Page 135 of Balancing Act

Jamie let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah.”

“Are you okay?” Shannon softened.

Jamie licked her lips, nodding. “Yeah. I mean, I don’t have answers yet. But I went to my follow-up appointment yesterday. And I didn’t run this time. Plus, I have a lot more support now than I did going through this at twenty-four.”

Shannon nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Good.” She shifted, tilting her head. “Thank you for telling me. I know we started out as business partners, but I also consider you a friend.”

Jamie let out a long breath. It was strange—how much lighter she felt having someone else know her truth after so many years of keeping secrets.

Shannon rocked back on her heels. “But as your business partner, I do have to ask: does this mean you’re out?”

Jamie frowned. “Out?”

“With Empwr. I wouldn’t blame you if you needed to step back and focus on other things.”

Jamie didn’t even have to think about it. “No.” She shook her head. “I’m all in. Shan, this—the work we’re doing—I truly think you and I could change the face and future of women’s sports. I think we have an opportunity to really make a difference.”

Shannon studied her, searching for any hesitation, but Jamie meant it.

Jamie wanted what she had built with Shannon and what they were working toward together.

“Good. Because I was not about to let you ditch me right before launch,” Shannon said, her grin back on her face.

Jamie laughed, shaking her head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Shannon let the moment settle between them, then took a step back, tilting her head toward the field where Lily and Wren were still kicking the ball around. “Does Lily know?”

Jamie followed her gaze. She watched Lily dart forward to steal the ball from Wren with surprising ease before executing a smooth turn and sending it straight toward the net. The other girl scrambled after it, her long legs nearly tangling as she tried to recover. Lily laughed, saying words Jamie couldn’t hear, and Wren groaned, covering her face with her hands.

Jamie rubbed her thumb along the inside of her palm in a soothing pattern. “She knows I had cancer, but not what’s currently going on,” she admitted. “I don’t want to tell her anything until I know what I’m dealing with. She’s got Olympic trials coming up.”

Shannon nodded slowly. “Makes sense.”

Jamie nodded. She watched as Wren, finally getting her bearings, launched the ball back toward Lily, a determined look on her face. Lily grinned and nodded approvingly, as if Wren had just passed some kind of test.

Jamie smirked. “Think they’ll be friends?”

Shannon snorted. “Wren’s already in awe of her, so yeah. Pretty sure Lily’s about to have a new biggest fan.”

Jamie laughed under her breath, then turned back to Shannon, shoulders relaxed now in a way they hadn’t been when she had arrived at the field.

“So,” she said, nudging her lightly. “Where are we at with launch? Everything still good to go?”

Shannon rolled her eyes. “You disappear for three days, tell me you might be dealing with a life-altering medical situation, and now you want to talk business?”

Jamie shrugged. “What can I say? I’m dedicated.”

Shannon laughed. “Yeah, you are.” She sobered slightly, then gave Jamie a knowing look. “You know you can lean on people, right? You don’t have to handle everything by yourself.”

Jamie hesitated, then nodded. “I’m learning that.”

Evening had fallen by the time Lily and Jamie boarded the ferry home. Seattle’s skyline faded away behind them as the boat thrummed beneath their feet as it cut through the dark water. Jamie leaned against the green metal guardrail, watching the waves as they rippled in the vessel’s wake.

Lily stood beside her, hood up, arms resting on the railing. She was unusually quiet, but there was an ease to her posture—an unspoken contentment.

Jamie nudged her lightly with an elbow. “So? What’s the verdict?”

Lily smirked. “On what?”