Page 18 of Shift the Tide

Kiera glanced at Maggie, her brow furrowing in surprise. “Yeah, of course. Why?”

Danica put a hand on Kiera's arm. “You’ve been going through a lot.”

Kiera’s expression softened as she glanced around the table. “Oh, we don’t have to do this.”

“Come on, spill it. We want divorce details,” Maggie prodded. “I haven’t seen you since you kicked Alex to the curb and I’m dying to know what happened.”

Kiera’s eyes remained guarded. “It’s been a process,” she said carefully. “Alex didn’t contest the divorce, and he’s barely seen the girls since we moved to Denver. Honestly, it really fucking sucks. Divorce has really made me feel like I’m starting completely over, and I hate that.”

The sentiment struck closer to home than Izzy cared to admit, reminding her of late night arguments with Paisley about priorities, about how Izzy always seemed to drift through life already halfway out the door. Kiera’s quiet strength in admitting her struggles felt almost like a mirror.

“That’s one way to put it,” Izzy said, reaching for her water glass. “It’s like being thrown into a blender and hoping you come out as a gut biome-friendly smoothie instead of a disaster.”

As everyone laughed, Kiera glanced at Izzy again, her smile almost shy. “I’m just trying to get through it. One day at a time.”

Izzy nodded. Unexpectedly, she felt a desire to show compassion and understanding. Kiera was hurting, and Izzy suspected that she'd been hurting for much, much longer than she'd let on. From what Izzy had heard, Kiera's ex-husband had been cheating for a while, and Kiera had already known about the affair when they were in Telluride.

Kiera’s gaze lingered on Izzy for a moment.

Danica cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “Alright, who’s up for dessert? I picked up some ice cream sandwiches and I am dying to dig into them.”

A mischievous grin spread across Pete’s face. "I've got a better idea."

CHAPTER 7

Kiera

The neon glowof the Gossip Grill sign lit up the sidewalk as the group made their way inside, laughter trailing behind them. Kiera adjusted the strap of her purse, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling under her skin. She hadn’t been to a club in years, let alone one this vibrant and unapologetically queer. The moment they walked through the doors, the pulsing bass of the music and shouted conversations enveloped them like a warm, electric blanket.

“This place is amazing,” Maggie declared, turning in a slow circle to take in the atmosphere. The walls were adorned with cheeky slogans and murals of queer icons, while rainbow lights shone across the ceiling. The dance floor was packed, bodies moving in sync to the DJ’s rhythm.

“Drinks first, then dancing,” Pete said, steering the group toward the bar. “Priorities, people.”

Kiera followed, feeling a little out of her element but buoyed by the group’s energy. Pete and Maggie wasted no time orderingshots for everyone, and Kiera found herself sandwiched between Danica and Izzy at the bar.

“What do you think of this place?” Kiera asked, trying to bridge the gap.

Izzy glanced at her, then gave a tight smile. “It’s no karaoke bar but it’ll do.”

Kiera laughed. “God, if only.” She turned her attention to the others, raising her shot glass as Pete proposed a toast.

“To questionable life choices and even better stories tomorrow!”

“Cheers!” they all echoed, clinking glasses before downing the shots. The burn of tequila was sharp but welcome, and Kiera looked around the crowded room.

The thrum of bass pulsed through Kiera’s chest as she stood near the edge of the crowded nightclub, half-listening to Pete order more drinks for everyone.

Colorful, dim lights played over the crowded dance floor, creating an electric, slightly intimidating atmosphere. At thirty-eight, Kiera felt conspicuously out of place. Most of the people here seemed younger, more confident, and entirely at ease in their skin. She envied them, envied their certainty, their freedom to claim their space, and their identity without hesitation. For Kiera, the whole scene was disorienting — a world she didn’t quite belong to but couldn’t stop herself from being drawn toward.

Her gaze caught on Izzy, who moved effortlessly among the crowd, her blonde pixie cut catching the light like a beacon. A realization bubbled up inside her chest, unbidden and confusing. Kiera couldn’t deny how attracted she was to her in the moment, and how that realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Worse yet was the secondary realization of how attracted she had always been to her. But did that attraction mean anything beyond Izzy herself?

Kiera had never felt this way about another woman, not once in her twelve years of marriage. Even now, the thought of labeling herself as anything but straight felt almost presumptuous. How could she claim any part of the queer label when she didn’t understand her place in it? She wasn’t sure if her attraction to Izzy was enough to make her belong, and that uncertainty settled over her like a heavy, invisible weight.

Kiera shifted her drink to her other hand, her fingers damp from the condensation. A part of her felt like an impostor, standing there at the edge of something she didn’t quite know how to define. But another part of her, quieter but more insistent, wondered if this was the beginning of something. Maybe it wasn’t about labels or fitting neatly into a category. Maybe it was just about allowing herself to feel — fully and unapologetically. She glanced back at Izzy, her stomach twisting with an unease and interest that she could no longer ignore, realizing that maybe this was less about understanding and more about courage. For once, she wanted to stop holding herself back, even if she wasn’t sure what that meant just yet.

The music was infectious, a driving beat that called to her. She followed Maggie and Danica onto the dance floor, her movements stiff, her shoulders tight with the worry that someone might be watching her, judging her. But as the beat pulsed and the crowd moved in a wave of unselfconscious joy around her, Kiera began to let go.

She closed her eyes, letting the music seep into her, its rhythm grounding her in a way she hadn’t felt in years. The tightness in her shoulders melted, replaced by a cozy wine and tequila-induced warmth that spread through her chest and limbs. The noise of the crowd became part of the music, a symphony of belonging. Here, in this space filled with unapologetic energy, Kiera felt a lightness she hadn’t realized she needed. Here, surrounded by a community that welcomedanyone willing to step onto the dance floor, it felt right. She felt right.

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