Page 56 of State of Grace

Chapter 19

Salem had the worst fucking timing.

She always had, it was her trademark.

Blake should have ignored the call as she had the other two times Salem had called before she arrived at the park. She hadn’t texted or called Blake in weeks, so Blake knew it wasn’t to get her to come back when Salem had called. It was about a job.

Which, if Blake was honest with herself, was why she’d ignored the first two calls. She wanted more than anything to stay in her happy little bubble with Alexis and never think about her career as an actress again. Blake simply wanted to disappear into the horizon to live an everyday, monotonous life.

Picking up the discarded basketball that was resting by the garage door, Blake tossed it into the hoop before retrieving it to do it again. She often shot hoops to focus her mind. Blake didn’t consider herself an athletic person, but she could regularly make a three-point shot with little effort.

She replayed the conversation she’d had with Salem over again in her head.

“I have two bites of good news.” Salem had sounded so smug. “One, I’m sending you a script to look over. Let me know what you think. And second, we got a studio to bite on the show’s revival. The details are still being hashed out, but it’s looking like Avery Romano will live to see the light of day for at least one more season, possibly a movie. Again, details are being worked out.”

“Oh, well, ok.” Blake kicked the sand of the playground as she looked at Alexis and Harper happily playing together. She was where she wanted to be; not on a soundstage.

“You don’t sound happy. I thought you’d be happy.”

“Honestly, I was relieved when the show was canceled. I thought it would give me a chance to turn over a new leaf.”

“Is that what you’re doing in Moonflower Cove now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, you need to get your ass here.”

“I can’t right now.”

“And why not?”

“Salem.” She’d groaned her name. “I have stuff going on here that I can’t abandon.”

“Well, I can guarantee whatever is in Maine won’t pay you as much as being back in Vancouver will.” Salem had paused, giving Blake time to respond, but instead, she’d stayed quiet. “Or…is there someone there that’s got your attention?”

“Just give me the details of the show when you know them.”

Blake had hung up then. She was already pissed that Salem insinuated that there was someone in the Cove that had taken Blake’s attention away from the show. The only hesitation Blake faced when she’d asked Alexis to let them see where things go was how her Hollywood life might cause issues for Alexis. It wasn’t for everyone; hell, Blake wasn’t sure it was even for her anymore.

She might have told Alexis more about the phone call if Harper hadn't been with them at the park. Blake didn’t have any reason not to tell her. However, judging by how Alexis slightly freaked out on her anyway, Blake knew it would be a bigger deal than she was in the mindset to handle. Blake knew she had to figure out what the hell she was going to do. And soon. First, Blake had to figure out what she thought about it and how she felt about it before opening up to Alexis about it.

Deep down, Blake knew she held an upper hand with the show possibly being picked back up. The show wouldn’t be the same show without her, and she could play that to her advantage. She could barter for small scenes or a shorter filming schedule to not move back to Vancouver full time. Blake even knew a nuclear option was on the table, and it became more enticing as she thought about it. After all, she’d thought about it for years before, but it was more appealing after getting to know Alexis.

“I do this too when I’m stressed.”

The basketball missed the hoop as Blake whipped around to see Isla leaning on the porch railing. She hadn’t checked the garage or house to see if anyone was home and had assumed they had some quaint family plans for their Saturday. Blake grabbed the basketball and hugged it to her stomach.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to distract you.”

“It’s fine.”

Isla paused before speaking again. “Are you?”

“Hmm?” Blake tilted her head at her. She wasn’t in the mood for small talk, but it was inevitable as Isla made her way down the stairs toward her. Her eyes narrowed and she stopped a few feet away from Blake. “You’re your mother’s child, and your face gives you away.”

“Damn face.” Bouncing the ball once, Blake planted her hips and tossed it straight into the net. Isla moved between Blake and the goal and snagged the ball before Blake could. She bounced it from one hand to the other effortlessly as she looked at Blake.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

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