Page 37 of State of Grace

“See what?” Alexis’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“You’re worth more than how you describe yourself.” Blake watched as Alexis scoffed ever so slightly and looked away from her for a moment. “You’re not used to being the center of attention, and it’s hard for you to realize and accept that you’re worth it.”

“I’m not worth it.”

“Who told you that?” The question left her lips before Blake could stop it.

“God, the list is long.” Alexis held up a fist as she counted on her fingers. “My mom, my perfect siblings, my ex, and, let’s not forget my biggest non-believer, myself.”

“Well, I hate to tell you, but all of those people are liars and idiots for not realizing your worth. And I’m sorry if no one’s told you that before now.”

“Sophia has.” She shrugged. “And Emily and my other friends, but I have a hard time believing them. It’s hard to see myself as more than the fucked-up person I see looking back at me in the mirror.”

“You have to stop with the self-deprecating stuff if you’re going to be playing Elle Woods.” She paused for a moment, giving Alexis the chance to protest, but instead Alexis remained quiet. After a few steps and another right-hand turn down a street, Blake continued. “Elle Woods is a badass bitch who gets into Harvard Law School like it’s hard,” she smiled at the line from the play, “and she realized that she could do anything she sets her mind to and doesn’t need Warner Huntington the third to find her worth. She needed to believe in herself and believe that she got what she wanted in life because she worked her ass off. She had to believe that she was worth everything she was getting.”

Beside her, she heard Alexis take in a deep breath and hold it for a few beats before letting it out slowly. She ran her hands up and down her arms a few times. Blake wondered if it was out of nervousness or if the slight chill in the air mixed with the ice cream they’d consumed that was getting to her. Playfully, Blake bumped her shoulder against Alexis’s. A wave of relief flooded over her face as she pursed her lips together in a smile and looked over at Blake.

“I never would have pegged you for an Elle Woods fan.”

“What can I say? I’m a woman of many facets.”

“Is that so?” Slowing her walk as they approached her apartment door, Alexis turned on one foot, so they were face to face once more. Blake watched as Alexis slowly licked her bottom lip as her eyes darkened and focused on Blake’s lips. Closing the gap between them, Blake reached out and caressed the side of her face as Alexis leaned into her touch. She knew they were on the same page when Alexis didn’t move; she simply tilted her head toward Blake’s.

Their lips slowly met as Blake slid her hand behind Alexis’s ear and to the back of her neck. She felt Alexis’s arms wrap around her neck as their bodies pressed into each other’s. Blake hadn’t been aware of their two-inch height difference until that moment, and she loved that way Alexis slowly pushed up on her tiptoes to get closer to Blake’s lips.

As their kiss deepened, Alexis’s tongue pushed past her lips and into her mouth. The feel of Alexis’s hand in her hair and her tongue in her mouth was more sensual than anything Blake had ever experienced before. She’d been in relationships with women since she was fifteen, but none of them had made Blake feel the way she did at that moment.

Alexis pulled away slightly, and as she did, the headlights from a car lit up her entire face. The engine’s sounds grew closer as their hands dropped from each other’s body, and Blake turned toward the sound. She recognized the Jeep instantly and felt exactly like a teenager being caught. Mom. Pulling the Jeep to a stop in front of them, Isla rolled down the passenger side window, and Blake could see the playful smirk on her face.

“Evening, ladies.”

“Hey, Isla.” Alexis nervously waved before she pointed behind her at the apartment door. “I was heading inside. Thank you for walking me home. Again.”

“Anytime.” Blake’s eyes sparkled as Alexis waved them goodbye, punched the code to the door, and bolted inside without another word. Opening the passenger side door, Blake got inside and buckled the seatbelt. When Isla didn’t put the car back into Drive, she knew she was in for either a lecture or teasing, and neither of which sounded appealing. “What?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Isla laughed as she put the Jeep into Drive and headed for the farmhouse. “But when I suggested you help Bryce with the play, I didn’t mean teaching Alexis how to French kiss in the moonlight.”

“Ugh.” Sliding down in the seat, Blake wished she’d never texted Isla to pick her up. She’d have rather walked home and risked being murdered in the world’s most quaint town than deal with Isla catching them in their intimate embrace.

“I’m teasing; lighten up.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking.” Blake shook her head as she looked out the window. “I mean, I barely know Alexis. Hell, I never even asked if she was single.” She covered her face with her hands. “Oh, my god, what if she’s in a relationship?”

“She’s not.”

“Why did I blatantly assume she isn’t because she’s flirting back with me, but what if that’s her personality? What if she’s naturally touchy-feely.”

“She is, but she’s not in a relationship. You’d have heard that if you hadn’t been rambling.” A large smile accompanied Isla’s raised eyebrow. “Chill out, Blake. If Alexis didn’t slap you in the face when you kissed her, I can also assure you that she’s interested in you, too. Which is weird for me to say.”

“Why is it weird?”

“Because I’ve known Alexis since I moved to the Cove. She’s never shown interest in anyone except this awful bitch named Michelle.” Isla nearly spat the name out of her mouth. When Alexis talked earlier, she’d gotten the vibe that someone had hurt her, but Blake hadn’t wanted to push Alexis into talking about it. But she was altogether ok withanswers from Isla.

“Who is Michelle?”

“It’s not my place to talk about this.” Isla turned on the radio.

“You brought it up.” She flipped the radio back off. “Spill.”

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