Page 12 of Balancing Act (Soulmate #1)

The vessel hummed with a gentle, rhythmic vibration as the low thrum of the engine kicked on, and she had to steady herself as the boat jostled around, propelling itself forward on its journey across Elliot Bay.

Jamie moved through the interior cabin, scanning the neat rows of turquoise benches for an open seat.

Large picture windows gave way to breathtaking views of the vast expanse of water outside.

The scent of saltwater, mingled with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee from the onboard café, lingered in the air.

As she walked up the boat searching for an empty booth, she spotted a familiar blonde ponytail ahead, the woman it belonged to leaning over something on the table.

It was Beth. She was hunched over a small book—no doubt the same sketchbook Jamie had noticed her carrying with her in the gym the past few weeks.

On several occasions, Jamie had caught Beth watching her before she would hurriedly look away, pretending she hadn’t been staring.

Jamie had found herself flattered by the attention.

It felt good to be seen by Beth that way, and she couldn’t help but play into it like she had at the ice cream shop.

But she knew it wasn’t right. Deep down, she knew they shouldn’t be looking at each other like that, not with the undercurrent of unresolved things that still remained heavy between them, and definitely not when Jamie needed to be focused on bonding with Lily.

Sleeping with Lily’s mom was not the best way to build trust.

Jamie knew she had to kill the spark—fast—to ensure she could handle the upcoming months without being overwhelmed by her deepening feelings. She knew that given the slightest hint of a possibility with Beth, she would pursue it relentlessly until she got exactly what she wanted.

So, she concocted a plan. She would shift Beth into the friend zone in her mind. It was a simple solution, so evident that Jamie chided herself for not considering it earlier.

Becoming Beth’s friend was the ideal solution.

Once she framed Beth in that light, the inappropriate fantasies—like wanting to undress Beth slowly, to explore every inch of her with her tongue—would have to cease.

This was precisely why it was crucial for Jamie to shift Beth into the friend zone, and this could be the perfect opportunity.

“Is this seat taken?” Jamie asked, with a smile and an immediate rush of satisfaction as she noticed Beth’s cheeks color with a sudden flush.

“No,” Beth said quickly, her fingers snapping her sketchbook closed before shoving it back into her bag.

Jamie slid into the booth across from her, settling in casually. “You know, we might be setting a record for chance encounters,” she mused, a playful tone in her voice. “First the gallery, then the gym, ice cream, and now here...” Her voice trailed off invitingly.

“Yeah, we might be,” Beth softly responded, glancing out the window. “Where next? The coffee shop?”

Jamie couldn’t resist the opportunity. With Beth’s gaze momentarily lost in the distant view, she allowed herself a proper look at Beth—something she hadn’t indulged in since their night together.

Over the past three weeks, she’d caught glimpses of her whenever she could, but those brief moments were never quite satisfying.

Now, with time on her side in the quiet booth, she was determined to make the most of it.

Beth looked good. The way her jeans hugged her waist, cinched by a sleek belt, a black turtleneck layered under a crisp collared shirt.

Jamie’s mind briefly wandered into the realm of fantasy, considering what it might be like to explore beneath each carefully chosen layer.

However, she quickly returned to reality, shutting down inappropriate thoughts.

“No gym today?” Beth asked, that cheerful tone emerging again, pulling Jamie back to the present.

Jamie noticed a subtle change as she forced her eyes back to Beth’s face.

Beth’s smile didn’t quite reach the corners of her mouth like it did the night they first met, and her azure eyes lacked the sparkle she had come to know.

It was as though something, or someone, had dimmed the parts of her that usually shone so brightly.

“I’ll be there this afternoon. I have an appointment this morning.”

Beth nodded, and Jamie was thankful she hadn’t pressed her for more information.

As they chatted, the conversation flowed effortlessly across various topics, and Jamie was surprised by how natural it all felt.

Typically, she had little patience for small talk, always preferring to cut through the superficial and dive into deeper, more meaningful discussions.

Yet there was something unexpectedly delightful about this simple exchange with Beth, even when the topics were mundane.

It made Jamie wonder if perhaps they were meant to be good friends after all.

She found herself captivated, hanging on Beth’s every word—she was undeniably magnetic.

“So,” Jamie began, resolving that it was now or never. She needed to get control of their situation before it took control of her. “This is a little weird, isn’t it?”

“Wha—um, no, it’s not weird,” Beth replied quickly, tucking a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear and straightening her posture.

Jamie raised a skeptical brow.

Beth laughed. “Okay, yeah, I guess it’s a little awkward.

” Her gaze flicked briefly to the window before settling back on Jamie.

Jamie leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table that separated them as Beth continued.

“You know how when you’re thinking about buying a new car, and suddenly you start seeing that car everywhere?

” Beth leaned in, too, mirroring Jamie’s posture.

