Page 3 of Anyone But Me

“VisuSphere? Wow! I’ve heard amazing things about them. I had a friend who tried to apply for a job with their company and couldn’t even get one interview. What job were you offered?” Jax continued to stare at me intently, and it made the heat from the summer sun feel even hotter on my skin.

“It’s a data scientist position.”

Jax furrowed her eyebrows and nodded. “And what is that exactly?”

I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face in response to her question.

Just thinking about this job and the massive responsibility I was about to take on was much more exciting than it probably should be.

“So, essentially, I use analytical and statistical methods to research data so I can identify opportunities for VisuSphere to operate more efficiently. I’ll be in charge of things such as enhancing advertising efficacy, optimizing network infrastructure, and studying the behavior of those who will be using VisuSphere, which will hopefully be a wide variety of people. ”

The smile on Jax’s face grew wider as well and her eyes sparkled even more than usual as she continued to stare at me. “I honestly only understood about half of that, but I could listen to you talk about it all day.”

I wasn’t sure if Jax was flirting or teasing (or a little bit of both), but either way, I could feel my face turning red from her extra attention.

Olivia stepped in before I could say anything else.

“As much as we would all love that, we need to take shots, so we’ll have to save that for another time.

” Olivia put a hand on Jax’s arm, which brought her attention away from me, causing me to feel like I could finally breathe again.

“But, first, I have to know if you’re okay with Carter taking over my part of the lease whenever it makes sense for the two of us to switch places. ”

Jax put her hands on her hips as she stared at my sister with the same amount of attention she had just been giving me.

“So, you’re telling me that I have to give up living with my best friend,” Yep.

Here it comes. Definite no. Thank god. “To live with her super hot sister instead?” Jax shrugged as she broke into a smirk. “Works for me.”

Wait. What?

I was still trying to comprehend what Jax had just said when she turned to look at me again. “As long as you’re cool with it.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Luckily, my sister always had enough to say for both of us, so she spoke up before anyone could possibly notice I was floundering.

“She is. I already asked her. But let’s get back to the hot sister part.

It still pisses me off that you seem to think my sister is so hot, but you tell me all the time that I’m not your type.

We came from the same embryo, for fuck’s sake. ”

“Am I your type?” Jax asked incredulously. “Because I’d be happy to go tell your man that you’ve decided to switch teams. We are the hotter, much more fun team.” Jax looked between me and my moms. “Can we all confirm?”

My mom shrugged. “I mean, she’s not wrong.”

“Unfortunately for all of the queer women in the world, I am devastatingly straight.” Olivia pointed a finger at Jax. “You should still think I’m hot though.”

Jax chuckled and shook her head at my sister, before putting an arm around her and pulling her close. “I believe you said something about shots.”

“Of course.” Olivia put one arm around Jax and lifted her other arm to point across the yard. “Let’s go, family unit. We’re getting shitfaced.”

Olivia and Jax walked away, but instead of following them, I looked back at my moms. My mama was shaking her head, but there was a smile on her face. “I still don’t understand how I somehow birthed my nana. I swear Olivia gets more like her every day.”

“I guess that’s what we get for naming her after Nana, huh?” My mom put an arm around my mama, but focused her attention on me. “So, you’re moving to New York and living with Jax, huh?”

I shrugged as I stared at the girl who I would be spending a lot more time with soon. “I guess so.”

“And you’re sure you’re okay with that, right?” my mama asked. “You’re not just doing it because your sister suggested it?”

That was exactly why I was doing it, but at the same time, it made sense. Even with my salary raise, it would be hard to afford a place of my own in New York City. At least with Jax as a roommate, I knew there was no chance I was living with an ax murderer, or even worse—a republican.

I watched Jax throw her head back as she took a shot with my sister.

Her boisterous laugh could be heard across the yard, and most likely, throughout the neighborhood.

As if she could sense me watching her, she turned toward me and winked when our eyes met.

I looked away before she could see the blush spreading across my cheeks, because how pathetic was it that a wink from a girl who was merely an acquaintance caused me to have that sort of reaction?

“I’m sure,” I said once I remembered my mama’s question. “What’s the worst that could happen, right?”

…Right?