Page 73 of Anyone But Me
Olivia lifted an eyebrow at Jax. “A tour? You were just here over the summer for my moms’ vow renewal.”
“I was, butyoudidn’t give me a tour, did you?”
Olivia rolled her eyes and waved a hand at us. “Have fun with that,” she said with a chuckle before leaving us alone.
Jax smirked at me as she put her hands in her pockets and rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. “And then there were two.”
I pointed under the table where Speck was laying. “Technically, it’s three.”
“Of course. How could I forget our son?”
“It’s a tragedy, really.”
Jax squatted down on the floor and reached her arms out toward Speck, easily gathering him in her arms. She stuck her face into his fur as she squeezed him tightly up against her. “I love my baby so much.”
The sight made me want to clench my chest because I could physically feel the love in my heart. It scared me, but I didn’t even want to try to contain it anymore. I needed to have this talk with Olivia (which would hopefully go well) then tell Jax exactly how I felt.
“So, how ‘bout that tour?” Jax asked when she was done having her moment with Speck.
“Follow me.”
I led Jax through the rooms on the bottom floor, then pointed out to the backyard, where the lake that meant so much to me was sitting in the distance. “As I’m sure you remember, this is where my moms’ ceremony was.”
Jax nodded as she looked out in awe, as if she was seeing it for the first time. “It’s beautiful. I love this view so much.”
As I watched Jax examine the lake as if she was taking it in bit by bit, I got an idea. “I know somewhere that you’ll get an even better view. Do you trust me?”
Jax moved her gaze from the window, to lift an eyebrow at me. “Is there some reason I shouldn’t?”
“Of course not.”
I led her up the stairs and into my mama’s old room and told her to sit Speck on the bed. “He can’t come out with us.”
“Out? Like into the freezing cold?” Jax asked, aghast. “Maybe I shouldn’t trust you.”
I walked over to the window and opened it, my sweatshirt doing nothing to quell the cold breeze that drifted inside. “It’s a great view.”
Jax stood beside me and looked out of the open window. “A great view that could kill us.”
“Wait.” I couldn’t help but smile. “Are you scared?”
Jax crossed her arms. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“You are.” I reached out and tickled her sides. “You’re afraid of going out on the roof.”
Jax giggled and wiggled away from me. “I am not. I just think there’s better ways to die.”
“Okay.” I sighed. “I won’t make you go out there.”
“Much appreciated,” Jax said as she walked away from me to sit on the bed next to Speck.
I took a seat on the other side of her and pointed toward the window. “Fun fact. My moms actually had their first kiss right out there.”
Jax stared at the window. “They had their first kiss up on the roof?”
“Yep.” I loved the fact that we were so close to the exact spot where my moms’ love story had begun. There was something unbelievably romantic about being here with the girl I had fallen for. It made me wonder if Jax felt it too.
“It looks like I need to face my fear.”
