Page 9 of Balancing Act

Bullshit-Free Beth 8:11 AM

Dinner sounds great. I’m running late to a meeting this morning, but how about I text you this evening, and we can figure out when?

Jamie 8:12 AM

Sounds good! Hope you make it to your meeting on time.

Smiling, Jamie placed her phone back in her bag. Not only had Beth said yes to dinner, but she had also been thinking about a repeat performance of last night. Good to know they were on the same page. The longer she let her mind linger on what “dessert” could entail, the more that familiar twinge between her thighs grew. Shaking her head, she turned the shower to cold. Beth was supposed to be fun. Nothing more. So why did it already feel like Beth could be trouble?

Jamie quickly dried herself off with a towel, tapping her phone once to check the time. She still had a few minutes. She stepped into a clean pair of joggers and pulled on a T-shirt with the PGTC branding splashed across the front before taming her dark curls back into a bun, away from her face. She checkedher reflection in the mirror briefly before heading to the parents viewing area to meet Lily.

A tall woman stood with her back to the door. Her white button-down shirt—impeccable and crisp—contrasted starkly against the expansive glass, her sleeves rolled up practically to reveal toned forearms. She had tucked the shirt into a pair of high-waisted navy trousers, with a brown leather belt that Jamie surmised was a quiet statement of wealth. It was the sort of accessory that didn’t scream its value but quietly hinted at luxury.

Beside her was a teenager, her blonde hair and athletic gear contrasting against her mother’s polished appearance. A bag hung over the teen’s shoulder as they leaned into the glass, fingers pointing out the gym’s various equipment. The two talked in hushed voices as they gestured to different apparatuses below, meeting their eyes with smiles as Amanda and Jamie approached.

“Lily, Sarah. It’s so nice to see you both again,” Amanda said warmly, drawing two pairs of eyes toward them as they entered the room.

“Amanda! It’s good to see you.” Sarah held out her hand and shook Amanda’s before turning to Jamie. “And you must be Jamie Lyons. Amanda has told us all about you. We’re big fans in the Gallagher household.” She offered her hand to shake.

Sarah carried an air of refined sophistication, her appearance exuding an effortless class. Her golden-brown hair with hints of auburn cascaded in gentle waves past her shoulders, framing a heart-shaped face. Freckles dusted her complexion, and penetrating hazel eyes, softened by the slight wrinkling at the corners, met Jamie’s as they shook hands.

“Very nice to meet you,” she said, returning the firm handshake. She turned to the teen. “And you must be Lily. I’m especially excited to meet you.”

Lily straightened her shoulders, mirroring her mother’s collectedness, and offered her hand to Jamie.

“It’s amazing to meet you. I’m really excited to learn from you and be a part of this gym,” Lily said.

“We’re thrilled to have you joining our little gym family, Lily,” Amanda added. “We have a few things to review with you and your moms, but then we’ll hit the mats and have a little fun today. Are we waiting for one more?”

As if on cue, footsteps climbing the stairs echoed beyond the door. A breezy voice came from behind them. “Oh, that’s me. Sorry I’m late.”

Jamie froze.

She knew that voice.

Their eyes connected first, and it took Jamie’s brain a moment to put all the pieces together.

She knew those eyes. She had spent considerable time the night before watching them darken with desire as her fingers had danced across that fair, freckled skin. For a moment, neither moved, each staring. A whooshing noise echoed in her ears as her heart worked overtime, pumping blood through her body. Jamie willed her lips to move, to say something—anything—but words would not come to her. She stood frozen on the spot. Recognition flashing across her face.

Beth.

This woman—Lily’s other mother—was the artist from last night.

Fuck.This couldn’t be happening. Surely she was imagining this.

Her eyes darted around the group. First to Lily, who was a carbon copy of Beth, down to the freckles across the bridge of her nose. Then to Sarah.

Fuck. Beth was married.

And not just married, but, like,married with a kidmarried.Married with a hot power-lesbian wifemarried. Her stomach dropped. Finally, she locked eyes with Amanda, who shared her same surprised recognition and understanding, and shot her a glance that saidHoly fucking shit. She took solace knowing that Amanda hadn’t known about Beth either.

“Beth.” The name left Jamie’s lips in a quiet breath, and for a moment, she wondered if she had actually said it out loud.

“Do you two know each other?” Sarah asked, clearly puzzled. Jamie gulped down air. This was not happening... Thiswasnot happening. It felt like all the air was being sucked slowly from the room. She was suddenly aware of how sweaty her palms had become, an odd occurrence for her because shenevergot nervous.

“Yes—I mean, kind of. I—” Jamie stammered before glancing at Beth, who had an amused expression on her face.

“Jamie and I met at my exhibition last night,” Beth supplied quickly, and Jamie couldn’t help but notice the reassuring hand she placed on Sarah’s forearm in the way only practiced lovers would.