Page 143 of Balancing Act

Twenty-five minutes later, Beth stared at the towering indoor rock wall before her, then at Jamie, who was grinning like she had done something diabolical. It was that same smile that had initially drawn her to Jamie months ago, at her last art show.

“You brought me rock climbing?” Beth asked, arching a brow. “On purpose?”

Tightening the strap of her harness, Jamie smirked. “Well, yeah. I thought it’d be fun.”

Tilting her head back to take in the multicolored holds, the sharp angles, and the absurdity of this wall’s height, Beth let out a slow breath. She reached out to touch one of the holds, the texture like fine sandpaper on her fingertips.

“Fun,” she echoed flatly. “I’m sure you’ve realized this by now, but I’m not exactly athletic.”

She caught the grin on Jamie’s face as she stepped in closer to tighten Beth’s harness for her. “Don’t worry. We’ll take it slow. One hold at a time.” She tugged on the strap around Beth’s waist, testing the fit before giving her a teasing smirk. “And, if you’re really good at this, maybe we’ll get you a different kind of harness later,” Jamie said, in a low voice meant only for her.

Beth let out a flustered laugh, her cheeks going red as she rolled her eyes and swatted Jamie’s shoulder. “And here I thought maybe you had matured a little in the last few months.”

“What? You walked right into that one.” Jamie grinned.

Beth shook her head, fighting a smile as Jamie knelt to check the leg straps. “I can’t believe you roped me into this.”

“Hey, you’re the one who put the harness on. Technically, you roped yourself in.”

Beth rolled her eyes. “Why am I in love with you?” she groaned.

“Excellent question,” Jamie said, looping the belay rope through the carabiner. Then she softened, stood, and looked Beth square in the eye. “But really—climbing is about communication and trust. And I thought it would be a good thing for us to do together, you know, after everything.”

Beth held Jamie’s gaze, the humor in the moment fading slightly as it was replaced by a deeper understanding.

Jamie’s voice dropped, quieter now. “Trusting you, letting you in, has been the best thing I’ve ever done,” she admitted quietly. “I hope you trust me, too.”

“I do,” she said simply. Because it was the truth, she did trust Jamie—fully and completely.

“Good, because I’m going first. Don’t let me fall.”

Beth crossed her arms, watching uneasily as Jamie clipped herself in and tested the rope. “Got it—I’ll hold on and hope you don’t fall to your death?”

Jamie shot her a wink. “Exactly.”

Beth snorted, but as Jamie turned and reached for the first handhold, an unexpected tightening in her chest took over. It was one thing to say she trusted Jamie—it was another to feel it in her bones how much Jamie trusted her.

“Do exactly what I showed you,” Jamie continued, “and talk me through everything you’re doing. You’ve got this.” She leaned in and quickly kissed her cheek before taking her starting position. “On belay.”

“Belay on!” Beth called back to Jamie, letting her know she was ready. She planted her feet.

“Climbing.”

“Climb on.”

Jamie climbed, moving with ease, and Beth held the rope firmly, keeping her anchored and safe, exactly like she promised.

THIRTY

JAMIE

Jamie adjusted her cuff links, rolling her shoulders before stepping into the bathroom. The rich fabric of her suit hugged her frame, the deep forest-green base embroidered with an explosion of intricate florals—dark vines, lilac blossoms, and deep crimson petals blooming across the lapels and sleeves. It was bold, a little ostentatious, but it felt good. It feltright.

Beth was at the vanity, applying the finishing touches to her makeup. Jamie stalled for a moment, admiring the way the green cocktail dress hugged her in all the right places. Soft light reflected off the smooth curves of her shoulders and the delicate shimmer of her earrings.

Jamie swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of the way the air in the room shifted the second she stepped in.

Beth’s hand stilled mid-swipe of mascara, eyes flicking to meet Jamie’s reflection in the mirror, then ran down her body—slow, appreciative, and deliberate.