“And we have security.”
“Which is why, if anyone asks,” there was a twinkle in her eyes, “I am your mother.”
“Oh, good lord.” Blake snorted a laugh as she plopped down on the bench seat across from Sophia. The two studied each other in silence for a moment. Sophia, as per usual, was dressed to kill in an off-the-shoulder green dress with a slit nearly up to her hip. It was no wonder she was able to sweet talk herself onto the set. “How was your flight? Did Alexis ever catch on that you weren’t really going to Denver?”
“Why did I think we’d said it was Dallas?’
“Does it really matter if it was a lie to get you out here?” Blake laughed.
“I guess not.”
They’d been planning the secret trip for about a week, and Blake had been surprised how easily everything had worked out for it to happen. She’d been even more surprised that Sophia had been so on board with the whole thing. It gave Blake hope that the plan she was working out was going to be executed perfectly.
“How’s Alexis?”
“She’s good.” The love Sophia had for her best friend was evident on her face. “She misses you.”
“I miss her, too.”
“Well, then it’s a good thing we have a solution to that.”
“Indeed.” Picking up her bag off the floor, Blake slung it over her shoulder as she nodded toward the door. “Come on, let’s go pick out the ring, then I’ll take you to dinner.”
Chapter 34
Alexis was insane. There was no other way to describe it. People only flew across the country on a whim to confess their love to someone in movies. Not in real life. Definitely not in Alexis’s life.
And yet, that’s exactly what she had done.
Alexis got the address from Isla, who was eager to let her out of her shifts for the next few days. She’d left Emily in charge of Harper and Tucker before heading to the airport and was in the process of navigating the streets of Vancouver in search of Salem’s apartment. The navigation app on her phone told her to turn left.
“What am I doing?” Alexis gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I’m insane. Totally insane. I’ve lost my marbles.” She followed the directions through two more turns before arriving at a stop sign. “Deep breaths.”
There wasn’t a time in her life that Alexis recalled ever being so nervously anxious. Harper’s birth was the only thing that even came close. She needed to see Blake to know that everything was going to be ok. They had the ability to understand what the other was feeling without saying it, and Alexis needed that reassurance now more than ever. After all, that’s why she flew to Vancouver to see Blake in person instead of calling her on the phone like a normal person would do.
“Turn left,” the automated voice prompted once more, seemingly frustrated that Alexis hadn’t obeyed its command yet.
“I’m going. I’m going.” Turning left, Alexis looked at the numbers on the houses before spotting the one she was looking for. The navigation system told her she’d found her destination as Alexis pulled the rental car into the driveway. There were no other vehicles there, but there was a garage. Alexis had no idea what type of vehicle Blake would be driving. Turning the car off, she unplugged her phone from the USB cord and got out.
Not giving herself any chance to overthink, Alexis marched up to the front door and knocked. There was a video doorbell to the right of the door, and Alexis waved sheepishly at it in case whoever was on the other side was looking at it. Hearing the door unlock, Alexis stood up straighter and begged for it to be Blake on the other side.
“Alexis?” Considering she’d never met Salem, Alexis was surprised she knew her name. Which didn’t make any sense considering Salem had to know who Alexis was and what she looked like from the pictures posted online. “Are you looking for Blake?”
Duh, was the first response that came to mind but, thankfully, Alexis didn’t say it.
“Um, yeah.” She nervously twirled the ends of her hair around her fingers. “Is she here? Isla said she was staying here.”
“She met up with someone after work for dinner.” Salem checked her watch. “But she has to be on set early in the morning, so I can’t imagine she’d be out much longer. Do you want to come in and wait?”
Alexis didn’t have a chance to answer before an SUV pulled into the driveway. The bright headlights shining in her eyes prevented Alexis from seeing inside the tinted windows.
“Blake Calloway, everyone.” Salem laughed. “She never misses a cue.”
