?”

“Uh, yes, please,” I stammer, momentarily flustered by his professionalism. “I’m meeting someone named Paul. I think he’s already here.”

“Right this way,” he says, leading me through the maze of tables. As we walk, I can’t help but feel out of place in my not too modest dress and worn heels, surrounded by glamorous patrons who look like they belong on the cover of a magazine. Still, I force myself to stand tall, remembering Anastasia’s words about confidence.

“Here’s your table, Miss,” the host says, gesturing to where Paul is waiting for me. His eyes light up as he catches sight of me, and I feel a flutter of excitement in my chest.

“Thank you,” I reply, taking my seat.

I won’t lie — Paul is gorgeous, just like I remember him growing up. He has a jawline so sharp it could cut and eyes a green like I’d never seen before. His hair is shaggy and dark, and I can tell, even with his clothes on, that he works out.

If it weren’t for Elio, I’d be all over him.

“Stella, you look fantastic,” Paul says warmly, making me blush. The familiar sound of his voice grounds me, and I can’t deny the happiness in seeing him again.

“Thanks, Paul,” I respond, smiling sincerely. “It’s great to see you too.”

As we begin our evening together, I do my best to push thoughts of Elio to the back of my mind, focusing instead on the kind man sitting across from me. The guilt still lingers, but I try not to let it mess with my thoughts too much.

Paul stands up as I approach the table, his eyes lighting up with a genuine smile. “Stella, you look absolutely stunning tonight.”

“Thank you,” I reply, feeling my cheeks redden slightly. As he pulls out the chair for me to sit, I can’t help but notice how effortlessly charming he is.

“Did you get here okay? This place can be a bit tricky to find,” Paul asks, concern evident in his voice.

“Anastasia gave me the directions,” I admit, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s been a while since we had time to catch up, hasn’t it?”

“Too long,” he agrees, his green eyes warm and inviting. “I’ve missed our conversations.”

Throughout dinner, we talk about everything from work to family, laughing at shared memories and showing genuine interest in each other’s lives. There’s an easiness between us, a connection that makes it feel like no time has passed since we last saw each other.

It’s comfortable - nothing like the fire between Elio and I.

Then again, the last time that I’d been in a comfortable relationship, the guy dumped me anyway and found another girl a week or so later.

“Tell me something,” Paul says, leaning forward with a mischievous grin, bringing up memories that I’ve long since forgotten about. “How did you become so good at poker? You wiped the floor with me during that game night at Anastasia’s place.”

“You still remember that?” I chuckle, remembering the stunned expression on his face when I revealed my winning hand. “Growing up, my dad and I would play together. He taught me all his tricks. I guess you could say it runs in the family.”

“Remind me never to challenge your dad then,” Paul jokes, his laughter infectious.

It’s not like he’s around to challenge, but I keep that thought to myself in an effort not to dim the mood. I’ve found that not thinking about him makes it easier for me not to be so sad that he isn’t here anymore.

As the evening wears on, I find myself actually having fun. Paul is just like I remember him. A part of me wishes that I could forget about Elio and pursue something real with him, but the other part of me…I’m just not ready to let go of Elio yet even if it isn’t something real between us.

Clearly I didn’t learn my lesson the first time around.

“Stella, I have to ask,” Paul says after a pause, his gaze searching for mine. “What made you decide to come out tonight?”

Funny thing you ask that…

I take a deep breath, searching for the right words. “Anastasia kind of tricked me.”

“That sounds about right from my sister.” He laughs. “But, she brought up something interesting to me – she said the two of us were sexting?”

My jaw drops. So he knows about my little lie? I start to stutter, trying to find the right words until I notice the grin on his face.

“I covered for you – confirmed it was me, don’t worry.” That’s Paul alright – he’s always as cool as a cucumber.

“Th–thank you.”

“You want to tell me what’s going on there?”

My cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I grip the edge of the tablecloth, trying to steady myself. “I??—”

“Stella, I won’t judge you,” he assures me, his voice gentle. “I never have before.”

That’s true. Paul has always been more than kind to me, when we were growing up and even now. Still, telling him the truth makes me feel a little bit awkward to say the least.

“Paul, I don’t know how to explain it,” I stammer, my heart racing. Thoughts of Elio consume me, making it difficult to focus on the conversation at hand. “At first, I thought I actually was texting??—”

“Sexting,” he corrects me.

If I could turn any redder, I would. “I thought it was you. Anastasia had convinced me I needed to get over my ex, and I always remembered you being so…well, you, kind and…” I drift off. “So I took the leap, but I’d accidentally switched your number with someone else’s and it took me a while to realize.”

“Wow,” Paul says, astonished once I finish. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Me neither.”

“I wish it would have been me.”

Really? “Paul?”

“You’ve always known about the crush I have on you, Anastasia. Even if you accidentally texted another guy, it was just a fluke, right? Nothing serious. That doesn’t mean something can’t happen between us.”

Oh, Paul ... .Even if it was just a fluke, there is something going on between me and Elio — even if I don’t have the name for it.

I take a deep breath, preparing to reveal the truth about Elio and me when my gaze is suddenly drawn towards the entrance of the restaurant. There, standing in the doorway, is none other than Elio himself.

What is he doing here? And why is he looking right at me?

“Stella?” Paul asks, his voice wavering with concern as he notices my sudden distraction.

“Uh, just give me a second,” I mutter, unable to tear my eyes away from Elio’s piercing blue ones.

“Is everything okay?” Paul presses, reaching across the table to touch my hand gently, but I barely register his presence…how can I when Elio is here?

“Paul, I…” My voice trails off as I watch Elio stride confidently through the restaurant, accompanied by a group of sharply dressed men. Even in such distinguished company, Elio outshines them all, his commanding presence impossible to ignore. Clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks it by the long line of women staring after him.

“Stella, what’s going on?” Paul asks again.

I sigh. I can’t leave him hanging.

“Elio’s here,” I whisper, finally snapping out of my trance and turning back to face him. “He just walked in.”

“Who’s Elio?” Paul inquires, his eyebrows furrowing in concern.

“Someone I… know” I say hesitantly, unsure whether or not I should tell Paul the whole truth.

Why is Elio here? Does he know I’m on a date with Paul? It wouldn’t be unlike him to stalk me – especially after I’ve been avoiding his messages the last twenty four hours.

“Do you need to leave?” Paul asks, trying to catch a glimpse of Elio over my shoulder.

“No,” I reply firmly, steeling myself for whatever may come. “Let’s just enjoy our time together, okay?”

“Alright, if you’re sure,” Paul agrees, clearly sensing my discomfort but choosing to go along with it anyways.

As we continue our conversation, I can’t help but steal glances at Elio from the corner of my eye. Apart from looking at me when he’d first came in, he doesn’t seem to acknowledge that I exist now, engrossed in a discussion with his associates.

But every so often, our eyes lock again, and the intensity of that connection leaves me breathless.

I have to tell Paul the truth — I can’t play games with him.

“Paul,” I begin, taking a deep breath and summoning all the courage I can muster, “About that guy I was texting…there’s something you should know.”