Page 8 of Balancing Act

Jamie frowned. “Wait, Cascade as in CGA, as in Kendall Varner’s gym?”

Amanda continued to avoid her gaze. “Yeah. Look, I know how you feel about her, but?—”

“How Ifeel?” Jamie snorted. “I don’t feel anything about Kendall. Haven’t in years.” She shifted uncomfortably as she stretched.

Amanda gave her a skeptical glare but didn’t push. “Anyway, Lily’s talent is wasted there, and Kendall knows it. Kendall was the one who suggested I meet her parents. She said Lily needed someone who could handle her potential.”

Jamie blinked. Okay, that was not what she had expected from limelight-loving Kendall Varner.

“She reminds me of you,” Amanda said softly. “Lily—she has the same fire, but she needs someone to teach her how to harness it so she doesn’t get burned by her own strength.”

Jamie reached above her head and stretched her arms, and she couldn’t help the teasing tone that accompanied her words. “You know this ‘small favor’ is turning out to be quite the pain in my ass already.” She tossed Amanda her best displeased smirk before standing.

“Consider it payback for all the times you’ve been a pain in mine.”

Quietly, Jamie asked, “So, are you and Kendall, like, still friends?”

At one point, the three of them had been inseparable, bonded by countless hours in the gym, endless nights of aching muscles, and dreams of gold medals. Kendall’s laugh had been as familiar as Amanda’s, which made it hurt even more when things fell apart. Jamie told herself it didn’t matter now. She’d left that world behind. So why did the thought of Kendall knowing anything about her life now make her jaw tighten? None of it mattered. Not anymore.

“Yes, we are, but not like we all were before. We see each other at competitions, and our paths cross every now and then. But before you ask, no, we’ve never talked about you. Not since, you know...” Amanda let her voice trail off before quickly changing the subject. A small ripple of guilt tugged at Jamie. “Go shower before Lily gets here with her parents.”

Jamie hoisted her gym bag over her shoulder and headed for the locker room, her strides deliberate even as her mind churned. The past had a way of sneaking up on her and clawing itself to the surface. She’d known this would happen—had braced herself for it—but the memories still came sharp and unbidden. Faces, voices, the hum of a crowd chanting her name...

She shook her head sharply and huffed.Not today.

Taking a deep, long inhale, she did what she had always done—shoved that shit back into the tightly sealed box where it belonged. Out of sight, out of mind. For now.

To change her thinking, Jamie let her mind wander back to Beth as she mulled over whether it was too soon to text her. She had said she would, but was it the best idea? She watched as her fingers pulled up an empty message and addressed it to Beth.She grinned instantly at the name Beth had put herself under—yeah, Jamie wanted to do this. Beth was fun, and Jamie needed more fun.

Jamie 8:04 AM

Hey! It’s Jamie from last night. I’ve been thinking about that dinner I owe you.

She swallowed hard and hit send, the pounding in her chest matching her unease. She wasn’t good at this—the beyond-one-night stuff. But there it was. It was out there. She put her phone back in her gym bag and reached into the shower, turning the spray on hot and letting the water heat up.

Her phone pinged in her bag, and her hand shot for it quicker than her brain could process the sound.

Bullshit-Free Beth 8:06 AM

Hmm. Jamie from last night. It’s not ringing any bells. Maybe you could jog my memory...

Jamie grinned down at the screen. If this is how Beth wanted to play it, she could dish it right back to her. She thought momentarily about what she wanted to send back before her fingers rushed over the keys.

Jamie 8:07 AM

The same Jamie who had you whispering my name over and over and over. I’m pretty sure I have marks on my shoulder from your fingernails. Sound familiar?

Three dots appeared on her screen instantly. Good. She had Beth’s attention.

Bullshit-Free Beth 8:08 AM

Consider my memory fully jogged ;) Not that it needed jogging. Have you only been thinking about dinner? Because I’ve been thinking about dinner and maybe a little dessert.

Jamie grinned like an idiot. She could feel it, but she didn’t care. She liked how playful Beth was. She was fun to flirt with.

Jamie 8:09 AM

I might be considering dessert too ;p Let’s start with dinner and see where things go.