If Alexis hadn’t been so focused on the driver’s side door opening, she might have also laughed at Salem’s joke. But Alexis only had one thing on her mind. She needed to see Blake. As the door opened, she watched Blake step out as if in a daze. Blake blinked a few times as if unsure the sight before her was real or not.
“You’re here.” The words were dreamlike as the two closed the gap between them. Alexis went into Blake’s arms and let herself be enveloped in the tight hug. It seemed to put all the pieces back together that Alexis had struggled to do herself over the last few weeks.
“I am.” Alexis pulled away just enough to see Blake’s face. There were tears in her eyes, and when she blinked, a couple fell and ran down her cheek. “I’ve missed you so much, Blake.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
Alexis ran her hands down Blake’s arms and intertwined their fingers.
“I should have called you weeks ago and told you that.” Alexis swallowed hard. “I am so sorry that I freaked out the way I did after the photos came out.”
“Lex, you don’t…”
“Please.” She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I need to say this because I need you to know it.” Blake nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. I know now that I overreacted, and I should never have shut you out like I did. I know you didn’t have anything to do with the photos being taken, and if I insinuated that, I am so sorry.”
“It’s ok, Lex. You were upset.”
“Still, that wasn’t an excuse to act the way I did. We’re a couple. We’re supposed to work things out together, right?” Again, Blake nodded but this time, a smile also started to form on her lips. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I want to figure this out together.”
“I want that, too.” Blake pulled Alexis in as they wrapped their arms around each other’s waists. “I’ve wanted to tell you that for weeks too but I knew you needed your space. I tried to give it to you and I was miserable.”
“Me too.” Alexis dropped her head to Blake’s chest with a sad laugh.
“Well, at least it’s not just one-sided.”
“Definitely not.”
“I realized these last few weeks what I’ve known for the last few months.”
“What’s that?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“That no matter how much I love acting, I’ll never love it half as much as I love you.” Blake lifted Alexis’s chin slightly with her index finger as their lips met. It was a soft kiss, a slow one that neither wanted to rush. Alexis leaned into her kiss and savored it.
“So, what do we do now?” Their lips were still tantalizingly close. “Where do we go from here? Are you moving here?”
Blake laughed. “Which question do you want me to answer first?”
“I don’t know.” As Alexis removed her arms from around Blake’s waist, she threw them up in mock frustration and laughed. “I mean, I just flew across the country on a whim to tell you I love you and I didn’t think about anything beyond that.”
“Well, lucky for you, I have been thinking beyond that.”
Alexis tilted her head and waited for Blake to continue.
“I’m done with the show officially after this week, and I have no other projects on the table. I’m done with that life. This,” Blake closed the space between them once more, lacing her fingers with Alexis’s again, “is the only life I want now.”
“It is?”
“It is.”
“You want to be with me forever? And my insanely adorable but very needy kid?” She laughed. “Oh, and the equally needy puppy you convinced me to get?”
“Hey, I promised you I’d help with the puppy, remember?”
“I do.”
“And I always keep my promises.” She laughed as she playfully booped Alexis on the nose, making her giggle. “You mean more to me than my career ever could. I thought I knew that before but these past few weeks have only confirmed that. I’m so much happier with you and Harper than anywhere else in the world. I want to be a part of your life if you will let me.”
“My brain is spinning.” Alexis nervously laughed as she held on tighter to Blake’s hands.
“I love you, Alexis.”
“I love you, too.”
“And I know we have a lot of things to figure out.” Blake tenderly caressed her cheek. “We can and we will make this work because we are worth it. We’ll live in a state of grace and figure everything out.” Blake shed another tear that Alexis quickly caught with her thumb. “I promise you, Alexis, I will spend the rest of my life telling you every single day how much I love you and how amazing you are and how lucky I am to have you in my life.”
“Ditto, babe.” As they resumed their kissing, Alexis felt Blake reach into the pocket of her hoodie and take something out. Blake took a step back from Alexis as her arms fell to her side. Alexis watched as if the scene in front of her was happening in slow motion as Blake dropped down to one knee while simultaneously holding a small black box in her hand.
