Sexting My Ex’s Dad (Forbidden Silver Foxes)

49. Elio

49

ELIO

I t doesn’t take long for Stella to settle into the new apartment - although that’s probably chalked up to the moving team I’d hired for her. Once they were done, I figured there was no better way to end the night than with some wine.

It’s always a hit or miss whether or not she’ll drink with me, but tonight she decides to have a little bit of fun.

“Seriously, Elio?” She shakes her head, grinning. “I can’t believe you managed to talk your way out of that one.”

“Believe it or not,” I reply, my voice laced with amusement as I take another sip of wine. We’re both sitting on her mattress, a bit spent after I’d screwed her in the kitchen first and then again in her bedroom.

There’s nothing like christening a new place.

“Everyone falls for your charms,” Stella teases, brushing a strand of wavy brown hair behind her ear.

“You did,” I remind her with a smirk.

She sighs. “Don’t I know it.”

A sudden knock on the door interrupts our conversation. Glancing at the clock, I realize the pizza we ordered earlier must have arrived.

“Ah, that must be our dinner,” I say, reluctantly untangling our legs. “I’ll get it.”

As I stand and make my way towards the door, I find myself thinking forbidden thoughts. What would life be like if I could share every evening with someone like Stella? Is that what I’m ready for? Settling down for real?

I’d done it once before, with my past wife. I never thought I would again, but Stella makes me realize that it isn’t completely off the table.

I swing the door open, expecting to see a pizza delivery person holding our dinner, but instead, I’m met with a delivery man whose arms are full of bouquets of roses. My eyes widen as I take in the unexpected sight, and my mind races to make sense of the situation.

Maybe, he’s at the wrong address.

“Uh, is Ms. March here?” the delivery man asks hesitantly, looking at me for confirmation. Nope, this is the right address.

“Yes, I can take these for her,” I reply.

“Just sign here for me.” He holds out a notepad. Once I scribble my signature, he nods, hands me an envelope and briskly walks away.

Who’s sending Stella roses? For just a moment, I think about opening the note to find out, but I’m not that man - all insecure.

I close the door behind me. They had better not be from that Paul guy.

No, she’d told me that there was nothing going on between them, and I believe her. If she wanted him then she’d be with him. I’d seen the way he looked at her that night; he was smitten.

But, she didn’t pick him. She picked me.

Clutching the roses, I return to Stella, who is sitting on the mattress, her gaze following me with curiosity. “What are those?”

“That’s what I was going to ask you.” I set them down.

“They’re not from you?”

“Nope,” I answer. “Do you have a secret admirer or something?”

“They’re not a very good one.” She gets off the bed. “I don’t like roses. Let me see the card.”

I hand it out to her, and she quickly opens it, eyes scanning the information. Then, I see the frown overtaking her face.

“Who’s it from?” I ask, unable to stop myself. The thought of someone sending roses to Stella unsettles me, a feeling I haven’t experienced before.

She rolls her eyes and tosses the card onto the mattress, scoffing. “Owen,” she says with an exasperated sigh. “He’s trying to win me back, it seems.”

“Owen?” The name is like a punch to the gut, and I feel the air rush out of my lungs. “He’s back?”

“Yeah, he uh came by here,” she admits, avoiding my gaze.

“And you didn’t tell me?” I frown. “Why?”

“Because it doesn’t matter. We’re through.”

Her words don’t do much to ease my mind. I want to know everything about what happened when he visited her. “When did he come?”

She looks away, hesitating before answering. “A few days, maybe. He showed up at my old place, but I didn’t even let him in.”

My son had come to see her. Owen hadn’t even reached out to me. Wait a second…? “Is that why you decided to move?”

She swallows. “Yes.”

I clench my fists, feeling my nails dig into my palms. Inhaling deeply, I attempt to keep my composure.

“Are you okay?” Stella asks, concern flooding her hazel eyes as she touches my arm.

“What did Owen want?” I ignore her question, too concerned with my own.

She sighs, her delicate features pinched with annoyance. “He apologized for leaving like he did, and for all the pain he caused. Said he wanted to make it right because he wanted me back.” She shakes her head, her long, wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. “But I don’t want him back if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,”I clarify, my mind racing.

I’d been trying to amend the relationship between my son and I for years… a relationship that would be unrepairable if he thought that I’d stolen his girl.

The silence hangs heavy between us, a weight pressing down on my chest as I struggle to process the implications of Owen’s return. Stella’s hazel eyes search mine for answers, her delicate fingers playing nervously with the hem of her shirt. I can’t help but admire her strength and resilience in the face of this unexpected revelation.

“Elio, it really isn’t a big deal,” she says softly.

But it is. It really is.

“Look, I’m sorry,” I mutter, pulling my arm away from her gentle grip. “I just need some time to think.” I can’t stand the hurt that flickers across her face. But I can’t stay here, not when every fiber of my being is screaming for space to breathe.

I turn and walk out of the apartment, ignoring her soft pleas from behind me and shutting the door.

I need to think.