Always Okay | (Adopted By Elizabeth Olsen)

Chapter 33

Word Count: 4805

Scarlett's POV

"Alexis, hun, I-I it's not my choice," I stuttered out.

"Why does everyone say that?" She pouted.

"Alexis, I can call Lizzie and ask but she is still your mom. This is a decision that you two need to make together," I told her as I rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Can I please just stay here?" she pleaded desperately.

"Alexis, I have to work very very early tomorrow," I explained, "plus I think Lizzie is excited to spend some one-on-one time with you."

"You don't like me anymore?" she paused her cries and looked up at me.

"What? No, that's not what I'm trying to say," I said quickly. She really is all over the place.

"Can I stay here?" she asked again very innocently and that's when I started to get a hint of something else from her. Manipulation? It honestly felt like I was watching a child throw a temper tantrum, so their weak-willed parents will just give in.

"I'm not sure, I can call Lizzie and ask her or you can. I won't be here in the morning, I have to go to work super early," I explained carefully.

"Oh," she answered a bit bummed.

"That means it'd be you and Romain," I added hoping to sway her to want to go with Lizzie. It's not that I didn't want her here, I love having her around but she needs to work out this with Lizzie.

"Oh," she sighed as I watched the wheels turn in her head.

"Do you still want me to call Lizzie?" I asked innocently because it was starting to be very obvious that she was twisting my arm in this situation. Who knows why at this point, but I guess it makes sense. Josh didn't seem like a walk in the park to grow up with, so she must've learned a lot of this crap from him.

"Do-do you think someone could just pick me up late tonight?" she asked nervously, her whole body language changing as she realized her original plan wouldn't work. "Like maybe Aunt Ashley?" she asked shyly.

"I can ask, but no promises," I sighed deeply. What is it gonna take for this little girl to understand that there are people here for her? I pulled her into a quick hug before letting her know I'd be in the office and she needed to stay with Rose.

Lizzie's POV

I walked out of my last meeting relieved, I'd finally made it through the long day and now I could go pick up Alexis and we head over to my sisters for the night. Hopefully, she won't be as angry and we can talk some more without her running off to my sisters.

I'm trying my best to get through to her but at some point, she's gotta give a little. I headed out to get the car from the valet when my phone started ringing. I gave the man my ticket as I rummaged through my bag looking for my phone.

"Hello!" I shouted into the phone once I knew it was Scarlett.

"Hey, Lizzie," she replied not matching my energy making my mind automatically jump to the worst-case scenario.

"What's wrong? What happened?" I blurted out quickly.

"Nothing is wrong, both kids are alive and well," Scarlett told me calmly as I heard her shuffle around the house.

"Oh well, why do you sound so down then?" I asked as I stopped pacing.

"Alexis was wondering if she could stay the night, she doesn't want you to pick her up yet," Scarlett said quickly, trying to get it all out in one breath.