Page 58 of Shift the Tide

Eliza beamed. “You can sit beside me on the couch, if you want.”

“Okay,” Izzy said, positively beaming. “I’d love that. Can I sit beside your mom, too?”

Eliza shrugged. “If you want to.”

Kiera snorted in amusement as Izzy settled on the couch beside her, Eliza climbing to sit on Izzy’s side.

As the night stretched on and Muppet Treasure Island hit its stride, Quinn, half-asleep, burrowed deeper against where she was koala-ed into Kiera’s side. "Mom?" she murmured sleepily.

Kiera smoothed a hand over her daughter’s hair. "Yeah, baby?"

"Can Izzy stay for a sleepover?"

Kiera glanced at Izzy, who was already looking at her, amusement twinkling in her eyes.

"I’m honored," Izzy said. "But I have to get back and feed the spider living in my hotel room or she gets mad and eats all of my left shoes."

Quinn and Eliza giggled in amusement.

Kiera shook her head, laughing softly. "Nice try, Quinn."

Quinn made a small sound of disappointment but didn’t argue. Within minutes, her breathing evened out, her small body finally giving in to sleep. Eliza wasn’t far behind, her head resting against Izzy’s shoulder.

Kiera let out a slow breath, taking in the scene before her. The dim lighting, the comfort of a movie she’d seen dozens of times quiet in the background, the warmth of her daughter curled against her. Izzy — here, familiar, fitting into Kiera’s life, cozied up with Eliza like it was the most natural thing in the world… She was surprised by how right it felt.

She had never let herself think too hard about what could be between them. About what it would mean to let Izzy all the way in. Tonight, sitting here like this, still feeling the fizzinggiddiness in her stomach even with a sick kid and a kids’ movie on the screen, she couldn’t help but wonder.

Once the girlswere tucked in and the house had gone calm with quiet, Kiera tiptoed back downstairs. She found Izzy in the living room, collecting plates and folding up the stray blankets that had ended up in a heap during movie night.

“You really didn’t have to clean up,” Kiera said, lingering in the doorway.

Izzy glanced back over her shoulder, smiling. “I know. But I wanted to.”

Kiera walked over, brushing her fingers against Izzy’s as she took one of the plates from her hands. That tiny contact was enough to spark something — not just electricity, but something steadier beneath it. Something that had been waiting all night for space to bloom.

“Thanks for a really nice date,” Izzy said.

Kiera raised a skeptical brow. “You had to watch Muppet Treasure Island with a koala kid clinging to you. You’re sure it was okay?”

“I loved it. Underrated movie, in my opinion. The cuddles were a bonus.”

Kiera blushed, tenderness filling her chest.

They moved toward the door together, slow and quiet, the air between them thick with possibility. Kiera reached for the handle, but Izzy’s hand got there first. Their fingers brushed again, this time staying there, neither of them pulling away.

Izzy looked up, eyes searching hers. “What?”

Kiera didn’t answer. She just leaned in, let herself close the last few inches, and kissed her — slow, certain, wanting. Izzy kissed her back immediately, like they’d both been waiting for permission.

Her hands came to rest at Kiera’s waist, and Kiera tilted forward into her like she couldn’t help it. One kiss turned into another, deeper now, more urgent. Kiera let out the softest sigh against Izzy’s mouth, her fingers curling in the fabric of Izzy’s shirt.

And that’s when the front door opened.

Keys jingled, the doorknob turned, and Kiera barely had time to break the kiss and jump back — breathless, lips tingling, heart absolutely slamming in her chest.

“Oh!” her mom said brightly, stepping inside with her tote bag slung over one arm. “We’re home!”

Her dad followed a second later, stopping short just behind her. “Evening.”

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