Page 78 of Balancing Act (Soulmate #1)

THIRTY

JAMIE

Jamie adjusted her cuff links, rolling her shoulders before stepping into the bathroom.

The rich fabric of her suit hugged her frame, the deep forest-green base embroidered with an explosion of intricate florals—dark vines, lilac blossoms, and deep crimson petals blooming across the lapels and sleeves.

It was bold, a little ostentatious, but it felt good. It felt right .

Beth was at the vanity, applying the finishing touches to her makeup. Jamie stalled for a moment, admiring the way the green cocktail dress hugged her in all the right places. Soft light reflected off the smooth curves of her shoulders and the delicate shimmer of her earrings.

Jamie swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of the way the air in the room shifted the second she stepped in.

Beth’s hand stilled mid-swipe of mascara, eyes flicking to meet Jamie’s reflection in the mirror, then ran down her body—slow, appreciative, and deliberate.

Jamie smirked, lifting an eyebrow. Well, that answers that question.

Still, she asked anyway. “Do I look okay?”

Beth turned, fully taking her in now, and Jamie felt her eyes like a physical touch. The corner of Beth’s mouth tugged up slightly, like she was trying not to be too obvious about it.

“I’ve always thought you looked fantastic in a suit,” Beth said quietly, stepping closer. “Ever since the first night we met.” Beth hummed her approval, her fingers ghosting along Jamie’s lapel, feeling the embroidery beneath her fingertips.

Jamie glanced down at her own outfit, then shrugged. “Lily picked it out for me. She has a good eye for these things.”

Beth blinked, her fingers pausing momentarily against the fabric before she smiled. “She does,” she agreed. “She picked out this dress for me too.”

Jamie smirked. “So what you’re saying is that Lily is single-handedly responsible for how stunning we look tonight?”

Beth laughed, shaking her head as she turned back to the mirror to finish her eyeliner.

Jamie leaned against the counter and watched Beth in the mirror, memorizing the way her fingers moved with practiced ease. The small, almost imperceptible smile that tugged at her lips. The way she adjusted the tiny gold necklace around her neck before reaching for her lipstick.

She was so effortless in her beauty, in the way she carried herself.

Jamie’s fingers curled slightly against the counter’s edge.

Tonight was a big night.

The biggest night she’d had since winning her last gold medal.

She wasn’t nervous about the speech, or the media, or the endless camera flashes. That part was easy. But this—Beth standing beside her—still made her nervous, though not for the reasons it once had.

It wasn’t fear anymore, not of messing up or letting Beth down. No, the nerves she felt now were something else entirely —something deeper. It was admiration, woven through with the quiet, unwavering desire to make her proud. To be the kind of person Beth already seemed to believe she was.

She inhaled slowly, then exhaled just as carefully.

“You know, there are going to be a lot of photographers there,” Jamie said, “And press. And a lot of people who are going to want pictures of us together. I...” She hesitated, searching for the right words.

“I need you to know that if any part of you doesn’t want that—if you don’t want to be thrust into the public light with me—you don’t have to do this. ”

Beth met her gaze in the mirror, her expression unreadable for a long moment before she turned and stepped closer.

“Jamie,” she said, in that perfect way she always said her name.

“Part of being in love is sharing in each other’s success, and this?

Tonight? This is a huge success for you.

I want to be there with you. To celebrate you .

And I want everyone to know I’m with you, if that’s what you want. I love you. I’m with you.”

There was no mistaking her certainty and Jamie let out the last remnants of tension she carried. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed to hear that until the words had already settled deep within her.

She nodded, squeezing Beth’s hand three times before lifting it to press a kiss to her knuckles. “I love you, too,” she murmured.

“Good,” she said, bringing a hand to cup Jamie’s cheek. “Now, come on, we have a party to get to.”

Jamie leaned into her touch, grinning before Beth dropped her hand.

Whatever happened tonight, whatever chaos came with it, she knew one thing for certain.

She wouldn’t face it alone.

The party was in full swing when Jamie and Beth arrived at the industrial-chic venue where they had chosen to host the Empwr launch party.

Exposed brick walls sat opposite towering warehouse windows that overlooked Downtown Seattle.

A bold red neon sign pulsed against the back wall, casting a warm glow over plush black leather sofas and a sleek blue-lit bar.

The space buzzed with energy—laughter, conversation, and the clink of glasses filling the air.

They quickly found Lily and Sarah, who both greeted them with broad smiles.

