Page 23 of Balancing Act (Soulmate #1)

“Okay, shoot.”

Lily pulled out a tablet from her backpack.

“I wrote everything down so I wouldn’t forget.

Can I please pick my own floor routine music?

It needs to be cool. Can we switch up my cross-training to be somewhere that’s not here?

And, Jamie, I want you to come over to dinner at Mom’s once a week.

” She beamed as she clicked the button on her tablet, making the screen dark.

Jamie surveyed Lily for a moment. She was proud of Lily for taking ownership of her training and asking for exactly what she wanted. The Lily Gallagher she had met a month ago wouldn’t have done that. She narrowed her brow, giving Lily a contemplative look before answering her questions in order.

“Yes, yes, and as long as it’s okay with your mom, because I have a feeling you didn’t ask her yet.” Her eyes lingered on Beth once again, who smiled for the first time.

“No, she did not ask me, but it’s fine. We can coordinate what night works best.” Beth draped an arm across Lily’s shoulders, and Jamie noticed that this time, Lily didn’t try to pull away; instead, she smiled right back at Beth.

It seemed like her own relationship with Lily wasn’t the only one improving.

That night, Jamie found herself alone in the gym again. She contemplated texting Amanda, telling her she was coming over, but ultimately decided against it. Instead, she flicked on the lights in the gym’s kitchen and headed straight for the fridge, pulling out her bag of groceries.

The rattling at the gym’s front doors yanked Jamie from her dinner preparations, a break in the evening’s quiet she hadn’t expected.

She snatched a towel, wiping her hands as she moved toward the disturbance.

Peering through the glass, her heart gave a familiar lurch at the sight of the figure outside. Beth. Excitement surged through her.

“Hey, stranger,” Jamie greeted, her voice warm as she swung the door open.

Beth rushed in. “Hi. I’m so sorry to show up like this.” A flurry of lavender scent enveloped Jamie as she brushed past, the scent calming and electrifying all at the same time.

“I tried calling, but you didn’t answer.

I was in the shower, and Lily called me from Sarah’s, panicking because she lost her tablet.

We looked it up on that phone-finder-app thing and saw that it was here.

Is it okay if I try and find it quickly?

Then I’ll be gone, out of your hair, and you can get back to your evening.

” Beth paused, finally catching her breath, staring at Jamie with panic in her eyes.

“I said hi, right? Oh my God, please tell me I didn’t jump into all of that without saying hello. ”

“You said hi, don’t worry.” The corners of Jamie’s mouth lifted into an involuntary smile at the sight of Beth’s flustered state. Their eyes met, and Beth returned a grin of her own. “Let’s look around and see if we can find it.”

Together, they ventured through the gym, searching for Lily’s misplaced tablet. They checked cubbies, locker rooms, and tutoring spaces but found nothing.

“You know what? I think I know where it is,” Jamie realized, after a moment of thought. “She took it out during our meeting this afternoon. It’s got to be in Amanda’s office.”

And there it was. Jamie retrieved the small black tablet from the desk and handed it to Beth, their hands touching briefly as their gazes locked.

In that fleeting connection, Jamie’s heart fluttered uncontrollably.

She couldn’t help but absorb every detail of her.

Beth’s presence seemed to brighten the dim room.

Jamie had seen Beth many times over the past month, and with each encounter, she found Beth more captivating than the last.

Jamie had unknowingly been cataloging the countless details about Beth that transfixed her, like her laugh when something truly amused her, or how she absent-mindedly tucked her hair behind her ear, and the way she seemed to float between her reserved and effusive moments.

She wasn’t sure when she’d started noticing, only that she couldn’t stop.

No detail about her was too big or too small.

These details had etched themselves into Jamie’s mind, documenting the intricate layers that made Beth uniquely her. It was overwhelming, but in a way that made Jamie yearn for more, for deeper connection, even when she knew she should be treading carefully.

“Thank you!” Beth exclaimed, throwing her arms around Jamie and pulling her into a hug.

Jamie instinctively melted into the embrace, her arms wrapping around Beth’s waist, drawing her closer as their bodies pressed together.

Time seemed to pause, and Jamie was intensely aware of every point of contact between them.

She never wanted it to end. She wanted to know what it would be like to dive into Beth headfirst, and— woah .

A tightness pulled at her chest, and taking a breath seemed impossible. What the hell was that? Pull it together, Lyons , she told herself, trying to get a grip on the moment.

The sharp ring of Beth’s phone demanded their attention, pulling Beth away and leaving Jamie’s arms to fall limply to her sides.

Her head spun as she tried to wrap her mind around and process the sudden rush of thoughts and feelings.

A realization dawned on her: Amanda had been right. She was crushing hard.

“It’s Lily,” Beth murmured, a gentle contrast to the intensity Jamie was wrestling with internally. “Hi, Lils. Yes, I found your tablet?—”

Jamie drifted toward the trophy display, feigning interest in her attempt to give Beth some space.

In truth, she could have remained by Beth’s side, utterly oblivious to the conversation, as her thoughts were tumbling through confusion and realizations.

Where was this sudden surge of emotion coming from?

Why now? She had always steered clear of envisioning a shared life, too wary of disappointment to indulge in such fantasies.

Despite the distance, snippets of Beth’s conversation floated over.

“No, love, I’m not bringing it to your mom’s tonight.

You can get it tomorrow after the soccer game.

” Beth’s voice was firm. She glanced apologetically at Jamie.

“Lily, please put your mom on.” Briefly covering the phone’s mouthpiece, she whispered to Jamie, “Sorry. Give me a minute?”

Jamie focused peripherally on Beth as she continued her conversation, still pretending to be interested in the display case before her as Beth talked to Sarah.

“Sarah, why did you tell Lily I would bring her tablet over tonight?” The annoyance in Beth’s voice was palpable, a sharp departure from her usual warmth.

“That’s not my problem, Sarah. Figure it out. ”

After hanging up, Beth exhaled deeply, her fingers instinctively seeking comfort in her hair, weaving through the strands and tugging slightly.

“Everything okay?” Jamie ventured cautiously, as Beth rejoined her. She suddenly wanted to do everything she could to ease Beth’s stress.

“The joys of co-parenting,” Beth replied, her voice regaining its familiar, light timbre as she closed the gap between them slightly. They stood together in a comfortable silence, the earlier tension dissipating.

“From where I’m standing, it seems like you’re doing a great job,” Jamie said, inwardly cringing at the cliché. She watched a smile flicker back onto Beth’s face, and relief washed over Jamie.

“So, uh, the game tomorrow,” Jamie rambled, suddenly conscious of how hot her cheeks felt.

“Are we still going together? Not together like that, but, like, you know, taking the ferry, uh, simultaneously...” She made to take a small step back and out of Beth’s close proximity.

She only stopped when she felt Beth’s hand clasp around her forearm the same way she had done a month ago when they’d had their talk in the stairwell.

“Yes, Jamie,” Beth responded, her smile broadening. “We’re still going together. We’ll leave from my house around ten.” The simplicity of her affirmation, underscored by the softness in her eyes, left Jamie feeling like she was floating.

“Cool,” she said, smiling. Beth’s eyes swept over her body, and Jamie gulped, unsure about what was coming next.

“I should get going. See you tomorrow.”

Once more, Beth’s hand lingered on Jamie’s forearm, giving her a slight squeeze. But this touch was brief and fleeting, and as Beth pulled away, Jamie couldn’t help but miss her touch already.

“See you,” Jamie breathed, as Beth slipped out into the night.