Page 40 of Shift the Tide

Pete tilted her head, her expression shifting from amused to concerned in an instant. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. It was like… she wanted it. Ifeltthat she wanted it. And then, all of a sudden, she didn’t. She seemed to panic, and I…” Izzy exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. “I worry that I wasn’t thinking clearly, and I was too into it to realize that she wasn’t ready for that yet.”

Pete frowned, her brows drawing together. “Did shesaythat?”

“Kind of,” Izzy admitted. “But she looked… god, I don’t know. Torn? Upset? Like she wasn’t sure what she was doing?”

Pete let out a breath, tapping her fingers against the table. “Did she ask you to stop?”

“No, it wasn’t like that,” Izzy said, shaking her head. “It was before we even got to my room.”

Pete sat back, considering her. “I don’t think you would have crossed a line if you were aware of that boundary. You’re not that kind of person.”

Izzy huffed an awkward laugh. “I just feel weird about it. I knew she wasn’t ready, and I shouldn’t have kissed her, but wewere in the bar and… I think I just read into her flirting too much, maybe?”

Pete’s eyes softened. “Izzy.” She reached across the table, tapping her knuckles against Izzy’s wrist. “If Kiera wasn’t ready, that’s onherto communicate with you. If she’s figuring things out, she needs to be the one to say that. You can’t be a mind reader.”

Izzy swallowed, nodding, but the heaviness of the night before still sat on her shoulders. “I just…” She exhaled. “We talked about honesty, and I’m already reading into what she’snotsaying, and I’m worried if I’m truly honest with her, I’m going to scare her off.”

Pete raised an eyebrow. “Look at me. I never told Danica explicitly how I felt, and we wasted so much time not being together just because we were both stubborn idiots. Don’t make my same mistakes.”

Izzy groaned, rubbing her temples. “I hate when you’re right.”

Pete grinned. “I know. It’s one of my many gifts.” She paused, tilting her head. “Look, I don’t know where Kiera’s head is at, but I do know she’s a grown-ass woman who needs to use her words. You’re not responsible to figure out for her what she is feeling.”

Izzy took a deep breath, letting Pete’s words sink in. She wasn’t sure if she believed them yet but hearing them out loud made her feel just a little bit lighter.

The server arrived with their food, and Pete immediately stole a bite of Izzy’s hash browns, grinning as she did it. “So. Are we done with the self-loathing? Because I’d like to enjoy my eggs without you brooding at me like a sad Victorian widow.”

Izzy rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stifle her smile as she reached for a bite of Pete’s pancake. “You’re insufferable.”

Pete grinned. “And yet, you love me.”

Izzy shook her head. Maybe Pete was right, but that didn’t make the next step clearer. She worried about reaching out first, or responding too quickly, or acting too eager. “Hey, can you not tell Maggie yet? I know there’s no chance of Danica not knowing, but I want to tell Meddling Maggie myself.”

Pete nodded, silently chewing.

They ate in companionable quiet until Izzy stabbed at the remains of her Eggs Benedict. Across from her, Pete stretched back in the booth, fingers drumming idly on the table, her coffee cup pushed to the side.

“You ready to talk about work?” Pete finally asked, tipping her head as she studied Izzy.

“Yeah, of course.” Izzy set her fork down and leaned back, crossing her arms. “You mentioned partnerships yesterday. Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

“What do you think?”

Izzy paused, taking a long sip of her coffee. “I think you’re the brains and I’m the boots on the ground. So, you tell me what direction to go in and I’ll go.”

“I want to hear what direction you think we need to go in.” Pete watched her with skepticism.

“I have no idea.” She exhaled, staring at the salt shaker like it had answers.

“Come on, I know that’s not true.”

“You probably have better ideas, Pete,” Izzy confessed, shifting in the booth.

Pete’s brow furrowed, and for once, she didn’t jump in with a joke. “Do you think I hired you out of pity or something?”

Izzy winced. “Not pity. But… I don’t know. Maybe because we’re friends?”

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