Sexting My Ex’s Dad (Forbidden Silver Foxes)

61. Stella

61

STELLA

ONE YEAR LATER

I breathe in deeply, letting the warm air fill my lungs, and for a moment, the exhaustion from another long day of clinicals melts away. My heart swells with satisfaction; I’ve made it through yet another grueling session, and I’m at the top of my class. Who knew I’d actually thrive once I put my mind to it?

“Hey, Stella, got a minute?”

I stop mid-step, my sneakers crunching against the gravel as I turn to face the voice. It’s Ryan, a fellow nursing student. He’s always been polite but kept his distance, except for today that is. Today, he’s beaming.

“Uh, sure!” I reply, trying to mask the flutter of curiosity dancing in my stomach. What could he possibly want? Maybe he’s finally ready to talk about our group project. Or... does he need help with something? I brush a stray strand of hair behind my ear, feeling strangely self-conscious under his gaze.

“Great! I was wondering if you wanted to grab a coffee sometime. You know, just to unwind after these crazy shifts.” His voice is casual, but there’s an eagerness beneath it that catches me off guard. He’s asking me out on a date?

Absolutely not.

It has nothing to do with Ryan specifically…honestly I’ve just learned that without the drama of men in my life; I can focus on myself and flourish.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to settle down one day; get married and have kids. But, that’s not something that I have to worry about now.

“Coffee?” I repeat, my mind racing. A year ago, I would have jumped at the chance, just to try and take my mind away from Owen, but now? Now, I can hear that familiar heartbeat in my chest—the one that reminds me of all the reasons why relationships are tricky. I take a deep breath, glancing around the parking lot, trying to focus on anything other than the reality of his invitation.

“Yeah! Just two classmates grabbing coffee, right?” Ryan’s eyes twinkle with a mix of hope and uncertainty. There’s something genuinely sweet about his approach, but my heart isn’t ready to venture into those waters yet.

“That sounds—” I start, but hesitate, wanting to make sure that I let him off easy. “Flattering, really,” I finally say, keeping my tone light. “But I’m pretty swamped with school right now. Nursing has a way of stealing all my free time, you know?”

“Totally get that,” he says, his smile faltering slightly but quickly recovering. “Maybe some other time then?”

“Yeah, maybe.” I offer him a friendly grin, but we both get my gist. He’s cute enough, but I’m just not interested. “I should probably get going.”

“Yeah, no, you’re completely fine. Me too.”

I give him one more smile, that’s more awkward than I intend, and walk to my car.

As I slide into my car and crank it up, I remind myself that focusing on my studies is my priority, no matter how tempting it is to entertain the idea of companionship again.

Elio. It’s been a whole year since I last saw him, and yet he still haunts me. I force myself not to dwell on it - not now. But those memories are stubborn, wrapping around me like tendrils of smoke, refusing to let go.

I still remember the feel of his lips against mine, the warmth of his embrace, the way he made me feel so alive. And then, just as vividly, I remember the emptiness when he walked away, when he chose not to fight for our relationship…for me.

I would never let another man do that to me.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost don’t notice the familiar figure standing by the sidewalk. Is that Owen? I slam on the brakes, unsure whether to smile or run. We haven’t seen each other in person for months, though we’ve kept in touch through text. What is he doing here?

“Hey, Stella!” he calls out, waving at me with that boyish grin that used to irk me but now seems endearing. He strides towards my car.

“Owen,” I say, rolling down the window. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Thought I’d surprise you,” he replies with a wink, leaning against my car. “How’s life treating you?”

“Can’t complain,” I say, forcing a smile. “Nursing school is tough, but I’m hanging in there. What about you?”

I watch as Owen’s smile softens, his green eyes reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun. “Life’s good. You know, things have been moving forward for me, and I’m happy with where I’m at. I thought you would visit or something, but…” he trails off.

“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to see Anastasia and Isobel but…” I don’t know how I’m supposed to answer. “It’s just... nursing school takes up so much time and energy. I’ve barely had a moment to breathe.”

But he seems to see right through my excuses…through to the real reason I haven’t come back.

“Stella,” he says quietly, his voice gentle but insistent. “If it’s because of my dad, you can just say that you know?”

I swallow hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. “No, it’s not like that,” I lie, looking out the window, trying to avoid his gaze. “Elio and I... it just wasn’t going to work. Not after everything. I accepted that a long time ago.” Right?

Owen frowns, clearly frustrated with my answer. “But that’s not the whole truth, Stella. You two were perfect for each other. What happened to that? What happened to you and him?”

Tears well up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to face the truth. “I can’t keep waiting for him, Owen. He walked away. It was his decision, not mine. And I can’t keep looking back. He made his decision.”

The tension between us hangs heavy, like the thick summer air outside. I can see Owen’s jaw clench as he searches for the right words to say, his eyes narrowed in frustration.

“He’s a fool,” Owen finally mutters, the words barely escaping his lips. “I can see it, Stella. I see how much you love him. And I can’t stand that he pushed you away like that.”

I shake my head, blinking back the tears that threaten to spill over. “It was his choice, Owen. And it’s over.” My voice is steady despite the turmoil inside me. “You don’t have to defend him. I’ve moved on, seriously.”

Owen looks at me, his expression softening. He seems to want to say more but instead decides to change the subject. “So you’re seeing some new?”

My heart does a little flip, and I force a smile onto my face. “No, not really. Just focusing on school and work, you know?”

“Ah,” he nods, understanding. “Well, you’re doing great, Stella. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Owen,” I reply, genuinely touched by his support. “What about you? How’s your love life? Are you seeing someone?”

A grin spreads across Owen’s face, and the tension in the car dissipates like morning fog. “Actually, yeah. I’ve been seeing someone. Her name’s Emily. She’s a dentist. We’ve been dating for a while now, and things are going really well.”

“Emily, huh?” I tease, nudging him playfully. “Sounds like a catch. I’m happy for you, Owen. You deserve to be happy. You’ve come such a long way since we were together.”

“Thanks, Stella,” he says, his eyes shining with gratitude. “You too. You’re doing great. I’m proud of you too.”

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment. It’s been a long road, but we’ve come so far - both together and apart. Friends is definitely what we were meant to be.

“Take care of yourself, Stella,” Owen says earnestly, opening his arms for a hug.

“You too,” I reply, stepping into his embrace.

As we pull apart, I look into his eyes, seeing the happiness that Emily has brought into his life. “I’m really glad you found someone, Owen. You deserve it.”

“Thanks,” he smiles warmly. “And remember, you’ve got great things ahead of you too, Stella.”

Nodding, I can’t help but think about Elio – the man I still love, even though he chose not to be with me. But now is not the time to dwell on him.

“Thanks, Owen,” I say softly. “I appreciate that.”

“Anytime.” He grins, and with one last wave, he turns and walks away.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of my feelings about Elio shift slightly. They’re still there, buried deep within me, but for now at least, they’re easier to ignore.

I can’t keep waiting for someone who didn’t choose me.