CHAPTER 4
The first feeling that Flack had when he woke the next morning was guilt. He had had a few drinks last night but was far from drunk. Stella had had a few drinks and was certainly tipsy. He shouldn't have led her on, especially when Stella had been upset about being stood up. He should have let that kiss last as long as it did. It was amazing, he conceded, but his guilt lied with the fact he felt he took advantage.
The first feeling that Stella had when she woke the next morning was guilt. She knew she was drunk last night, more so than Flack. She should have known better than to force herself upon Flack the way she did, especially when he was just being a good friend and looking out for her because she was upset. It was amazing, she conceded, but her guilt lied with the fact she felt like she came on too strong.
They both laid in their respective beds, clearing their heads.
Stella heard her phone vibrate, indicating she had received a text message. It read Morning Stella. Hope you're ok this morning and had a good night. I think we need to talk about what happened last night. I feel bad about it. Can we meet today? Don.
They arranged by text to meet after lunch at Suzi's Diner for coffee. Don was sat nervously at a booth when Stella walked in. Don brought over two large lattes and nervously threw two sugars in his. He was the first to speak.
"Listen Stella, I'm so sorry about last night. I feel like I've disrespected you. It was not my intention to take advantage of you like that and I hope I haven't upset you," Flack said quietly.
Stella responded instantly – "I woke up this morning feeling really guilty, Don. I hadn't intended to come on so strong last night. I wanted to apologise too."
There was a confused silence between the two – it would seem both parties felt bad.
"But are we saying we regret it?" Stella questioned as she broke the silence. "Because I certainly don't. It was amazing – it felt so good. I just don't want you to think I was just a drunken idiot, reacting because I got stood up."
"I don't regret it either Stella. It's just you mean a lot to me and I was worried I'd cheapened our friendship. I know it was just one kiss but I don't want to ruin the good things we have going for us by going down that path," Don was pouring his heart out.
"I totally agree," Stella added, "that kiss felt so natural but we shouldn't go down that path – I want to be there for you and care for you all the time. I don't want to ruin what we have by changing it." Don placed his hand on Stella's.
"I couldn't agree more. We got a good thing going for us. Friends and colleagues – soul mates maybe. I think anything more would ruin that and I couldn't live with that," Don said as Stella acknowledged.
The two spent the next few hours together in the diner, drinking more coffee and talking and laughing. They both agreed last night was amazing, and in a way sort of had to happen. They were both intrigued as to what it would be like and at least now they knew! They agreed that the kiss should be kept their little secret – there were already a few people on the Flack/Stella band wagon and they did not want to fan those flames.
They needed to be there for each other through thick and thin. Last night only served to strengthen their bond, their amazing friendship would be needed so much through the hard times that were to come.
They just didn't know how much yet.