Page 24 of Balancing Act (Soulmate #1)

NINE

BETH

The sound of the front door opening and closing again floated up from the lower level to Beth’s bathroom, where she stood with a chunk of her blonde hair wrapped around the barrel of a curling iron.

“Hey, it’s me!” Jamie called out from downstairs. Beth tapped her phone to illuminate the time, and sure enough, Jamie was fifteen minutes early.

The sound of Jamie’s voice brought a mix of anticipation and nerves. She wasn’t sure why Jamie’s presence had this effect on her, but there it was—an exhilarating rush that was getting harder to ignore. She exited her bedroom and went to the loft that opened to the floor below.

“I’m early, I know. I got your text saying to let myself in when I got here.”

“Hey, I’m up here. Come on up. I’m finishing my hair.” Beth grinned as she noticed the two cups in Jamie’s hands. “You stopped for coffee?” she said excitedly, as Jamie ascended the stairs.

“I did.” Jamie flashed her a grin as she handed Beth one of the cups. “Nice hair,” she teased, indicating her half-done style. “I really like the look you’re going for.”

“Ha-ha,” Beth retorted dryly. “I wasn’t expecting you to be early. I had every intention of being ready to go when you arrived.” She took a sip of the drink Jamie had handed her, using the lip of the cup to hide her amusement. “Oh my God, this is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”

“Really?” Jamie fired back quickly, and Beth laughed.

“Your maturity level is astounding,” Beth deadpanned.

“It’s a wildflower honey lavender oat-milk latte.

Obviously, I had to get it because of the lavender,” Jamie said, holding up the cup.

Jamie’s smile stretched wide, revealing irresistible dimples that caught Beth’s attention.

As they moved through the door to her bedroom, Beth noticed Jamie’s gaze quickly scanning the room before they stepped into the en suite.

“Obviously,” Beth echoed, her voice light as she reached for the curling iron that lay forgotten on the counter.

“Sorry about being so early,” Jamie continued.

“Amanda tells me I have an annoying habit of being fifteen minutes early to everything. But I was raised by a man who always said ‘If you’re not fifteen minutes early, you’re ten minutes late’ and I guess it kind of stuck. ” She leaned against the vanity.

“I don’t mind,” she said.

Beth tried to concentrate on the curling iron in her hand, but Jamie’s presence was too much.

She stole a glance in the mirror, taking in Jamie’s figure reflected behind her.

Jamie’s style was effortless. Her loose, cream-colored Puget Sound Pride crew neck draped casually over her frame, paired with tapered dark green pants and classic black high-top sneakers.

It was all so Jamie—practical and effortlessly appealing, much like the first night they had met.

“Plus, I have news for you,” Jamie said.

Beth felt a familiar flutter in her stomach as Jamie’s proximity brought a mix of comfort and confusion.

Their natural ease around each other was exhilarating and baffling, especially now, in the intimacy of her bedroom.

Beth redirected her focus to her reflection in the mirror, trying to mask the quickening of her heartbeat.

“Look at your coffee cup,” Jamie said, her grin infectious.

Beth examined the cup from Latte Love, the local coffee shop, and giggled softly upon seeing the alteration. Someone had creatively doodled over the logo with a permanent marker, renaming it “A Latte Love for the Drip Drop Café.”

“They changed the name again?” she said, sharing a smile with Jamie in the mirror.

“They changed the name again,” Jamie echoed, her own smile turning conspiratorial.

Beth placed the curling iron on the counter. “There, all done.” She shook her head, letting her curls settle.

“Wait, hold still.” Jamie reached for the curling iron. Her hand gently touched Beth’s, sending a jolt through her that froze her in place. “You missed a section. Let me get it for you.”

Beth’s breath hitched slightly. Her eyes locked on Jamie’s reflection as she expertly curled the missed strand. Jamie’s focus was meticulous, her touch light yet assured. When done, she returned the curling iron to the counter and turned it off.

“There. Now you’re perfect,” Jamie announced, taking a step back, but not before her eyes met Beth’s in the mirror.

A moment held, loaded with something, but she wasn’t quite sure what.

She wanted to ask Jamie—ask her what exactly was going on between them—because as much as Jamie said she just wanted to be friends, Beth couldn’t help but turn every one of their interactions in her mind over and over, and the more she examined them, the more confused she was.

She needed clarity, for once and for all, to close whatever infinite loop she had found herself in.

But before she could muster up the courage, the moment passed.

Jamie gave her another smile. “We should probably head out.”

