Page 56 of Balancing Act (Soulmate #1)

Beth smiled, taking in the sight of Sarah before her.

Her usual perfect golden-brown waves were tied up in a topknot tonight.

She had traded her usual business attire for an olive-green long sleeve shirt and leggings yoga set that perfectly complimented her complexion.

Tortoiseshell glasses, the ones she wore only at the end of the day, picked up the flickering shadows cast by the fire.

Her elbow was propped up on the back of the couch as hazel eyes looked at Beth expectantly.

Before they were lovers, Sarah had been her friend, and through their ups and downs, Beth had always felt safe in Sarah’s friendship. Why should now be any different?

“It’s funny.” Beth leaned back against the arm of the couch, her voice taking on a more reflective tone.

“We met the night of my show in September, and, well, kind of hit it off.” She gave Sarah a condensed version of their meeting, skipping over some of the more salacious details of that night.

“I didn’t realize who she was until we all met the next morning at the gym.

And, well, obviously, with Jamie being Lily’s coach, we didn’t pursue anything.

Initially, I didn’t think much of it, but then we started talking, and—I don’t know, Sarah—we just clicked. ”

Sarah listened intently as Beth spoke.

“Jamie has this way of being there,” Beth continued. “Not only for me but for Lily, too. She doesn’t try to control things or force anything. She just cares. She’s been good for Lily—her confidence has grown so much since Jamie started working with her. And, honestly, she’s been good for me, too.”

A long silence followed as the fire crackled low. Neither of them saying anything just yet.

“Well, that makes some things make sense on my end,” she said quietly, her voice tinged with an honesty that surprised Beth.

She tilted her head as Sarah continued. “I couldn’t quite figure out where you were this fall, you know.

I had thought we were exploring getting back together, but now, with the context of everything else that was going on, it wasn’t a fair fight.

I never stood a chance.” Sarah broke eye contact, shifting her gaze to the fire.

Beth watched her as her thoughts seemed to process across her sharp features.

“I can see how much Jamie means to you, Beth. I can see how happy you are. I’ve never wanted to be in the way of your happiness. ”

That phrase echoed between them, similarly to that day years ago, back in her condo.

“I know.” She reached out for Sarah and gently squeezed her forearm. “I know.”

There was no tension, no undercurrent of resentment between them. Just an unspoken understanding, a silent agreement that they both wanted the best for each other and Lily.

“Like I said, I trust your judgment, Beth, but I also think about Lily. She’s grown so attached to Jamie. I worry about how she’d handle it if things didn’t work out. Not that I’m doubting you. I can’t help but think of her first.”

Beth shook her head slowly. “We haven’t told her yet, but you’re right.

She’s gotten so attached to Jamie. But, Sarah, I’m not in this thing with Jamie for a little.

” She sat up straighter. “I told myself that it needed to be the real deal if I ever took this step with someone after you.” Sarah nodded, considering.

Beth took that as a sign to continue. “We promised that if we ever met someone we were serious about, we’d talk about it first.”

Sarah reached out, her hand resting gently on Beth’s arm.

“I appreciate you talking to me about it. I support this as long as you’re happy and Lily’s happy.

That’s what matters to me.” She hesitated, then smiled.

“Besides, if you hadn’t told me, I think Lily would have figured it out sooner or later. She’s a smart kid.”

Beth laughed, the tension she’d been holding on to for weeks finally dissipating. “Thank you, Sarah. Really. This means... more to me than I can say.”

“Promise me one thing, though?”

“Anything.”

“Don’t shut me out. I know we’re not together anymore, but I still want to be a part of these big moments in your life. And Lily’s. I still want us to be a family.”

Beth’s eyes filled with tears, and she reached out, taking Sarah’s hand. “We are a family, Sarah,” she said, voice soft. “We always will be.”

They’d spent years building this life, making sacrifices for each other and Lily, and now, the new chapter they were stepping into felt like part of a larger tapestry, one they’d woven together with love and respect.

A short while later, Beth stood to leave, feeling lighter than she had in months. Sarah walked her to the door, offering one last reassuring smile before she left. Stepping out into the cool evening air, Beth felt a quiet, profound sense of peace settle over her.

She thought of Jamie, Lily, and everything they’d all built together. All the pieces of her life had finally come together, each one fitting perfectly into place. She was ready—truly ready—to embrace everything that lay ahead.

Late that evening, Beth sprawled in bed, her body relaxed but her mind whirling pleasantly.

The quiet of the house settled around her as she nestled deeper into the duvet’s warmth, and the memory of her conversation with Sarah lingered, a calmness washing over her.

She reached for her phone on the nightstand, her fingers hovering for a moment before she tapped Jamie’s name.