“I had this whole romantic proposal idea planned out for later, but I just can’t wait.” They both giggled as Blake opened the box to reveal a gorgeous diamond engagement ring. Alexis gasped loudly as a sob escaped from her throat. “Alexis, will you marry me?”
There was only one answer.
“Yes!” Alexis practically tackled Blake as she tumbled onto her back while Alexis covered her with kisses. “Yes, a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes, yes.”
“Let me put the ring on you.” Standing up, Blake slipped the ring out of the box and onto Alexis’s finger. Alexis couldn’t stop looking at it as absolute happiness seemed to be bubbling out of every pore.
“Mazel tov!” Salem called out from the front door with applause.
“Congratulations, Lex.” The all too familiar voice startled Alexis as she looked around Blake to see Sophia had stepped out of the passenger side of the SUV. She was beyond confused about what was happening as she let go of Blake and watched Sophia walk toward them.
“What are you doing here?”
“Blake invited me a few days ago.”
“I needed help ring shopping.” Blake winked at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I could say the same thing to you.” Although she pretended to be mad by placing her hands on her hips, the smile on Sophia’s face was undeniable. “Where’s Harper?”
“She’s with Emily.”
“Emily didn’t mention anything when I talked to her.”
“I asked her not to say anything, silly.” Not being able to stand it any longer, Alexis closed the space between them and hugged Sophia. Her best friend’s hug was one of the best Alexis had ever received. “I’m so glad you were here for this.”
Sophia kissed her forehead. “Me too, mon amour.”
“Hey, come on inside. I think I have some champagne.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.” Sophia winked at Alexis before heading toward the front door. Blake was doing something on her phone as Alexis walked back over to her, slipping an arm around her waist.
“What are you doing?” Alexis studied the small screen. She could see Emily walking through her apartment with a huge smile on her face.
“I’ve got Emily on FaceTime so we can tell Harper.”
“Hey, Lex!” Emily giggled on the screen. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
“They are!” Alexis held up her hand to show her the ring as Emily squealed in excitement. “Hey, did you know Sophia was here?”
“Kinda.” She seemed to grimace. “She called me a little while ago and told me. But I didn’t tell her you were there.” Emily opened the door to Harper’s room and turned on the bedside light. Alexis didn’t care if it was past Harper’s bedtime. She wanted to tell her daughter the good news.
“Hi, Mommy.” Harper’s sleepy grin was beyond adorable as she sat up in bed and moved to Emily’s lap. “When are you coming home?”
“Soon, baby.” Alexis wished she brought Harper along with her at that moment. “But guess what? Mommy found someone who wanted to tell you hi.” She handed the phone to Blake, which made Harper squeal in excitement.
“Blake!” Harper bounced up and down as she waved at Blake. “Are you – are you coming home with Mommy?”
“I am, Harp.” Blake pulled Alexis close to her and kissed her cheek. “Your mommy and I have something pretty exciting to tell you. Are you ready?”
“Yup.”
“We’re getting married!” Holding up her hand once more, Alexis showed Harper the ring. Harper squealed again, and Alexis had to laugh at the way Emily recoiled slightly from the piercing sound in her ears. They spent a few more moments on the phone with Harper – making multiple promises to call her the following day – and that Harper could, in fact, be their flower girl -before they were finally alone in the moonlight.
Blake took Alexis’s hand in hers and squeezed it.
They might not have everything figure out yet, but there was one thing they both knew.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
THE END
About the Author
Addison Clarke grew up watching Disney princesses reach their happily ever after and now she writes her own modern fairy tales. She is a GCLS Writing Academy alumna and is currently hard at work on her next novel. She can be found tweeting at @AddisonClarke_.
Please tell your dog she said hi.
State of Grace: A Moonflower Cove Romance Page 31