Page 12 of Shift the Tide

Izzy loved this part of the day — when the world felt wide open and the air buzzed with the promise of something new. She didn’t have to think too much about anything except catching the next wave. Pulling her wetsuit on and taking a moment to awkwardly fumble with the long zipper pull, she grabbed herboard and waded into the cool water, letting it bite at her skin and wake her up completely.

The first wave was small, an easy ride to test her balance. She stood up smoothly, the familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through her as the wave propelled her forward. By the time the next one rolled in, she was ready, leaning into the movement with practiced grace. For a little while, it was perfect. The world was just her and the ocean.

But even here, where she felt most free, something felt… off. Maybe it was the weird way she felt around Kiera, still. She was so angry at Kiera for trying to ruin her best friend's happiness back in Telluride, and it was the kind of grudge that came with a long history of complications.

Now, Kiera was divorced, like Izzy. Divorce was its own kind of scar — visible to anyone who cared to look closely enough. Maybe Kiera’s meddling in Telluride hadn’t just been about Pete and Danica. Maybe it had been about trying to make something — anything — work, even if it wasn’t hers.

The anger was there, but there was something else. An uncertainty. She couldn’t name it, but it was there, a quiet hum beneath the surface of her thoughts. As she paddled back out, waiting for the next set of waves, her mind wandered. She’d spent years chasing this — freedom, movement, the kind of life that looked wide open from the outside. And she did love it, most of the time. But lately, she’d started to wonder if all the motion was just a way to outrun stillness.

Izzy sighed and lay back on her board, staring up at the lightening sky as the waves gently rocked her. She shook the thought away. This wasn’t the time for an existential crisis. She was here, in San Diego, surrounded by friends she hadn’t seen in over a year. That was what mattered.

When she returnedto the house, damp and sandy but exhilarated from the morning session, the smell of coffee and frying bacon greeted her. The great room was bathed in sunlight now, the windows flooding the space with warmth. Pete stood at the stove, wielding a spatula with dramatic flair, while Maggie and Danica hovered around the counter, cutting fruit and pouring orange juice into glasses.

“Look who decided to grace us with her presence,” Pete called out, flipping a pancake in the air. “How many waves did you conquer this morning on dawn patrol?"

“More than you, yawn patrol,” Izzy shot back, grinning as she grabbed a towel from a nearby chair to pat her hair dry. “And enough to know I’m starving. Where’s the coffee?”

Danica pointed toward the French press on the counter. “Help yourself. But if you want pancakes, you’re going to have to be nice to Pete.”

“Unlikely,” Izzy said, pouring herself a mug of coffee and taking a grateful sip. She turned to the dining table, where Kiera sat nursing her own mug, her dark bobbed hair still slightly mussed from sleep, her large glasses sliding down her nose as she stared at her phone. Izzy slid into the chair across from Kiera, not making eye contact.

Kiera set down her phone, looking pleased with herself. “I just finished Wordle in two guesses."

"Hell yeah, Kier," Maggie said, settling into the seat beside Izzy. "That is all skill, no luck."

"Do people still play Wordle?" Izzy asked as she blew onto her coffee.

"I still play it, and I'm a person, so all signs point to yes," Kiera said, her tone playful.

Izzy shrugged, looking back toward Pete who was nuzzling Danica's neck. She was happy for her friends but did they haveto be so fucking cute and annoying about their love? Kiera and Maggie followed Izzy's line of sight.

"Disgusting," Maggie muttered with a hint of a smile as she turned back with an exaggerated eye roll.

"Horrible," Izzy concurred.

“The worst.” Kiera added, her eyes moving to Izzy's wet hair. “Did you already go surfing?”

“Yep.” Izzy studied her for a moment. Kiera looked… off. There was something about the way her shoulders curved inward, the faint puffiness around her eyes. For a moment, she hated how standoffish she’d been to Kiera, how she’d dismissed every attempt at conversation since they arrived. But the chaos Kiera had caused, the unnecessary drama… It wasn’t something she could easily forgive or forget, no matter how tired or vulnerable Kiera looked now.

Izzy let the silence stretch for a beat before Pete plunked down a plate of pancakes in front of her with a flourish. “For our local mermaid,” Pete announced. "I made them surfboard-shaped for you."

The pancakes in question were indeed surfboard-shaped, in that they were roughly oval in appearance, but Izzy grinned at Pete's enthusiasm. “They look great,” Izzy said, saluting Pete with her fork before digging in.

The morning unfolded with the easy banter of old friends. Pete's pancake-flipping show prompted teasing from Maggie, while Danica playfully rolled her eyes at their silliness. But Izzy couldn’t help glancing at Kiera now and then, noticing the way she stayed quiet, only chiming in when someone asked her a direct question.

After a quick breakfast, Danica noticed the glaring omission of sunscreen. Everyone was unprepared except Maggie, who fiercely guarded her precious Korean sunscreen, muttering about its exquisite formulation and how it was far too preciousto share. Danica volunteered Kiera and Izzy to make a quick run to the local market. “Pete and I already did our good deed for the day by cooking breakfast. You two can handle this one!"

Izzy shot a pleading stare at Pete, but her best friend was concentrating on cleaning a corner of the counter with fervor. Was Pete... hiding a smile?

Izzy arched a brow at Kiera, who gave a small shrug. “Guess it’s us,” Kiera said, grabbing her bag.

The market was a short walk away, the kind of charming local spot that sold everything from organic produce to handmade candles. The silence between them stretched, heavy and awkward, as they walked along the sidewalk. Kiera cleared her throat and tried to start a conversation, her voice hesitant.

“So, uh, you started working at Pete's foundation?" Kiera asked.

Izzy didn’t look at her, keeping her gaze fixed on the path ahead. “Yep.” She kept her response brief. She'd survive this grocery trip, but that didn't mean she had to enjoy it.

Kiera nodded, fiddling with the strap of her bag. “That sounds… good. Traveled anywhere fun lately?”

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