A little while later, the pair weaved through the maze of tailgaters, scanning for Sarah’s setup.

“I see them,” Beth said, pointing them out before leading the way.

Jamie followed closely as they approached the lively tailgate party, where Sarah greeted them with enthusiastic hugs.

“You made it!” Sarah beamed, embracing Beth and then Jamie warmly.

She quickly turned to Jamie. “You’ve met a good handful of our friends already—from the Ultimate Frisbee team—but let me introduce you to everyone else. ”

As Sarah ushered Jamie toward the chattering group, Beth caught Jamie’s eye and jokingly mouthed, “You’ll be fine.” She could have sworn Jamie winked at her. Or was she imagining it because she wanted nothing more than Jamie’s attention?

Sean’s teasing voice made Beth jump. “Feeding her to the wolves so soon?” he joked, earning himself a playful shove from her.

“She’ll be fine.” Beth scanned the crowd subtly. “Plus, Sarah’s got her playing on their Ultimate Frisbee team now. You know how she likes to rope people in.”

“Is that still going on?” Sean’s whisper sliced through her thoughts, his words edged with knowing. His gaze was sharp—too sharp. “Are you and Sarah still... close?”

Beth leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Not now, Sean.”

She reached over to grab water from the cooler, trying to hide her discomfort as Sean feigned injury. “You wound me,” he dramatized, clutching his chest.

“I didn’t know you were going to be here today. I thought you were taking Dylan to California?”

“Last-minute change of plans. Dylan will be staying with me a little longer than initially expected.” Along with a silent exchange of You know how these things go , referring to the balance of co-parenting with an ex-spouse.

“Lily invited Dylan, and then Sarah said I should come, too. I’m glad I did, darling.

You’ve got yourself in quite the predicament here.

A meeting of the lovers, present and possibly future. The drama. ”

She smirked as he made light of the precarious situation she had found herself in today. “Shut up, Sean.”

Beth’s focus drifted from Sean as he switched seamlessly into business chatter, her eyes drawn past him to where Jamie mingled effortlessly with Sarah and others from the Ultimate team.

Beth’s eyes seemed always to find Jamie, drawn to her natural ease with the crowd.

Whenever their gazes met, Beth felt a pang of guilt, quickly followed by an undeniable pull—a mixture of longing and confusion that left her feeling more off-balance with each passing moment.

She met Sarah’s eyes without meaning to, her stomach tightening. Had she seen her watching Jamie?

Sean’s voice snapped her back to reality.

“And that’s when I said to him, ‘You don’t get the pudding without slogging through the muck,’” he boasted, clearly pleased with himself.

Beth realized she had missed the lead-up to his anecdote, rendering the punchline flat.

She forced a laugh, the tangled knot of her emotions making it difficult to stay present.

The arrival of Sean’s daughter, Dylan, and Lily, both adorned with new scarves and bubbling with excitement about their recent escapade to the merchandise stand, attracted Beth’s gaze.

But Jamie’s approach, when she was called over by Lily, drew Beth’s full attention, her presence making Beth’s heart perform anxious flips.

Jamie turned to Beth with a curious look as Lily proudly explained the perks of the suite tickets—a benefit from Sarah’s job—and Dylan enthusiastically agreed.

“Can’t wait,” Jamie remarked casually. “Both your moms have cool jobs.”

“I guess. Mama’s job is definitely cooler, because Mom is a lawyer, which sounds really boring!” Lily’s blunt honesty made Jamie chuckle, even as the conversation returned to the adults.

Take that, Sarah , Beth found herself thinking smugly. Lily thinks I have the cooler job.

Sean, ever the networker, introduced himself to Jamie with a hint of mischief in his tone. He clearly enjoyed the moment more than Beth felt was appropriate.

“Since it seems like B here has completely forgotten all her manners,” Sean said, holding his hand out, “I’m Sean Cassidy, Beth’s agent and friend.

You must be Jamie Lyons. I’ve heard so much about you.

” It took all of Beth’s willpower not to punch Sean in the stomach at that moment.

He was getting way too much satisfaction out of her torment.

Jamie’s eyes flashed to Beth briefly before she offered her hand, returning his handshake.

“Hopefully all good things. Your gallery is beautiful, and you know how to throw one heck of a party.”

“Only great things.” He smirked and reached into his pocket before pulling out a business card and handing it to Jamie. “My card. If you’re ever in the market for some art, call me first.”

“Really, Sean? Ease off, please.”