Page 144 of Balancing Act

Jamie smirked, lifting an eyebrow.Well, that answers that question.

Still, she asked anyway. “Do I look okay?”

Beth turned, fully taking her in now, and Jamie felt her eyes like a physical touch. The corner of Beth’s mouth tugged up slightly, like she was trying not to be too obvious about it.

“I’ve always thought you looked fantastic in a suit,” Beth said quietly, stepping closer. “Ever since the first night we met.” Beth hummed her approval, her fingers ghosting along Jamie’s lapel, feeling the embroidery beneath her fingertips.

Jamie glanced down at her own outfit, then shrugged. “Lily picked it out for me. She has a good eye for these things.”

Beth blinked, her fingers pausing momentarily against the fabric before she smiled. “She does,” she agreed. “She picked out this dress for me too.”

Jamie smirked. “So what you’re saying is that Lily is single-handedly responsible for how stunning we look tonight?”

Beth laughed, shaking her head as she turned back to the mirror to finish her eyeliner.

Jamie leaned against the counter and watched Beth in the mirror, memorizing the way her fingers moved with practiced ease. The small, almost imperceptible smile that tugged at her lips. The way she adjusted the tiny gold necklace around her neck before reaching for her lipstick.

She was soeffortlessin her beauty, in the way she carried herself.

Jamie’s fingers curled slightly against the counter’s edge.

Tonight was a big night.

The biggest night she’d had since winning her last gold medal.

She wasn’t nervous about the speech, or the media, or the endless camera flashes. That part was easy. But this—Beth standing beside her—still made her nervous, though not for the reasons it once had.

It wasn’t fear anymore, not of messing up or letting Beth down. No, the nerves she felt now were something else entirely—something deeper. It was admiration, woven through with the quiet, unwavering desire to make her proud. To be the kind of person Beth already seemed to believe she was.

She inhaled slowly, then exhaled just as carefully. “You know, there are going to be a lot of photographers there,” Jamie said, “And press. And a lot of people who are going to want pictures of us together. I...” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “I need you to know that if any part of you doesn’t want that—if you don’t want to be thrust into the public light with me—you don’thaveto do this.”

Beth met her gaze in the mirror, her expression unreadable for a long moment before she turned and stepped closer.

“Jamie,” she said, in that perfect way she always said her name. “Part of being in love is sharing in each other’s success, and this?Tonight?This is ahugesuccess for you. Iwantto be there with you. To celebrateyou. And I want everyone to know I’m with you, if that’s what you want. I love you. I’mwithyou.”

There was no mistaking her certainty and Jamie let out the last remnants of tension she carried. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed to hear that until the words had already settled deep within her.

She nodded, squeezing Beth’s hand three times before lifting it to press a kiss to her knuckles. “I love you, too,” she murmured.

“Good,” she said, bringing a hand to cup Jamie’s cheek. “Now, come on, we have a party to get to.”

Jamie leaned into her touch, grinning before Beth dropped her hand.

Whatever happened tonight, whatever chaos came with it, she knew one thing for certain.

She wouldn’t face it alone.

The party was in full swing when Jamie and Beth arrived at the industrial-chic venue where they had chosen to host theEmpwr launch party. Exposed brick walls sat opposite towering warehouse windows that overlooked Downtown Seattle. A bold red neon sign pulsed against the back wall, casting a warm glow over plush black leather sofas and a sleek blue-lit bar. The space buzzed with energy—laughter, conversation, and the clink of glasses filling the air.

They quickly found Lily and Sarah, who both greeted them with broad smiles.

“Look at you two!” Lily squealed, as they approached. “Oh. My. God. Jamie, that suit is perfect! I knew it. And, Mama, I told you that dress would look so good on you.” She clapped her hands excitedly, practically vibrating with excitement.

“I see she played stylist for both of you as well,” Sarah said, pulling Beth into a hug before turning to Jamie. “She’s right, though, Jamie. That’s one hell of a suit for one hell of a woman. Congrats again on all of this.” Sarah motioned to the room around them.

Jamie scanned the room, pleased with how everything had come together. Empwr’s launch had drawn exactly the kind of crowd she had hoped for—investors, media personalities, athletes, and advocates, all buzzing with conversations centered around the importance of women’s sports beneath the glow of the chandeliers.

“Thanks, Sarah. That means a lot coming from you.”