Page 150 of Balancing Act

The crowd roared. And an overwhelming pride surged through her. She turned, searching through the sea of faces until she found Beth and Sarah in the stands. They were jumping up and down, holding each other, tears in their eyes.

This—this was what it was all about.

After the final rotations wrapped up, the gymnasts were called to line up for the moment they had all been waiting for—the announcement of the US Olympic Team. The entire arena fell into hushed anticipation as the names were read.

“Camila Vasquez.”

“Taylor Kensington.”

“Brooke Mizuno.”

“Zuri Williams.”

“Lily Gallagher.”

The crowd exploded. Jamie watched Lily’s eyes widen, her hands flying to her mouth before she turned, arms thrown around her teammates as they jumped up and down with her, celebrating.

Lily had done it. She was going to the Olympics—making history as the youngest gymnast to make the team.

Jamie watched, the smile still on her face as the new Olympians were swept away for interviews and press. She stepped away from the crowd for the first time all day. The high of the moment still buzzed in her veins, but as the arena’s noise dulled, she pulled out her phone only to see a missed call—Dr. Albright’s office.

She froze as that feeling of dread crept in. But instead of letting it consume her, she paused, took a deep breath, counted to ten, and held the phone to her ear.

She prepared herself for her world to fall apart any second now. But before those words had fully settled on her, she felt a hand circle around her waist and a chin rest on her shoulder. Beth was there, next to her—as if she had known Jamie needed her.

She barely had time to slide her phone back into her pocket, turning in Beth’s arms, and Jamie let out the biggest sigh of relief. It moved through her whole body, grabbing every last bit of fear she was still holding on its way out as she buried her face in Beth’s shoulder.

“I don’t have cancer,” she whispered against Beth’s hair, the words barely audible over the pounding of her own heart. “The doctor finally called. Everything came back benign.”

Beth pulled back just enough to see Jamie’s face, her eyes searching, full of an undeniable love so deep, so raw that Jamie felt it everywhere.

“Benign?” Beth echoed, Jamie confirmed. And then Beth was kissing her.

It wasn’t planned, wasn’t even a conscious thought—it was instinct, a reaction to the sheer magnitude of the moment—their fears finally,finallylifting.

When they pulled apart, Beth pressed her forehead to Jamie’s, exhaling shakily.

Her arms tightening around Beth, picking her up and spinning around as she laughed feeling lighter than she had in weeks. She didn’t have cancer.

Everything about today had been life-changing.

For Lily.

For Jamie.

For all of them.

And as she stood there, wrapped in Beth’s arms, Jamie felt it settle deep in her. This life—this family—was the best thing she had ever fought for.