Page 44 of Sexting My Ex's Dad
His smile grows, chasing away the shadows in his eyes, and it fills me with warmth. I give him one last hug.
“Bye, Stella,” he whispers into my ear, his breath warm against my skin.
“Goodbye, Leo,” I murmur, pulling away and fixing my gaze on him, memorizing every detail of his face. “Remember, I love you, and I’ll see you soon.”
“Love you too,” he says, drawing out each syllable in that endearing way of his.
With a final wave, I leave the room, my resolve strengthening with each step. I’ll continue fighting for a better future for us, and until then, these moments together will sustain me.
25
STELLA
“Stel, come on! It’s been ages since we’ve done this!” Anastasia exclaims as she grabs my hand, pulling me into the bustling mall. I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over me. I honestly can’t remember the last time I’d gone to the mall, let alone spent a carefree day with my best friend.
But that’s to be expected when she’s spent the last few months living her best bachelorette life in Europe with men waiting on her hand and foot. Maybe a small part of me is a little bit jealous.
That’s why it made sense that once she’d figured out I was off - she’d made sure I’d be spending the day with her…shopping of all things, not that I should be surprised. That’s all Anastasia does.
“Alright, alright,” I chuckle, allowing her to lead me through the throngs of weekend shoppers. My eyes dart around, taking in the lively atmosphere and colorful displays in each store window. The familiar scent of perfume samples and French fries fills the air, mingling with the distant sounds of laughter and chatter.
As we walk side by side, I can’t help but feel a twinge of self-consciousness. Anastasia has always had an effortlessly stylish and confident aura about her, gliding through the stores with an air of grace that makes me feel almost clumsy in comparison. She’s dressed impeccably, as usual, her long blonde hair cascading down her back in soft waves.
“You seem a bit...distracted,” Anastasia comments, squeezing my hand gently. Her bright blue eyes are filled with genuine concern, making it impossible for me to hide anything from her.
“Of course, I’m fine,” I reply, forcing a smile onto my face. “I just haven’t been to the mall in so long.” Mainly because I never have the exposable income, and there’s nothing worse than seeing something and wanting it before having my bank accounting remind me that there’s no way I’m getting it. But things are a bit different now…well, they would be if I hadn’t spent so much on Leo, but that was beyond worth it. “It feels a bit overwhelming.”
“Then let me help..” Anastasia beams, her infectious energy instantly lifting my spirits. “Remember our old motto? ‘Shopping is therapy, and therapy is good for the soul.’”
I laugh, remembering how we used to justify our shopping sprees back when life was simpler…before Leo’s health had started deteriorating and I’d actually been able to splurge a bit of the money I’d made. “You’re right. Let’s have some fun.”
I know I should probably tell her that I can’t spend a lot of money, but knowing Anastasia, she’s here more for herself than for me.
“Ooh, look at this!” Anastasia exclaims, holding up a beautiful silk scarf that seems to shimmer in the mall’s fluorescent lighting. “It would look amazing on you, Stel.”
Well I thought she’d be here more for herself.
“Anastasia,” I say gently, “I can’t afford something like that right now.”
“Who said anything about paying for it?” she replies, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Consider it a gift from me to my best friend.”
“I don’t have any other option apart from accepting it, do I?”
“None at all.”
“Fine. I’ll take this one gift, but this is it!”
She grins. “We’ll see.”
After about twohours of Anastasia dragging me from store to store, we find a nearby bench and settle down, continuing our conversation as we indulge in our pretzels. I find myself enjoying the simple pleasure of people-watching.
“Look at that couple over there,” Anastasia says, gesturing discreetly toward a pair of young lovers stealing kisses between storefronts. “Do you think they’ll make it?”
“Who knows?” I muse, my gaze drifting over the sea of faces, each with their own story to tell. “Life’s funny like that. You never know what’s around the corner.”
“Wow.” She raises her eyebrows at me. “What happened to the girl who thought every young couple were destined to make it?”
I take another bite out of my pretzel. “She got dumped.”
