Page 75 of Balancing Act (Soulmate #1)

They watched as Lily nudged the soccer ball toward Wren, who nearly tripped over it before regaining control. She must have said something funning because Lily was doubled over with laughter. Wren visibly relaxed at that, like she’d just passed some kind of test.

“Lily’s gonna be good for her,” Shannon murmured, crossing her arms.

Jamie hummed. “Yeah. I think so.”

“I get the sense Wren’s home life isn’t the best. Her family lives in Spokane, and she lives with an aunt here, but I don’t think they’re close. She’s a quiet kid, but man, is she talented.”

They quietly watched the two girls kick the ball around on the field before Shannon spoke again.

“Lily seems great. Mature for her age.”

“Yeah,” Jamie agreed. “Sometimes a little too mature. I want her to remember that she gets to be a kid, too, sometimes. One of the downsides of being an athlete in a sport where you’re lucky if your career extends past twenty-two.

” Jamie exhaled, rolling her shoulders back.

They were each dancing around the purpose of this meeting—waiting for her to take accountability for disappearing on Shannon the other day. She could do this.

“So, do you want to explain to me what happened?” Shannon tilted her head. “You disappeared. No texts. No call. Just gone.”

Jamie nodded, guilt twisting in her gut. “I know.”

She could keep it vague. Say she’d had some personal stuff come up. She could avoid this conversation altogether, push it back like she had so many times before.

But she was tired of that. Doing that never led to the changes she wanted in her life. If she was serious about moving forward and letting people in, she had to start following through with her actions.

Shannon had earned the truth.

Jamie rubbed the back of her neck. “I got a call from my doctor last week.” Her voice was steadier than she expected. “They found some abnormalities in my most recent scans, wanted me to come in for more tests.”

Shannon’s brows knitted together, her posture shifting from guarded to concern. “Scans?” she echoed.

Jamie nodded slowly. “I had cancer.” The words came easier than she thought they would. “When I was twenty-four. Stage 1 triple-negative breast cancer.” She swallowed.

Shannon’s face fell. “So that’s why you retired, we all had wondered,” she said quietly, before Jamie continued. She had to keep going. To get it all out and off her chest.

“I got lucky. Chemo worked, and I’ve been in remission for years, but, you know—once you’ve had it, it’s always in the back of your mind. So, when I got that call on Friday...”

She trailed off, shaking her head.

Shannon didn’t rush her. She stood there, watching, listening, waiting.

Jamie cleared her throat, forcing herself to meet Shannon’s eyes. “I freaked out,” she admitted. “And I needed to leave. It wasn’t fair to you or professional, and I’m sorry for ghosting. I should’ve told you what was happening instead of disappearing like I did and leaving you hanging like that.”

For a long moment, Shannon didn’t say anything.

Then, she let out a sigh. “Jesus, Jamie.”

Jamie let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah.”

“Are you okay?” Shannon softened.

Jamie licked her lips, nodding. “Yeah. I mean, I don’t have answers yet. But I went to my follow-up appointment yesterday. And I didn’t run this time. Plus, I have a lot more support now than I did going through this at twenty-four.”

Shannon nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Good.” She shifted, tilting her head. “Thank you for telling me. I know we started out as business partners, but I also consider you a friend.”

Jamie let out a long breath. It was strange—how much lighter she felt having someone else know her truth after so many years of keeping secrets.

Shannon rocked back on her heels. “But as your business partner, I do have to ask: does this mean you’re out?”

Jamie frowned. “Out?”

“With Empwr. I wouldn’t blame you if you needed to step back and focus on other things.”

Jamie didn’t even have to think about it. “No.” She shook her head. “I’m all in. Shan, this—the work we’re doing—I truly think you and I could change the face and future of women’s sports. I think we have an opportunity to really make a difference.”

Shannon studied her, searching for any hesitation, but Jamie meant it.

Jamie wanted what she had built with Shannon and what they were working toward together.

“Good. Because I was not about to let you ditch me right before launch,” Shannon said, her grin back on her face.

Jamie laughed, shaking her head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Shannon let the moment settle between them, then took a step back, tilting her head toward the field where Lily and Wren were still kicking the ball around. “Does Lily know?”

Jamie followed her gaze. She watched Lily dart forward to steal the ball from Wren with surprising ease before executing a smooth turn and sending it straight toward the net.

The other girl scrambled after it, her long legs nearly tangling as she tried to recover.

