Page 21 of Shift the Tide

Kiera’s eyes widened. “I’m so sorry.”

Izzy nodded. “It’s been like nearly twenty years. It’s okay.”

Kiera watched her for a second, like she was really seeing her, and Izzy’s stomach clenched with nervous energy.

“This place is beautiful,” Kiera said finally, reaching into the tide pool to lift a rock and examine it.

Izzy shrugged, stuffing her hands into her pockets. “Figured you might appreciate it. Something about watching these little creatures just living their lives, oblivious to everything else going on… it’s kind of nice, isn’t it?”

Kiera nodded, her gaze lingering on the water. “Yeah. It really is. Lucky dummies.”

They stood there for a long moment, side by side, the wind tugging at their clothes, the ocean stretching endlessly before them.

Izzy loved how otherworldly this place was. The red and beige rocks all around, the tiny sea life hiding out in the tidepools… no where else ever felt like this place, which was both reassuring and made her heart ache with nostalgia. As she watched Kiera crouch and smile, looking at a starfish, she was surprised with herself for even bringing Kiera here. She was surprised mostly because she’dwantedto share this with Kiera, a place she hadn’t even brought Pete before.

Kiera glanced up, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she pushed her large glasses back up her nose, looking at Izzy. Izzy’s stomach did a giddy flip in response.Oh no. What was that?Her heart pounded uncomfortably in her chest, and she suddenly felt too warm despite the cool sea spray misting over them. It was one thing to acknowledge that Kiera was attractive — that was an objective fact — but this was something else. This was wanting to reach out and tuck that loose strand of hair behind Kiera’s ear, wanting to see if her skin was as soft as it looked under the morning light.

This was dangerously close to the pattern she’d never tried to break — it was easier to chase someone who could never love her than to face someone who might, risking that they might not stay.

Izzy forced herself to look away, to focus on the shifting tide instead of this attraction, this pull toward Kiera. It was ridiculous. She barely tolerated Kiera most of the time — so why did she suddenly want to know what it felt like to have Kiera’s fingertips graze hers as they both reached for a seashell at the same time? Why did she have to notice the way Kiera’s hoodie slipped off her shoulder slightly, exposing a sliver of skin that Izzy couldn’t seem to ignore?

She inhaled sharply, stuffing her hands in her pockets as if that could keep her emotions in check. This was Kiera — straight, recently divorced, a mom, and not someone Izzy should be entertaining thoughts about. And yet, she felt herself drawn in, her chest tight with something that felt too much like longing.

This was what she always did. Pete had been right. Kiera was unavailable, and that was why she was attracted to her now. Izzy had better be careful, or Pete was going to crow for days about this revelation.

“You okay?” Kiera’s voice was soft and gentle.

Izzy startled, glancing away quickly as if she could physically shake off the thoughts flooding her mind. "Yeah, fine," she said, clearing her throat.

Kiera tilted her head, studying her. "You’re quiet all of a sudden."

Izzy forced a small laugh, rubbing at the back of her neck. "Just thinking."

Kiera didn’t push, but her gaze lingered, searching. Izzy resisted the urge to fidget under the scrutiny, her heartbeat a steady thrum in her ears. She needed to get out of here — away from the pull of Kiera’s presence, away from her own traitorous thoughts. "We should head back," she said abruptly.

Just before Izzy turned to walk away, Kiera straightened from where she’d been crouched beside the tide pool, brushing a lock of hair from her face.

Kiera’s eyes sparkled behind her glasses. “You make that face when you’re flustered.”

Izzy blinked. “What face?”

Kiera stepped closer, just enough to make Izzy’s breath catch. “The one where you stare really hard at the ocean so you don’t have to look at me.”

Heat rushed to Izzy’s cheeks. “I donotmake that face.”

Kiera laughed softly, turning back toward the parking lot. “It’s cute, don’t worry.”

Izzy gaped, but something very annoying and very tender clenched in her chest as she hurried after Kiera.

As they walkedinto the beach house, Izzy could feel her chest tightening with every step closer to reality. The tide pools had been quiet and secluded, where she wouldn’t have to worry about everyone else noticing what she was so desperate to hide. But now, back in the orbit of their friends, with the house looming ahead and the wide stretch of sand inviting them down to the shoreline, Izzy’s panic set in full force.

She needed space. Needed air. Needed Kiera to stop looking at her with that soft, open expression that made something inside her unravel.

“I think I’m going to head down to the water and try to surf a bit,” Izzy said abruptly as they stepped inside, already toeing off her sandals by the patio doors. The house smelled like coffee and sunscreen, the others clearly awake and already moving about. Pete’s voice carried from the kitchen, something about eggs being overrated, while Maggie and Danica laughed in response.

Kiera hesitated, brushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “Oh. Do you… do you want company?”

Izzy swallowed hard, something about Kiera’s casual question making her feel cornered. “Nah,” she said, a little too quickly. “I just need to move.” She forced a smile. “You should, uh, grab some breakfast. Danica’s probably already made something.”

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