Page 26 of Shift the Tide

Izzy turned a page with just a little too much force. “Kiera, you’re distracting me.”

Kiera blinked at the bluntness in her tone. “Right. Sorry.” She shifted awkwardly, pressing her lips together. Okay. That was… something. Izzy had been weird all day, but this? This was new.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, staring out at the ocean again, determined not to let the sting settle too deep.

Izzy sighed heavily and shut her book with a decisivethump, scrubbing a hand over her face. “Okay, that was rude. Sorry,” she let out a long sigh. “What I mean is, you’re… very distracting.” Her tone was soft and quiet, like the admission humbled her greatly.

Kiera studied her. Izzy wasn’t just annoyed — she was uncomfortable.She now sat stiffly, tension woven through every line of her body, like she was forcing herself to stay put when all she wanted to do was bolt.

Kiera hesitated for half a second before pressing, keeping her voice gentle. “I’m sorry to… distract you.”

Izzy’s tongue darted over her lower lip, and Kiera found herself leaning forward. “For what it’s worth, you are also extremely, extremely distracting.”

Izzy’s gaze flicked down toward Kiera’s mouth, and Kiera could feel the moment building. She was sure that Izzy felt the same way, felt the same inevitability of whatever was drawing them together.

The buzz in her pocket jolted her back to reality. Kiera winced, cursing under her breath, but instinct made her reach for it.Danica’s name flashed across the screen.

Kiera exhaled, still breathless from the moment that had shattered between them. She answered the call with fumbling fingers. “Danica?” She put the phone on speaker.

“Hey,” Danica said, voice calm but a little tired. “Just wanted to let you know Maggie’s nose is definitely broken, but she’ll be fine. They gave her some pain meds. Pete’s getting her checked out now, so we’ll be back soon.”

Izzy nodded, then stood, packing up her chair and shuffling around her things.

Kiera watched Izzy while trying to stay focused on the call with Danica. “Oh, thank goodness. I’m glad she’s okay.” Danica promised to send a text when they were on their way back.

“I’m going to go take a shower and start dinner. You can stay here if you want, though,” Izzy said.

“Okay. I’ll be in soon to do the same,” Kiera said, and Izzy nodded again, then picked up the small lounge chair and headed back up the beach.

For a second, Kiera just sat there, her pulse still racing, her body caught in the space between what almost happened and whatdidn’t.

CHAPTER 10

Izzy

The sun hadlong since set, leaving the beach house wrapped in the warm glow of the dining room lights. The sliding doors were open, welcoming in the cool night air, and the ocean sounds were a steady backdrop to the hum of conversation. The long wooden table was cluttered with half-empty wine glasses, serving bowls, and the remnants of dinner, but most of the attention was fixed on Maggie’s swollen and bruised nose, now covered in a comically large bandage.

“I swear to god,” Maggie muttered, her voice thick and nasally, “if I end up with a permanent bump, that guy’s paying for my rhinoplasty.”

Pete smirked, taking a sip of beer. “I’m just saying, you should’ve ducked.”

Maggie’s head snapped up. “Excuse me?Should’ve ducked? That thing came at me like a heat-seeking missile!”

“It really did,” Danica said sympathetically, hiding her smile behind her glass of wine. “Honestly, it was kind of impressive.”

Kiera, seated diagonally across from Izzy, reached for the salad bowl and almost met her gaze. Izzy had been all-to-aware of her all evening, but every time they got too close to making eye contact, she looked away, feigning interest in her food.

“I think you should lean into it,” Kiera said. “Tell people it was a heroic act, like you saved a child from an oncoming frisbee. Or took a hit to win the championship point in an ultimate frisbee match.”

Maggie rolled her eyes, but a grin tugged at the edge of her mouth. “Yes, my valor will be remembered forever. At least it’s on the last full day of the trip, and I can go convalesce in peace tomorrow.”

Pete pointed her fork at Maggie. “Honestly? I think it makes you lookverycool.”

Maggie looked helpless for a moment. “What if it like, heals weird? Or scars?”

Danica elbowed Pete, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Womenlovescars.”

“Why do you have to call me out like that?” Pete shot back playfully.

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