Sexting My Ex’s Dad (Forbidden Silver Foxes)

37. Stella

37

STELLA

I swipe my damp brow with the back of my hand, the air conditioning in Regency doing little to combat the sweltering heat outside. While I arrange the neatly folded clothes on display, I can’t help but let my thoughts wander to the promise I made myself not long ago: I’m done with relationships, and I absolutely refuse to let another man cloud my judgment. It’s just me from now on.

“Stella!” Isobel’s voice cuts through my thoughts like a knife, her eyes wide with excitement as she rushes toward me. She grabs my arms, her grip nearly cutting off my circulation. “You won’t believe what I’m about to tell you.”

“Is it really that important?” I ask, eyebrows raised, trying to shake off her sudden intensity. The corners of her mouth twitch upward into a smile.

“Absolutely,” she replies with an emphatic nod.

“Alright,” I sigh, resigned to indulge her. “What’s got you so excited?”

“Get ready for this,” Isobel says, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “I just found out that Elio Lombardi is the owner of Regency.”

The room seems to spin as my heart skips a beat. Elio? Here? My stomach churns with a mixture of surprise and dread, threatening to spill its contents right there on the pristine floor.

“Isobel, that can’t be true,” I choke out, my voice barely audible. I shake my head, trying to clear the fog that has settled in my mind. “There’s no way.”

“Stella, I swear it’s true!” she insists, gripping my arms tighter. “I overheard Marnie talking about it. Just make sure that when you two have sex in the office, you put a sock over it, okay? As much as I’d like to see him naked, I don’t want to walk in on all that if you get my gist.”

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Isobel doesn’t know how much damage her words do because she doesn’t know the truth. Nobody does.

“Even if that’s true, Isobel,” I say. “You won’t have to worry about seeing the two of us together, trust me.”

She frowns. “I thought you’d be happier to hear that your boyfriend owns the place.”

“Elio Lombardi was never my boyfriend,” I correct her. “Besides, we’re not seeing each other anymore.”

She gasps. “What? Since when?”

I shrug. “A week ago.”

“What happened?!”

I feel a knot form in my stomach, and I look down at the counter, tracing my finger along its smooth surface. “Isobel, can we not talk about that right now? It’s just...not something I’m in the mood to discuss.”

“Okay, okay,” she agrees, raising her hands defensively. “I won’t pry right now since we’re at work.”

“Thanks.” My voice is barely audible, even to myself.

“But, we do have to talk about it eventually,” Isobel says, making me feel like an idiot for thinking she’d let it go that easily. “How about a girls’ night out? We could call Anastasia and just let loose for a change.”

I hesitate, considering her suggestion. The idea of going out feels daunting. “Do we have to?”

“No,” Isobel answers quickly. “You can just tell me all the details about you and Elio breaking up now instead if you like.”

I remember Isobel being sweeter. She’s been spending too much time plotting with Anastasia while I was all bundled up with Elio.

“No, no. It’ll be fun.” I change my tune.

“Great!” Isobel beams, excitement radiating from her. “I’ll text Anastasia right now and see if she’s free tonight.”

She whips out her phone and starts typing, her fingers moving at lightning speed. Meanwhile, I take a deep breath. The last time I’d gone out had been because Anastasia had told me – that’s the night I’d sexted Elio for the first time.

There will be no sexting tonight.

“Anastasia says she’s in!” Isobel announces, practically bouncing on her toes. “We’ll swing by her place after work and just have a nice time. We don’t even have to go out.”

I let out a breath of relief. “Sounds like fun.” And a part of me really means it. “Who knows, maybe it will help clear my head.”

“Exactly,” Isobel agrees, giving me an encouraging smile. “Trust me, Stella, this is just what you need.”

I hope she’s right.