Lily laughed, saying words Jamie couldn’t hear, and Wren groaned, covering her face with her hands.

Jamie rubbed her thumb along the inside of her palm in a soothing pattern. “She knows I had cancer, but not what’s currently going on,” she admitted. “I don’t want to tell her anything until I know what I’m dealing with. She’s got Olympic trials coming up.”

Shannon nodded slowly. “Makes sense.”

Jamie nodded. She watched as Wren, finally getting her bearings, launched the ball back toward Lily, a determined look on her face. Lily grinned and nodded approvingly, as if Wren had just passed some kind of test.

Jamie smirked. “Think they’ll be friends?”

Shannon snorted. “Wren’s already in awe of her, so yeah. Pretty sure Lily’s about to have a new biggest fan.”

Jamie laughed under her breath, then turned back to Shannon, shoulders relaxed now in a way they hadn’t been when she had arrived at the field.

“So,” she said, nudging her lightly. “Where are we at with launch? Everything still good to go?”

Shannon rolled her eyes. “You disappear for three days, tell me you might be dealing with a life-altering medical situation, and now you want to talk business?”

Jamie shrugged. “What can I say? I’m dedicated.”

Shannon laughed. “Yeah, you are.” She sobered slightly, then gave Jamie a knowing look. “You know you can lean on people, right? You don’t have to handle everything by yourself.”

Jamie hesitated, then nodded. “I’m learning that.”

Evening had fallen by the time Lily and Jamie boarded the ferry home. Seattle’s skyline faded away behind them as the boat thrummed beneath their feet as it cut through the dark water. Jamie leaned against the green metal guardrail, watching the waves as they rippled in the vessel’s wake.

Lily stood beside her, hood up, arms resting on the railing. She was unusually quiet, but there was an ease to her posture—an unspoken contentment.

Jamie nudged her lightly with an elbow. “So? What’s the verdict?”

Lily smirked. “On what?”

Jamie rolled her eyes. “On Wren. Did she pass the very high standards of Lily Gallagher?”

Lily grinned, kicking at the ferry’s metal base. “Yeah, she’s cool. Kinda awkward, though.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Lily grinned. “She told me she grew six inches in one summer and has been trying to figure out what to do with her limbs ever since.”

Jamie snorted. “Sounds about right.”

“She’s nice, though. We exchanged Snapchats. We’re gonna meet up soon.”

Jamie smiled, relieved. “Good. I think she could use a friend.”

Lily nodded, then fell quiet again as they each looked out over the water.

Jamie gave her a moment before bumping their shoulders together. “What’s up, kid?”

Lily hesitated, then turned toward Jamie. There was an intensity behind her eyes, like the one she had seen in Beth’s during their deepest conversations. “Are you okay?”

“What?” Jamie blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question.

Lily shrugged, suddenly uncertain, like she wasn’t sure if she should have asked. “I don’t know. You just haven’t really been yourself this week.”

Jamie had tried to be so careful—so sure that she had kept everything under control around Lily—trying to ensure she never noticed how tightly wound Jamie had been and how fear had curled inside her like a live wire. Clearly she hadn’t tried hard enough because of course, Lily had noticed.

She always noticed.

Jamie swallowed, forcing her expression into neutrality. “I’m fine,” she said, after a beat, making her voice as easy as possible.

Lily wasn’t convinced, but she let it go. And Jamie quickly pivoted the conversation away from herself. “What about you? Trials are coming up fast. How are you feeling?”

Lily tilted her head slightly. “Excited. Nervous. I don’t know. It’s weird.”

“Weird how?”

“I think... it’s just wild that it’s happening. Like, I’ve been dreaming about this forever, and now it’s real but also kind of intense. If I don’t make it this time, I really only have one other shot at the Olympics, and not until I’m nineteen.”

Jamie shifted her weight, thinking before responding, wanting to validate everything Lily was thinking and feeling.

“That feeling?” she said quietly. “That’s how you know it matters.

But between you and me”—she bumped her shoulder against Lily’s—“I’d bet money you’re going to make that Olympic team. ”

“I hope so,” Lily said, staring out at the water. Jamie watched her as she chewed on her bottom lip. “There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

Jamie raised an eyebrow.

Lily hesitated, then straightened, facing Jamie fully. “I want to start building my brand.”

“Your brand?” Jamie blinked, trying to follow her thinking.

