Page 58 of Sexting My Ex's Dad
“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.”
