Page 59 of Balancing Act (Soulmate #1)

She wished Beth were here. How could she boil down everything she’d been through into digestible tidbit appropriate for a fifteen-year-old? Jamie had been through so much by Lily’s age, but Lily still carried a childlike wonder she wanted to protect. Still, she deserved the truth.

Jamie fidgeted with the controller still in her hands.

“Well...” She hesitated, glancing at Lily. “You know how I said running from your problems doesn’t solve anything? I had to learn that the hard way.”

Lily nodded, tucking her legs under her as Jamie continued.

“I got diagnosed with breast cancer. Right before the Olympics.” She let out a sad laugh. “I panicked. I didn’t want anyone to know or feel burdened, so I ran—all the way here.” She gestured to the room around them.

Lily looked at her intently as she spoke, and Jamie watched her process each word.

“Cancer?” Lily said slowly, and Jamie nodded. “But you’re better now, right?”

What a loaded question. She wanted to say yes.

That she never thought about it. But she knew that was a lie.

The ever-present thoughts of her next mammogram and fears of recurrence lived rent-free in her mind.

But she couldn’t say that. Not to Lily. Instead, she settled on a simple, “Yes. I’m better. ”

Lily was quiet for a moment as she contemplated her words.

“So, it wasn’t because of the pressure? It was because of cancer?

I kind of thought we were the same like that, because, you know, you always know how to calm me down when I’m starting to feel a little intense.

” Her face fell slightly as her eyes fixed intently on a spot on the mint-green couch cushion.

“You’re not intense, Lily.” Jamie set the controller down on the cardboard box and scooted across the couch closer to her.

“And at times, the pressure definitely got to me. It got to all of us—me, Amanda, even your old coach Kendall. It got to all of us in some way because we weren’t encouraged to talk about it.

” She reached a finger out and placed it under Lily’s jaw, tilting her chin up so her eyes met Jamie’s.

“You can always talk about it with me, Lily.”

They held eye contact for a moment, and an understanding passed between them. Lily’s shoulders dropped as she buried her face in her hands.

“Ever since that article came out, it feels like everyone’s watching everything I do. Everyone’s expecting me to be, I don’t know, perfect, and it’s sucking the fun out of things.” Her voice tightened, and her blue eyes darted away as she fiddled with her hoodie’s frayed sleeve.

“What is it, Lily? What aren’t you telling me?” She placed her hand on Lily’s forearm. “You can tell me.”

Lily’s gaze flicked back to Jamie, studying her before she spoke again.

“Some other girls from my old gym have been sending me messages, trying to mess with my head. Telling me I don’t belong.

Stuff like that.” She pulled out her phone, flashing a screenshot of a message thread before handing it to Jamie.

“It’s not like it matters. They aren’t my friends anymore.

It just sucks.” She hugged her knees closer to her chest.

Jamie’s jaw tightened as she read through the messages. She’d forgotten how cruel teenage girls could be. The impulse to call Kendall surged, but she stopped herself. That wasn’t what Lily needed.

“What do you need from me, Lily? How can I help?”

Pensive blue eyes studied her. “Honestly, being able to tell someone helps. What they are doing is shitty, and I wish they wouldn’t, but I know they say those things because they’re jealous.”

Jamie made a mental note to let Beth know about the messages, but right now, Lily needed someone to listen more than she needed someone to intervene.

“Between you and me, they should be jealous. You were on fire in Austin. Hell, I’d be jealous if I had to compete with you.” She flashed Lily a smile.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Lily’s eyes sparkled at Jamie’s confirmation, but she still chewed on the inside of her cheek.

“Spit it out, Gallagher,” Jamie joked.

“When were you going to tell me you’re dating my mom?”

Lily’s words fell out of her mouth in one long string, and it took Jamie a moment to sift through them. She blinked in surprise as understanding dawned on her. Although, on second thought, should she be surprised? Lily was sharp, and even the best-kept secrets couldn’t hide from her for long.

Jamie recovered quickly. “Now, I guess. Yeah. I’m dating your mom. How do you feel about that?”

Lily shrugged, but Jamie could see the excitement in her eyes.

“At first, I didn’t really know what to think.

I guess I didn’t want anything to change.