“Yeah.” Lily nodded, suddenly animated. “My brand. You know, like a social-media presence. Instagram or TikTok or something like that. I want to start sharing more about my training and gymnastics—a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be an elite athlete.”

Jamie tilted her head, studying her. “That’s... not a bad idea.”

“Right?” Lily grinned. “I mean, I follow so many athletes who do that, and they’ve built whole careers out of it. Plus, it could help with sponsorships. A lot of companies want athletes with strong personal brands now, especially since we can make money off name, image, and likeness deals.”

Jamie nodded slowly, impressed with the thought Lily had already put into this. It made sense. Lily was smart. She wasn’t only thinking about the sport but about longevity. About her future.

“But...” Lily deflated slightly. “I need to convince my moms first.”

Jamie snorted. “Ah. There it is.”

“Mom might be on board—she gets the business side. But Mama? That’s gonna be harder.”

Jamie winced. “Yeah, your mom’s not exactly pro- internet.”

“Right?” Lily groaned. “She still thinks social media is a cesspool of negativity.”

“I mean, she’s not wrong,” Jamie joked.

Lily rolled her eyes. “I know , but it’s also a tool, and if I do it right, it could really help my career. I need her to see that.” She gave Jamie a pointed look. “Which is why I need backup.”

“You want me to help you convince your mom,” Jamie said slowly.

Lily shrugged, attempting innocence. “It would mean a lot if you were on my side.”

Jamie sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. This felt like a parent thing, and she wasn’t Lily’s parent. Just the bonus adult in the house.

But Lily was looking at her like Jamie’s opinion mattered .

Like she was part of this decision.

“I’m not saying I’ll fight your battle for you, but if you need help articulating your points, I’ve got your back.”

Lily grinned. “That’s all I need.”

Jamie shook her head. “You’re lucky I like you.”

“I know,” Lily quipped, bumping her with her shoulder.

Jamie smirked, watching the lights reflect off the water before shifting the conversation again. “Speaking of the internet—are you still getting messages from the girls at your old gym?”

Lily’s face twisted slightly, but she shook her head. “No. Nothing in a while. I think they got bored.”

Jamie watched her, the way the wind picked up the blonde wisps of hair that had fallen from her ponytail and how her eyes narrowed. Lily glanced at Jamie out of the corner of her eye. Jamie wasn’t sure if that was true or if they had moved on to someone else, but she didn’t press.

They lapsed into an easy silence, the steady hum of the ferry filling the space between them.

Then, out of nowhere, Lily said, “Hey, Jamie?”

“Hey, Lily,” she responded on instinct.

Lily hesitated, fiddling with her hands. “You know how they say you should never meet your heroes?”

Jamie’s chest tightened unexpectedly, suddenly understanding where Lily was going with this. She suddenly felt too big for her own skin, like she was taking up too much space. She had never thought of herself as anyone’s hero—never thought she deserved to be.

Lily looked up, a small, quiet smile pulling at her lips. “Well, I got lucky. Because mine ended up being pretty great in real life, too.”

Jamie’s throat closed up.

Something in her heart clenched between overwhelming gratitude and the deep, aching weight of responsibility.

She had no idea what to say to that, so she didn’t say anything.

She moved instinctually, wrapping an arm around Lily’s shoulders and pulling her in, a motion that had once felt so foreign to her but now felt like second nature.

Lily didn’t resist, but leaned into her, pressing her face briefly against Jamie’s hoodie before pulling back.

It was quiet for a moment.

Then Lily asked, casually, as if she were asking about the weather, “Are you going to marry my mom?”

Jamie choked on air. “Jesus, Lily.”

Lily grinned, entirely unbothered. “What? It’s a valid question.”

Jamie coughed, trying to recover. “I . . . Uh . . . What . . .”

Lily stared at her expectantly.

Jamie groaned, rubbing a hand over her face. “We’re taking things day by day, okay?” She pointed at her. “And I literally just finished moving the last of my stuff in, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

Lily smirked. “So, not no .”

Jamie sighed, but the edges of her mouth twitched. “I love your mom. A lot.” She hesitated, feeling like there was more she needed to say—something bigger. But she didn’t know how to say it, so in a classic Jamie way, she danced around it awkwardly. “And I love—uh—I care for you too.”

Lily’s smirk widened. “That was painful for you, huh?”

Jamie groaned. “You’re the worst.”

Lily bumped her shoulder. “I love you, too, Jamie.”