Page 8 of State of Grace

Alexis followed her gaze to find Sophia sitting in the corner booth, sipping on what Alexis knew was sparkling water. She waved an elegant hand at her as Alexis smiled her thanks to Julia. Sliding into the booth across from Sophia, Alexis’s heart warmed at the sight of the strawberry chicken salad that was her absolute favorite meal, possibly ever. Coupled with the half tea, half lemonade she knew was in the Rock N Rolls branded compostable cup, Alexis thanked her lucky stars once more for having Sophia as a best friend.

At twenty-seven years her senior, Alexis never imagined Sophia would have grown into such a massive part of her life a mere six years ago when Sopia and Emily had started dating. Throughout Alexis’s darkest dark days, Sophia had been there and stood by her as she clawed herself out of her hell. She knew that she wouldn’t be alive or where she was today without Sophia, and Alexis liked to think Sophia thought the same about her. After all, they’d worked hard to get the other to come out from behind the walls they’d built around their hearts, and the result was absolute trust between them.

“You are the best. Have I said that today?” Alexis picked up the fork sitting beside her salad bowl, quickly stabbed a piece of grilled chicken, and stuffed it into her mouth. “I’m so glad Em and Maddie took Harper to the park today because I so needed the time to clean the apartment.”

“Honestly, Alexis, you fuss at Harper for talking with her mouth full.” Her brown eyes were sparkling. “The least you could do is set an example.”

“Sorry.” Alexis swallowed and pointed her fork at Sophia. Dressed to the nines, Sophia wore an emerald green button-up blouse that was gorgeous on her. “You look beautiful today.”

“I’m flattered, but in a very committed relationship,” Sophia smirked at her comment and gave Alexis a wink as she took a bite of her salad. “Emily and I are going to a play in Portland tonight, and I wasn’t sure I’d have time to change before we left. I still have to get back to the office and finish grading my advanced novel-writing students’ final project. And let me tell you,” Sophia pointed a spinach-covered fork at Alexis as she rolled her eyes, “there are none of them that are actually advanced.”

“So, none of them are future published novelists?”

“Some of them could if they’d get their heads out of their asses long enough to take my critiques as my way of trying to help them.” Another eye roll. “Honestly, none of them are as talented as you.”

“Psst,” Alexis scoffed. “I write fanfic on the internet. I highly doubt I’m at the level of your senior-level students.”

“You write yourself off too quickly, mon amour.” Sophia shook her head as she put a few croutons onto her fork and transferred them over to Alexis’s plate. She knew they were her favorite, and the small gesture made Alexis smile. “I still think you should go back and finish your degree. You’re too talented to keep all that potential bottled up.”

Over the years, Alexis had considered going back to college and finishing her creative writing degree but had never acted on it. She’d been two years into her studies when the events that led to Harper had transpired, and Alexis had dropped out of school. Alexis knew that she’d have more free time to focus on schoolwork with Harper starting kindergarten in the fall. But the thought of going back to school was so daunting that Alexis pushed it back into the recesses of her brain.

“Oh, did Emily tell you who came into the bar last night?”

“No, by the time I pried myself out of Harper’s teeny-tiny bed when you got home, she was already asleep. Who showed up?” Sophia became tense for a brief moment. “Was it Sam?”

“Gosh, no.” Alexis rapidly shook her head to calm Sophia down. Emily’s dad had been abusive to her growing up, and the two were not on good terms. He kept his distance from Emily anymore, primarily thanks to Sophia’s withering stares and not-so-subtle threats for him to never come around again. “No. But it’s someone related to someone at the bar.”

“Oh, for the love of god, Alexis, stop beating around the bush and tell me.”

“Blake Calloway.”

Sophia’s mouth hung wide open as her eyes grew bigger. She knew about the whole Blake story from Isla and knew that it was a huge deal that Blake had showed up in the Cove. Of course, Sophia was also a closeted fangirl and would never openly show excitement for meeting a celebrity. But Alexis could see the enthusiasm in her face.

“You mean you waited all this time to tell me that?” She pointed her fork at Alexis once again and narrowed her eyes. “This is like the time you were having contractions all day and about birthed Harper in my Tesla.”

“Oh, please.” She waved a dismissive hand at Sophia. “In my defense, I figured Emily would have told you, so I didn’t think about it until right now.”

“How can you not think about the fact that Blake Calloway showed up at the bar?” Sophia picked up her fork and took another bite of her salad. “Tell me,” Sophia leaned onto the table as her voice dropped slightly, “is she as gorgeous in person as she looks on the screen?”

“Honestly,” Alexis blushed, “she’s even prettier in person.”

“I knew it.” As she nodded proudly, Sophia’s smirk spread on her lips. She settled back into the booth smugly. “So, tell me. Is Isla ok? Did Blake say anything to you? Oh! Did she see you?”

“What does that even mean?”

“Just that if your eyes met across the bar, I can see her falling for you.”

“What’s in this?” Alexis picked up Sophia’s drink cup and took a sniff sarcastically.

“I’m serious, mon amour. Remember what I said earlier about writing yourself off too quickly? This,” yet another fork wave at Alexis, “is what I’m talking about.”

“Ok, there is a huge difference in me not thinking my writing is that great and you being delusional enough to think that someone like Blake freakin’ Calloway would be interested in someone like me.”

They both knew each other well enough that although Alexis knew Sophia wanted to protest, she wasn’t going to. At least not right then. No, she’d wait for the perfect moment to recall their conversation and try to convince Alexis she was worthy of someone like Blake.

Which, of course, Alexis knew she wasn’t.

But none of that mattered anyway. Alexis’s walls were up so high that there was no way anyone would ever be able to scale them. Least of all one of Hollywood’s top actresses.

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