“Wait a second...” Jamie grinned. “Are you comparing me to a car? I’ll let you know I’m not for sale.”

Beth burst out laughing, and Jamie felt the tension ease, making her even more determined to bridge the gap entirely.

“It’s a metaphor!” Beth retorted playfully. “I don’t know. I guess you kind of expect your one-night stands to be that—one night—and not become so...” She paused, and Jamie could tell she was searching for the right word. “. . . entangled in your everyday life.”

“You’re telling me.” Jamie exhaled deeply. Entangled was the perfect word for what they had become.

“I’m sorry if that sounded harsh. I didn’t mean it to.”

“No, not harsh at all. I get it. It wasn’t on my bingo card either.

” Neither of them spoke for a few moments, but Jamie decided to press on.

“If I’m going to be entangled with anyone, I’m glad it’s you,” Jamie began, pausing to read Beth’s reaction before continuing cautiously.

“It seems our lives aren’t getting any less entangled.

I’d like us to maybe work our way up to being friends.

We could use a proper introduction, this time without the surprises. ”

“You want to be friends?” Beth asked slowly, her confusion evident.

“Yeah, friends. You know, like where I tell you things about me, you tell me things about you, we find we have things in common...” Jamie watched Beth’s consideration of the possibility of friendship play out on her face.

“Why?” Beth asked, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

Jamie had plenty of reasons. That she couldn’t stop thinking about Beth and how their brief interactions sparked this weird thing deep in her that wasn’t all about sex; how Beth’s enigmatic presence intrigued her deeply. But she chose not to divulge all that.

“Well, for starters, we see each other nearly every day, we seem to have a knack for running into each other, and I’d like to talk about more than the weather and Lily. I’m actually a great conversationalist, and, uh, Sarah might have added me to your friend group’s Google calendar already...”

“Oh my God. No, she didn’t!” Beth responded, with a mix of exasperation and amusement in her tone.

“She did. Sarah’s organized; I’ll give her that. We were talking about the game in two weeks, and next thing I know, I’m on your calendar.”

“That’s Sarah,” Beth said, with a small, fond smile.

“She wants everyone to feel included. She has a soft spot for what she calls ‘community-less queers.’” Beth paused, but quickly added, “Not that you don’t have a community, and I didn’t mean to assume you’re okay with the label queer. I wouldn’t want to?—”

“Beth, it’s okay. ‘Queer’ feels good, but ‘lesbian’ fits like a glove. I am a woman who loves women,” Jamie said, her words prompting a blush on Beth’s cheeks. Jamie hoped it was because Beth was remembering their night together.

“So, a reintroduction? How do you see that going?” Beth asked.

“Like this.” Jamie hesitated, her eyes lingering on Beth’s lips a moment too long before she extended her hand across the table.

This was exactly why the friend zone was needed.

She wouldn’t think about Beth like this in the friend zone.

“Hi. I’m Jamie Lyons, a former Olympic gymnast and now a coach.

Beyond that, I’m still figuring things out.

I’m a Leo, Gemini rising, if that matters to you.

I like anything active, anything lavender flavored, and looking at large bodies of water. Oh, and I’m a hardcore Swiftie.”

Beth’s expression softened into a warm smile as she took Jamie’s hand, the familiar electric jolt passing between them confirming Jamie’s suspicions. This was a risky idea, but it was the only way Jamie could think of to make the line between them less blurry than it already was.

“We’re really doing this?” Beth asked, her hand still in Jamie’s.

“It looks like it.”

“Okay. I’m Beth Walsh. I’m a painter and a mother, and I love lavender-flavored things. I don’t know much about astrology; just that I’m an Aquarius. Beyond that, I’m afraid I might be quite boring.”

Jamie couldn’t help but silently disagree. How could Beth think she was boring when she’d occupied Jamie’s thoughts so completely for weeks?

“Boring? I highly doubt that, Ms. Walsh,” Jamie responded, with a grin as the ferry announced their arrival.

They gathered their things and made their way to the front of the boat to disembark.

“Where are you headed?” Jamie asked, hoping it was in the same direction as her and that they could prolong their time together.

“To my studio in Capitol Hill. You?”

“Doctor’s appointment at the University hospital,” she said simply.

“Oh. Is everything okay?” Beth looked genuinely concerned.

“Peachy,” Jamie said. They reached the street level. “Well, I should...” She gestured across the street vaguely in the direction she was headed in.

“Yeah,” Beth said airily. Neither showed any sign of hurried movement, and Jamie had just turned on her heel to cross the road when she heard Beth’s voice call after her.

“Jamie?”

She whipped around so fast she thought she might have given herself whiplash. “Yeah?”

Beth laughed lightly. “Thanks for the reset. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you... as a friend.” A silver sedan pulled up in front of them. “This is me,” she said softly, before climbing into the car that then whisked her off and up the rolling hills into the city.