Page 73 of Balancing Act

Jamie bit her lip, eyes flicking toward the kitchen as if she were considering it. “As enticing as that sounds,” she began, “I think I should head out.”

Beth tried to keep the disappointment from showing, nodding understandingly instead. “Yeah, of course. That makes sense.”

There was a pause, a kind of lingering silence between them, and Beth could sense Jamie was hesitating—like she had more to say.

Jamie shifted in her seat, her fingers fiddling with the napkin’s edge on the table. “Before I go, though, I’ve been thinking... about Lily.”

Beth tilted her head slightly, her attention entirely on Jamie. “Yeah? What about her?”

“I’ve never dated someone with a kid.” She sighed. “I don’t want to mess things up for you or her. Maybe we should wait to tell Lily until we know where this is going.”

Relieved, Beth nodded. There it was again. Jamie’s thoughtfulness on full display. She loved how considerate Jamiewas of Lily in all of this, how much she cared. But at the same time, part of Beth longed for the day when they wouldn’t have to tiptoe around it. She imagined Jamie cooking in this kitchen with Lily bouncing in, and she wanted that future more than she’d realized until now. It felt right, but what if pushing too soon, too fast, could unravel everything?

“That makes sense,” Beth said softly. “We don’t have to rush into anything. But I do want you to know I really think you’re someone who could fit into our lives, mine and Lily’s. I can see that. And it’s not something I take lightly.”

Jamie glanced at her, eyes wide, almost startled by Beth’s words. “You really think that?”

“I do,” she replied. “But we can take it one step at a time, like you said. There’s no rush. And when the time is right, we’ll figure out how to tell Lily.”

“Thanks. I was a little worried you might take that the wrong way.”

Beth shook her head. “Not at all. I’m really touched by how much you care—about me and about Lily.”

Jamie’s smile widened, her gaze warming as she squeezed Beth’s hand. “I do care. A lot.”

Beth felt her heart flutter at Jamie’s words and, for a moment, all the worries about how this new thing between them would happen disappeared. She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Jamie’s lips, the gesture slow and tender. When they pulled back, she whispered, “We’ll figure it out, one step at a time.”

They sat in comfortable silence before Jamie finally stood up, grabbing her jacket. “I’ll head out now, but I’ll text you later?”

“You better.”

Jamie grinned and leaned in for a quick kiss before approaching the door.

“Hey, Jamie?” She called after her. Jamie spun around at the entrance to the hall.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for an amazing first date.”

“Anything for you.” Jamie winked as she turned back in the direction of the front door.

Beth watched her go, her chest filled with hope. This felt like the beginning of something solid, something real. One step at a time, they could build a foundation that would last.

SIXTEEN

JAMIE

The last week of December arrived faster than Jamie expected. She had tied up all her loose ends—wrapping things up at the gym, saying goodbye to Lily—and had spent a quiet Christmas on her own. Initially, she planned to head back to Oregon during the gym’s holiday closure, but a particular blonde artist had been quite persuasive in convincing her to stay in town a few extra days.

Jamie tugged her coat tighter around her body as she stepped into the warmth of Pho King Delicious, the small pho restaurant where she and Amanda agreed to meet to review a few business concerns regarding PGTC. A bell above the door jingled softly as she entered, and the smell of simmering broth, herbs, and spices wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.

Amanda was already seated at a corner booth, her red hair pulled up in a messy bun and a smile on her face as Jamie approached.

“Hi!” Amanda said brightly, motioning for Jamie to sit. “I already ordered us some spring rolls and an extra-large pho each because I’m starving, and I know you’ll want enough to swim in.”

Jamie laughed, shaking off the cold as she slid into the booth across from Amanda. “You know me too well.”

Amanda leaned back, eyeing her suspiciously.