Page 41 of State of Grace

“But are you hearing me?” Sophia arched an eyebrow at her. As she nodded, Sophia slipped one arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Alexis rested her head on Sophia’s shoulder as Sophia kissed the top of her head. “You’re worth more than you give yourself credit for, Lex. I wish one day that you would believe me.”

The lump in her throat blocked any words that Alexis wanted to say. She wiped the tears off her cheeks as she let Sophia hold her. Sophia’s arms were one of the few places Alexis knew were utterly safe. She didn’t linger on the fact that up until an hour ago, Blake’s presence was another place that’d made her feel oddly safe.

“Mommy!” Quick footsteps down the hall proceeded Harper barreling into the living room and jumping into Alexis’s arms. Her hair was still damp from her bath, and Alexis didn’t recognize the Bambi pajamas she was wearing.

“Hey, baby.” Alexis kissed her on the cheek as she sat Harper down in her lap. “Where’d you get the new pajamas, Harp?”

“Emmy got them for me.”

“I hope you don’t mind.” Emily came into the living room with a towel in her hand. Alexis’s heart swelled with happiness at the village that was helping her raise her daughter. Harper was the luckiest kid in the world to have so many people that loved her. “I saw them at the store and had to get them for her.”

“Thanks, Em. They’re adorable. And so soft.”

“I know, right.” Putting a hand on her hips, Emily laughed before snapping her fingers at Harper. “Now, come on, Harp. We gotta get your hair dry before you go to bed.”

“Ok!” Harper wrapped her arms around Alexis’s neck and kissed her. “Mommy, will you read me a story before bedtime?”

“Absolutely, baby. I’ll be in there as soon as Emmy dries your hair, ok?”

“Oh, Lex,” Emily pointed at her as Harper ran back to the bathroom. “I invited Blake to game night tomorrow. I hope that’s ok.”

“What?” Alexis quickly sat up on the edge of the couch. “Please tell me this is a joke.”

“I thought you’d be excited.”

“She would have been if she’d not gone all Alexis on Blake tonight.” Shaking her head, Sophia stood and walked over to Emily, who looked up at her then back at Alexis.

“Oh, what did you do?” Sitting down on the edge of the love seat, Emily crossed her hands in her lap. “Please tell me you didn’t freak out on her. You two are so cute together.”

“She did.”

“Lex,” Emily whined. “Why do you do this?”

“Because I’m incapable of being happy.”

“Blake told Alexis she liked her, so clearly, that means Blake secretly hates her and doesn’t want to be with her.” Despite her sarcastic tone, Alexis knew that Sophia loved her and wanted her to be happy.

“But you like her, too.”

“I do.” Alexis nodded.

“Ok,” Emily looked up at Sophia again and nodded before looking back at Alexis, “so, why don’t you take some time to regroup and apologize to Blake for freaking out? I’m sure if she likes you, she’ll understand.”

“I guess.” Alexis wanted to be mad at them, but she knew they were right. “I screwed all this up and ruined my chance with Blake.”

“Don’t say.” Emily raised an eyebrow at her. “Try apologizing to her first.”

“You’re right.”

Emily smugly smiled. “I know.”

Content with that, Emily nodded before heading back down the hallway to help Harper dry her hair. Sophia sat smugly on the chair and crossed her long legs slowly and elegantly. When Sophia’s eyebrow raised, Alexis stuck her tongue out at her, making them both laugh. Alexis let out a content sigh as she pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped it around her arms.

Alexis didn’t need Blake to make her life complete; that would insinuate someone or something was missing, and Alexis had everything she needed in her life already. But there was no denying the ache in her chest over the fact she wished she had what Sophia and Emily had with each other.

Chapter 15

Blake paced back and forth in front of the apartment building for so long she was surprised a crevice hadn’t appeared on the sidewalk. She hated to bail on the game night offer Emily had extended. If Blake was going to be in town for a while, it would help if she had actual friends that wanted to include her because they wanted to be her friend and not because they wanted her money. But Blake couldn’t help but wonder if Alexis would even want her there in light of the way things had transpired between them the night before.

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