“Look at you two!” Lily squealed, as they approached. “Oh. My. God. Jamie, that suit is perfect! I knew it. And, Mama, I told you that dress would look so good on you.” She clapped her hands excitedly, practically vibrating with excitement.

“I see she played stylist for both of you as well,” Sarah said, pulling Beth into a hug before turning to Jamie. “She’s right, though, Jamie. That’s one hell of a suit for one hell of a woman. Congrats again on all of this.” Sarah motioned to the room around them.

Jamie scanned the room, pleased with how everything had come together.

Empwr’s launch had drawn exactly the kind of crowd she had hoped for—investors, media personalities, athletes, and advocates, all buzzing with conversations centered around the importance of women’s sports beneath the glow of the chandeliers.

“Thanks, Sarah. That means a lot coming from you.”

Shannon appeared beside them with Wren in tow, her commanding presence a sharp contrast to Wren’s unsure movements.

“Yay! You ended up going with what I picked out for you, too, Wren.” Lily bounced on her toes, her energy buzzing like static in the air. “You. Look. Incredible.” Lily made a motion with her hand for Wren to spin so she could admire her handiwork.

Jamie smirked as she watched Wren rapidly shift through several emotions in quick succession: paralysis, horror, embarrassment, and acceptance as she eventually did as Lily asked.

Jamie had to admit, Lily had also picked the perfect outfit for Wren—long trousers paired with a stylish pair of chunky loafers and a crisp white T-shirt.

Young, stylish, comfortable... and unlikely to trip Wren.

“Uh, yeah, thanks. I needed your help. I’m not good at these things.” Wren smiled at Lily briefly before looking down at her shoes. Lily looped her arm through Wren’s and turned to Beth and Sarah, who had been watching the exchange with amused expressions, and Jamie watched Beth closely.

“Moms, this is Wren. Wren, these are my moms. Wren plays for the Puget Sound Pride, and she’s, like, totally amazing on the field.”

Wren’s posture snapped even straighter, her shoulders practically touching her ears. “Uh, well, I wouldn’t say amazing, exactly?—”

“She’s being humble,” Lily interrupted, nudging Wren lightly with her elbow. “Seriously, you should see her play. It’s unreal.”

Beth and Sarah exchanged a knowing glance, the kind Jamie had seen a handful times before—the quiet but unmistakable exchange of two parents clocking an important moment.

Beth, ever the warm and gracious one, extended her hand first. “It’s nice to meet you, Wren. I’m Beth, and this is Sarah.”

“Oh.” Wren blinked, then awkwardly shook Beth’s hand like she had never done anything like it before. “Sorry. I get a little nervous meeting new people.”

“That’s okay with us,” Sarah said softly, offering her hand as well. “It’s nice to meet you, Wren.”

Wren shook her hand just as stiffly, and Jamie barely suppressed a grin at the sight of Wren looking utterly flustered. Lily—either oblivious or enjoying herself too much to notice—kept talking, her hands moving animatedly. Wren, on the other hand, was ready to either bolt or combust.

Jamie leaned slightly toward Beth. “Think we should rescue her?”

Beth smirked. “Not a chance.”

Before Jamie could intervene, Shannon clapped a hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention away. “I need to borrow you to talk to some folks,” she said, already steering Jamie toward a small group across the room.

Jamie glanced back briefly to see Lily grinning up at Wren, who was now blushing. Beth and Sarah, meanwhile, were watching with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

Jamie shook her head and let Shannon lead her away.

They spent the next twenty minutes weaving through the crowd, shaking hands and making connections.

They met with investors, athletes intrigued by Empwr’s mission, and a few key figures from the athletic tech world.

Shannon, always the smooth talker, handled most of the business conversations, while Jamie added in anecdotes and personal touches about her journey.

“Whatever you two are doing, keep at it,” one investor said, clapping Jamie on the back. “This kind of movement is long overdue.”

Eventually, they made their way back to Beth and Sarah, who were still standing with Lily and Wren—Lily still chatting away, Wren still looking utterly flustered.

Before Jamie could comment, they were interrupted.

A sharp voice cut through the hum of conversation.

“Shannon.”

They turned to see a woman approaching them with purpose, her presence commanding. She was tall, with sharp, striking features, and steel-gray eyes that looked like they could see everything.

“Nell!” Shannon exclaimed, her face lighting up with genuine enthusiasm as she wrapped the woman in a hug. “Everyone, this is Cornelia Stanhope, owner of the Philadelphia Freedom.”