Page 45 of Anyone But Me

My Uncle Ethan had of course loved the idea of meeting up with Jax, so I asked to leave work early on Friday and after a late lunch, we made the long trip down to Maryland.

It had become the perfect trip, because not only was I going to see two of my uncles as well as my grandparents, but my moms and siblings had decided to make the trip as well.

Since it was last minute, Quinton couldn’t make it, and Mallory had decided to stay home with Duncan to avoid a long car ride with him.

Jax was going to go to the cafe on Saturday and work alongside Uncle Ethan while he taught her everything that came along with owning your own cafe. That gave me the perfect opportunity to talk to Olivia. It was as if everything had fallen together perfectly, which had to be a good sign.

When we arrived at my grandparents’ house just after seven, my brother and sister were already there. My moms were staying at my uncles’ house, so we probably weren’t going to see them until they came over in the morning for a big breakfast that Ronan had volunteered to make.

As soon as we walked into the door of the house, with Speck at our heels, Olivia ran over to greet us.

She gave us both tight hugs then took a few steps back.

“You both look amazing. I’m so excited we’re all here.

” She turned to look at Jax. “There’s two extra bedrooms and a den.

Ronan already said he’d take the den, so I figured you and I can share my Uncle Jamie’s old room and Carter can take my mama’s old room.

” She clapped her hands together and did a little hop in the air. “Bestie sleepover just like old times.”

Jax gave me a quick apologetic look, before returning her focus to Olivia. “Can’t wait.”

We walked to the kitchen and said hello to my grandparents and Ronan, then ate pizza and wings together. After dinner, my grandparents announced that they were tired and needed to go to bed, and Ronan went to the den so he could FaceTime Mallory and Duncan.

“I should probably call Quinton too,” Olivia said as she stood from the table. “I can go to our bedroom to call him unless you want to go up there now, Jax.”

Jax shook her head. “You can go to the room. I’m going to make Carter give me a tour.”

Olivia lifted an eyebrow at Jax. “A tour? You were just here over the summer for my moms’ vow renewal.”

“I was, but you didn’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.”

I looked over at Jax, but she was still staring out the window. “What do you mean?”

“We’re going out on that roof. Do you really think I’m going to miss out on the opportunity to kiss you in the same spot where your moms had their first kiss? It’s like serendipity.”

Jax stood from the bed and reached her hand out toward me. “Let’s do this.”

Climbing out of the window was more difficult than I expected, but after a struggle, we were both safely on the roof.

I wrapped my arms around myself, because I was so cold. “It’s freezing out here.”

“Don’t worry. I can help with that.”

Jax wrapped her arms around me as well, and when I turned to look at her, her lips met mine in a searing kiss. She was right. Kissing up on this roof where my moms had their first kiss, which was the whole reason I was alive, really was serendipitous.

When my tongue broke the plane of Jax’s lips, I was no longer cold. My complete focus was on her and her alone.

When we parted, Jax licked her lips as if she was trying to soak up every last bit of that kiss. “Feeling better now?”

“Much.”

Jax sighed and looked out at the backyard of my grandparents’ house. “You’re right. This is an amazing view. I would love a house with a backyard like this. It’s so gorgeous.”

“It really is. It’s why I’ve always loved coming here so much. Are you excited for tomorrow?”

“So excited. Your Uncle Ethan actually texted to let me know they are doing an open mic night tomorrow, so I’ll get to help him set up and run that.”

Jax’s excitement made my heart happy, and I was so glad to be able to play a part in doing this for her. “That’s awesome. Maybe I’ll have to check off a list item,” I said half jokingly.

“You should!” Jax was so thrilled that she wiggled around, and I actually thought we might end up falling off the roof.

I held her tight to steady both of us. “I said maybe. I wouldn’t even know what to do. Also, I think I’m ready to get off the roof now.”

After crawling back through the window, Jax walked right over to the open bedroom door and stuck her head out. When she brought her head back in, she shut the door and locked it. “Thank god Olivia is so loud on the phone. It was easy to figure out she’s still talking to Quinton.”

She sauntered over to me and grabbed my hands. “That means we have some more time to ourselves.”

“We can’t have sex. I told you on new years that I don’t want her to find out by walking in on us.”

“I know.” Jax leaned in and gave me a kiss. “That’s why we’re just going to make out like horny teenagers. If I get really turned on, I’ll dry hump your leg or something.”

I playfully slapped her shoulder. “Ew. Don’t be gross. That’s something I’d expect Speck to do. Not you.”

Jax brought her hand to her chest as if she was offended. “That’s absurd. Speck is way too dignified to do such a thing.”

“But you’re not?”

“Of course not. Now will you please make out with me already?”

I almost said no because I loved to watch Jax beg, but I didn’t want to waste any time, so I pushed her toward the bed.

Once we were both lying down, it was Jax who took control and got on top.

Our mouths were immediately on each other, and we ravaged each other like we hadn’t already done this a million times.

Jax removed her lips from mine to kiss along my chin and down my neck.

I was about to remind her we were only kissing, but then she nipped at my skin and sucked it into her mouth, and all reasonable thoughts left my brain.

“Fuck. That feels so good.” I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her body flush up against mine, then tilted my head so she had better access to my neck. “Harder. Suck it harder.”

Jax’s mouth made a popping noise when she removed it from my neck and lifted her head slightly to look at me. “Are you sure?”

“Yes!” I wanted her mouth other places on my body, but if this was all I could get for now, I was going to take it.

Jax brought her lips to my neck again and swirled her tongue around before sucking my skin into her mouth. Much too soon, she pulled away again. “It’s leaving a mark.”

“I don’t fucking care.”

I should have cared, given the fact that we were at my grandparents’ house in my mama’s old bedroom and would be having breakfast with my whole family the next day.

The moment was too heated for rational thinking.

All I cared about right now was how good it felt to have Jax suck on my neck while her body pushed into mine.

Jax growled and brought her mouth back down to my neck. “You’re so fucking hot,” she said before sucking on my neck once again.