Page 55 of Shift the Tide

Kiera raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess. Gladys.”

“She has very sharp elbows,” Danica said, rubbing at a part of her ribs as if remembering that very fact.

Kiera laughed, a little breathless with relief. “Noted.”

Danica tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. “Speaking of people you shouldn’t be trying to fix… what’s going on withyou?”

Kiera blinked. “What?”

“You’re glowing,” Danica said, grinning. “Either you’ve joined a cult or you’re into someone.”

“I am not glowing.”

Danica just sipped her coffee, eyes twinkling. “That’s exactly what someone who’s glowing would say.”

Kiera hesitated, but the words were out before she could stop them. “Izzy asked me on a date.”

There was a sharp clatter as Pete, who had clearly been lurking in the hallway, dropped whatever she was holding. A second later, she burst into the kitchen holding a broken picture frame. “What?!”

Kiera startled. “Jesus, Pete.”

Danica just blinked, watching Pete set the broken frame down on the kitchen counter.

Pete crossed her arms, eyes wide with glee. “Izzy asked you out?”

Kiera sighed, rubbing her temples. “Yes, and now I regret saying anything.”

Danica, to her credit, looked pleased. “I knew it.”

Pete spun on Danica. “Did you know? Did you know and not tell me?”

“I only suspected,” Danica said, wiggling her eyebrows. "How do you feeeel? Do you like her? I mean, I know there's always been something there, but..."

Pete turned back to Kiera. “You said yes, right?”

“I said yes,” Kiera mumbled. “I feel… I don’t know. I’m nervous, but I’m excited, and I’m trying not to freak out about what it allmeans. Maybe it won’t even turn into anything, and we’ll just decide we’re better as friends, you know? And then I’ve freaked out about my identity for nothing.”

Danica nodded, but Pete tilted her head in confusion. “If it doesn’t work out with Izzy, it’s not like you’re just out of luck. If you’re into the idea of tiny tomboys, the queer community has plenty,” Pete said.

Kiera flushed and Danica laughed, smacking Pete’s arm. “That’s not the point, babe,” Danica chided.

“I’m trying not to overanalyze and freak out, okay?” Kiera took a deep breath.

Danica grinned. “Look at you, dating.”

“It’s one date,” Kiera said, rolling her eyes. “Can we not make a thing out of this?”

“No, we absolutelywillbe making a thing out of this,” Pete said. “You have been pining after Izzy for literalyears.”

“I havenot?—”

“College, Kiera,” Danica echoed, pointing her coffee stirring spoon at her. “College.You didn’t even tell me you kissed her, but then when I learned it, it all makes sense now.”

“It wasonekiss,” Kiera muttered.

Pete raised an eyebrow. “The story changed like four times. First it was, ‘We were drunk, it didn’t mean anything.’ Then it was, ‘It was a dare.’ Then suddenly it was, ‘We were just experimenting.’ And then... radio silence for, like, a decade.”

“You think we didn’t clock what was actually going on?” Danica asked, grinning. “You’d light up like a sparkler anytime she texted you. Even when it was just some dumb meme.”

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