Page 8 of Shift the Tide

Pete

tequila obvi

Izzy

Why isn’t “who’s picking up the booze” at the top of the list?

Maggie

Izzy! You DO look at your texts!

Danica

I’m actually going to lose my mind.

Maggie

We love you, Dani. You’re doing amazing, sweetie.

Danica

I feel like I’m organizing a circus.

Pete

you knew who we were when you chose to love us

Kiera

You’ve got this, Danica. I’ll help with food and logistics.

Danica

THANK YOU, Kiera.

CHAPTER 3

Kiera

The soft humof waves greeted them as they stepped into the beach house, late afternoon sunlight streaming through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass doors that opened onto a patio overlooking the Pacific. The home was luxurious yet warm, with terrazzo tile floors; a minimalist modern kitchen; and colorful, plush furnishings that contrasted beautifully against the soft neutral tones of the walls. But all Kiera could focus on was the awkward tension filling the air as the group settled in.

Pete clapped her hands together, surveying the open-plan layout. “This is it, folks! Home sweet home for the next few days. Let’s not burn it down.”

Danica laughed, nudging Pete with her elbow. “No promises.” Her smile softened as Pete leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek, whispering something that made Danica laugh even harder. The ease and affection between them were palpable, a quiet reminder of how far they’d come since Telluride. They moved in sync, as though they shared an unspoken language, and Kiera couldn’t help but feel a pang ofenvy — not in a bitter way, but in a way that reminded her of everything she’d lost.

Maggie walked toward the doors, sighing dramatically as she took in the ocean view. “I might just stay out there and become a beach hermit. Y’all can send me snacks.”

Kiera smiled faintly as she set her bags in the entryway, trying to stay unobtrusive. She could feel Izzy’s gaze flit toward her and then away just as quickly. The dismissal stung more than she’d expected, though she supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised. Izzy hadn’t said much to her during the car ride from the airport, offering only clipped responses to Kiera’s attempts at conversation.

“Bedrooms are upstairs,” Pete announced, already climbing the sleek wooden staircase. “Who’s bunking with who?”

“Izzy, Maggie, and Kiera each get their own room,” Danica said, glancing at Pete with a playful smirk. “And that leaves us sharing, obviously.”

Pete grinned mischievously. “Wendell, I’m pretty sure there’s bunk beds in one of these rooms.”

Danica rolled her eyes, swatting Pete’s arm.

Maggie, Kiera, and Izzy all groaned. Pete had been stuck with the bunk room at Aunt Jade's condo in Telluride — bunk beds that saw Danica and Pete’s… reconnection. Kiera had opted to leave an extremely large Venmo tip for the cleaning company. She didn't want to know any details about what had happened on those bunk beds. And now, seeing Pete and Danica happily together made Kiera feel awkward and out of place — their happiness felt like a glaring spotlight on everything she'd almost messed up back in Telluride. Everything that everyone here was either trying to ignore or still holding a quiet grudge about.

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