The line rang twice before Jamie’s familiar voice came through. The husky sound immediately told Beth that Jamie had been sleeping. “Hey, you,” she murmured, a smile evident in her tone, warm and inviting and wrapping its way around her heart.

“Hey,” Beth replied softly, and she couldn’t help the way her own smile spread across her lips. “Did I wake you?”

“Maybe,” Jamie replied, her voice laced with a soft yawn that ended in a tiny, kittenish squeak—so endearing that Beth’s heart melted. “But for you, I don’t mind. Is everything okay?”

Beth shifted deeper into her pillows. “Everything’s more than okay. I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh yeah?” Jamie’s voice perked up, the sleepiness giving way to her curiosity.

Beth nodded, even though Jamie couldn’t see her. “Yeah. I talked to Sarah tonight. Told her about us.”

There was a pause on the other end, and Beth could imagine Jamie’s surprised smile, the way her brow might lift in that charmingly skeptical way as her dark eyes narrowed. “How did she take it?”

“She wasn’t exactly shocked, which was probably the best-case scenario. A surprised Sarah isn’t a fun Sarah.” Beth laughed. “She’s been quietly putting the pieces together, but you showing up in Austin last month confirmed what she’d already suspected.”

“Busted.” Jamie’s snort of laughter made Beth’s heart skip. “So, she was really okay with it?”

Beth took a deep breath, her voice filled with relief.

“More than okay, which surprised me. I thought maybe she’d be upset—just, you know, with how things were between us in the fall.

” She hesitated, the memory of how easily she had slipped back into old patterns with Sarah, how natural it had felt in the moment, and how Sarah had misinterpreted that as a step toward reconciliation.

“But she wasn’t, she was supportive. We had this really good conversation about Lily, and she told me she was happy for me—for us. ”

“Wow.” Jamie’s voice was quiet, but Beth could hear her happiness. “That’s amazing. I know that’s been weighing on you.”

“It has,” she admitted, her fingers tracing absent circles over the duvet. “But I feel like everything is finally falling into place. Like I can really breathe.” She exhaled the last word, and marveled at how her body sank even deeper into the mattress.

Beth closed her eyes, feeling Jamie’s presence on the other end of the line, even though they were miles apart. Tiredness was pulling at her mind as she rolled onto her side, phone between her head and the pillow.

“I wish I was there with you right now,” Jamie said, her voice a low murmur laced with sleep.

“To tell you how proud I am of you, and maybe to celebrate a little.” Her tone was teasing, and Beth let that feeling wrap around her as she felt that familiar heat growing between her thighs at Jamie’s suggestion.

Beth laughed softly. “Oh? And how would we celebrate?”

“I don’t know,” Jamie said, the teasing tone back in her voice. “Something quiet. Something that might involve you and me, a bottle of wine, minimal clothing—and definitely not talking about Sarah.”

“I’d like that. Pencil me in for three weeks from now? After I get back from California?”

“Mm-hmm,” Jamie purred on the other end of the line. Beth smiled to herself, knowing exactly where Jamie’s mind was lingering.

“Jamie?” she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

“Yeah?”

“I’m really grateful for you,” Beth said, fully aware of what her words carried.

“For everything you’ve brought into my life.

I feel...” She searched for a word or phrase that could adequately and succinctly pull together the bigness of how she felt for Jamie.

She knew the four-letter word she wanted to use.

“I feel so incredibly full,” she opted for instead.

It was too soon to say love, but she knew what she felt for Jamie was real.

She had gone so many years of her life feeling like some essential piece was missing, and no matter how hard she tried, she’d never quite been able to fill the void it left.

She’d grown used to feeling incomplete. But now, with Jamie, that feeling was gone.

“I feel like I finally have everything I need. But there’s one thing missing.

” She inhaled slowly. She could take another step toward Jamie.

“I want to tell Lily about us. I want to tell her when you’re here next month.

I want her to know how important you are to me. ”

She bit her lip, suddenly anxious as she awaited Jamie’s response.

Jamie was quiet for a moment, her breath hitching softly. When she spoke, her voice was thick. “Beth, you have no idea what it means to hear that. I feel the same way. About you, about telling Lily, about it all. Being with you—it’s like I finally found where I’m supposed to be.”

“You are,” she whispered. “You so, totally are.” She felt the need to say the words she knew would adequately capture the depth of her feelings for Jamie. Instead, she let herself sink into the moment’s quiet, letting Jamie’s presence, even through the phone, fill the space around her.

“Get some sleep,” Jamie murmured, her voice a gentle caress. “I’ll call you tomorrow?”

“Definitely.” Beth smiled. “Good night, Jamie.”

“Night, Beth. Sweet dreams.”

They lingered on the line a beat longer, neither wanting to be the one to hang up.