But now, I think it’s nice. Mom seems happier than she’s been in a long time.

” She looked down, her voice small. “And I like having you around. You feel like family.”

Jamie’s chest tightened, and she brushed a strand of hair behind Lily’s ear, feeling more moved than she expected. “That means a lot to me, Lily. And, you know, nothing has to change unless you want it to. I’m here for you and your mom—for anything you need.”

Lily nodded, the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. “I know.”

She picked up her controller again, tilting her head toward the screen. “So, one more race? Feel like losing?”

Jamie chuckled, grateful to see Lily’s spirits lifting. “You’re on.”

The next day, Jamie and Lily loaded themselves into Jamie’s car. “I still can’t believe you drive a Subaru. The van was so much cooler.”

“I promise you’ll appreciate the safety rating when you’re older.

It’s a great car,” Jamie shot back, before handing over the aux cord to Lily.

“Once again, Lily, I’m trusting you for the most important job of this road trip.

You are hereby in charge of the music. Please do not disappoint,” she teased, as Lily snatched the cord from her hand.

Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” came through the speakers within minutes.

Jamie gave her a reassuring smile. “Ready?”

Lily nodded, though she was biting her lip.

“I am. I’m just not ready to face Mom. Out of both my moms, I’ll take Mama being mad over Mom any day,” she said begrudgingly.

The drive was filled with easy chatter and a couple of rounds of Jamie’s favorite road-trip playlists.

She kept things light, deliberately avoiding any heavy topics and letting Lily relax into the journey.

They crossed into Washington, and the familiar scenery made her feel like she was coming home.

It wasn’t until they pulled up to Bainbridge Island and turned onto the tree-lined road toward Sarah’s house that Jamie felt Lily tense beside her again.

As they rounded the final bend, Sarah’s house came into view, where she was already standing on the front porch, arms crossed, her expression a mix of relief and simmering irritation.

“Oh yeah, she’s definitely mad,” Lily muttered, upon seeing Sarah.

Jamie glanced over, offering her a sympathetic smile. “It’s kind of expected, right?”

Lily sighed, nodding, and then looked at Jamie pleadingly. “Can you come in with me?”

Jamie hesitated, but only for a moment, before giving Lily a reassuring nod. “Yeah, of course.”

Jamie stepped up to Sarah’s house, feeling a mix of awe and hesitation as she took in the inviting facade.

The shingled exterior, painted in soft gray, gave the home a timeless, coastal charm, while the arched entryway added a touch of grandeur.

Damn. She’d known Sarah was a successful lawyer, but she had never really given much thought as to how successful she was.

But her house—like Sarah—wasn’t flashy, but was undeniably impressive, a place that made Jamie straighten her posture without realizing it.

She stayed a step behind Lily, giving her the space to face Sarah first. As they reached the porch, Sarah’s expression softened a bit, and she immediately pulled Lily into a tight hug, her hands running over Lily’s hair as though reassuring herself that her daughter was really there.

“Never, ever scare us like that again, Lily,” Sarah murmured, each word carrying a barely concealed frustration that flickered in her brow.

“We will be having a very serious conversation about your actions and the appropriate use of the emergency credit card. Understood?” She pulled back, her eyes hardening for just a moment before placing a kiss on top of her head. “I’m glad your safe, Lily.”

Lily nodded, her cheeks pink, and glanced back at Jamie, who gave her an encouraging smile. With a quick, almost embarrassed wave to Jamie, Lily slipped inside, leaving the two women alone on the porch.

Sarah’s attention turned to Jamie. For a moment, they stood there, sizing up the other. But then Sarah let her guarded exterior fall. Her shoulders dropped, and her arms uncrossed.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice steady but sincere. “For taking such good care of her.” Sarah’s voice faltered ever so slightly as she continued. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if... Just—thank you.”

Jamie nodded in understanding. “Yeah, of course. She’s an incredible kid. I was glad to be there for her.”

There was a pause before Sarah gestured toward the open door. “Would you like to come in for a bit? I’ve got coffee on.”

Jamie hesitated, feeling like Sarah may have something heavier in mind than a friendly, lighthearted conversation. Only one way to find out. “Sure. That sounds great.”