Page 21 of State of Grace

“I’m sure you haven’t heard of it,” Alexis waved her off as she went back to her food.

“It’s called Across the Dark Expanse.” Proud Vera again. “She uses the pen name…”

“A.R. Holland.” Every head turned to Blake, even the kids. Blake looked concerned as she leaned back in her seat. She held up her fork, shrugging as her eyes made contact with each of them around the table. “What? I’ve read that one.”

“Seriously?” The word was out before Alexis could stop it. She stopped short of covering her mouth with her hand, which would have also hidden the redness on her face.

“Yeah, it’s good.” Blake took a bite and slowly chewed as if she was trying to soak up the moment of making Alexis blush. “Actually, it’s terrific, Alexis.”

“Um, ok, wow.” To say she was at a loss for words would have been an understatement. The words weren’t lost; they’d fallen off the face of the planet. Her brain couldn’t comprehend that Blake Calloway, aka Avery Romano, aka one of the characters she’d written multiple sex scenes about in her fanfic, had read her fanfic. She’d known the following for the fanfic was more significant than she’d liked to think but never in her wildest dreams did Alexis ever, not even for a fleeting moment, consider Blake would have read it. “Thank you. I’m flattered. I don’t know what to say.”

“The writers sometimes read the fanfic because it lets them know what the fans want to see,” Blake explained without Alexis having to ask for it, and Alexis wanted to thank her for that. “They’ve gotten some ideas from some fics that made it into the show.”

“Well, clearly, they didn’t pay attention to mine; otherwise, Avery and Harper would be a couple by now.” Alexis sarcastically laughed as Harper looked up at her in confusion.

“Huh?”

“Not you, baby. The TV Harper.

“Oh.” With a shrug, Harper went back to her food.

“It’s not that easy.”

Blake seemed on edge, which matched how Alexis was feeling. Knowing that the show’s writers had read her fanfic, had probably seen how popular it was, and had still decided not to consider it hurt more than Alexis could have anticipated. Not like she thought she had the magical storylines for the whole show, but she liked to believe that as the foremost Rebel Loner – the ship name for Avery and Harper’s characters – writer that her stories were well received.

“There’s producers and networks and hoops you have to go through to get certain storylines approved. I get very little say in what happens in the script.”

“Well, I would think as a woman whom herself identifies as LGBT would fight harder to see those stories get told instead of settling for the hetero-normative storyline they’ve given your character.”

“Here we go again,” Isla sighed as she picked up her Diet Coke. “You and your ‘hetero-normative storyline.’ Blake doesn’t have control over that. You know that.”

“I know. I was just giving my opinion.”

“Yes, Sophia Beauchamp Junior, I know, but is dinner with Blake as our guest and our children present the best time to have this conversation?” Isla’s raised eyebrow and slightly pitched voice told her that it was, indeed, not the best time to have that conversation.

“No.” Alexis resisted the urge to sulk in her chair like a kid. Instead, she looked at Blake for a moment before lowering her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok.”

For the rest of the dinner, Blake barely spoke a word directly to Alexis. Mentally Alexis kicked herself for apparently pissing her off after she’d found out that Blake had read her fanfic. Blake had been so lovely to have complimented her writings, and Alexis had snapped at her in return. Alexis hated her quick tongue and temper sometimes; it often got the best of her despite her best intentions to do better.

“So,” Vera clasped her hands together as they all stood outside the restaurant. The sun had completed its descent below the horizon, allowing the relatively empty streets to be bathed in the warm glow of the street lights. “Do you two want to go with us to get ice cream?”

“No, thanks.” Alexis placed her hands on Harper’s shoulders and squeezed them. “Little Miss and I have some LEGOs to finish building, and Soph made this wonderful rum cake we’re gonna finish off tonight.”

“Isn’t she a little young for that?” Vera raised an eyebrow at her.

“It’s my favorite!” Harper interjected.

“Like mother, like daughter.” Isla rolled her eyes. “Did you two walk or did you drive?”

“We walked.”

“Oh,” Vera’s voice fell slightly, “well, maybe Blake can walk you two home.”

“Oh, that’s ok. We’re only a few blocks from here.”

“And I have no idea where I’m going.” Blake quickly chimed in as her eyes darted from Alexis to Vera. She didn’t seem put off by the idea of walking her home; instead, she appeared nervous at the thought.

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