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“I’m not,” Izzy said.

“You’re a terrible liar.” Pete didn’t move, still watching her, like she was waiting for Izzy to crack. The scrutiny of it made Izzy’s skin itch. Pete knew her too well. She knew when Izzy was running, when she was making excuses. And Izzy could tell she was about two seconds away from calling her on it.

“I don’t know how to do this,” Izzy said finally.

“Do what?”

“Kiera. I don’t know what to do there, and I just can’t… face it. Wanting is familiar, but being wanted? That’s terrifying.”

“You’re leaving because Kiera told you she wanted you?” Pete asked, her voice dipping lower to a whisper. “Isn’t that like best case scenario?”

“No,” Izzy said, her voice also dropping to a harsh whisper. “It’s the worst case.”

Pete shook her head. “I’ll tell Danica you had an emergency, I guess,” Pete said finally, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “She’ll be so sad to miss givingyouthe lecture about bailing this time around.”

Izzy hesitated, gripping the strap of her bag tighter. “I’ll text you when I land.”

Pete sighed, blowing her dark curls out of her face. “Fine. But promise me you’ll talk to a therapist about this, because you’re being irrational.”

Izzy forced a smirk that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I promise I’ll Google a therapist at least one time and consider it.”

She turned before Pete could say anything else, stepping outside into the cool morning air. The sun hadn’t even started rising yet, the world still half-asleep, the beach house quiet behind her.

Her Uber was already waiting at the curb, its headlights casting long beams through the pre-dawn darkness. She pulled the car door open, sliding into the backseat without a word.

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Airport?”

Izzy nodded. “Yeah. Airport.”

As the car pulled away, she kept her eyes forward, willing herself not to look back.

She wasn’t running. She was just leaving before it got worse.

Before she let herself hope for something that was never going to happen.

CHAPTER 11

Kiera

Mid-afternoon sun castthe cabin in dim light as Pete, Danica, and Kiera shared snacks, the plane's hum a steady background to their makeshift inflight feast. Kiera and Danica were sharing a selection of trail mix, dried mango, and dark chocolate covered pretzels. Pete, on the other hand, was working her way through an entire bag of Sour Patch Kids with the reckless abandon of someone who had never once worried about a sugar crash.

Kiera, needing a distraction more than food, picked the pepitas from her trail mix. The conversation around them had dulled to an indistinct murmur, with most passengers either dozing or mindlessly scrolling through their phones. Across the aisle, a man snored softly against the window, his head bobbing with each minor bump of turbulence. The hush of the plane, coupled with the dim glow from the overhead reading lights, gave the moment a surreal feeling of being paused in time.

Kiera could still see Izzy’s back as she’d walked away, disappearing into her bedroom. Then, this morning, disappearing completely without saying goodbye. Kiera hadexpected awkwardness, had anticipated tension, perhaps even a little giddiness, but she hadn’t expected Izzy to flee like she was escaping a crime scene. She’d awoken with the intention of having a long talk with Izzy about what that kiss meant, but Pete had broken the news gently over a cup of coffee. Danica and Maggie were surprised that Izzy had to leave early, and Pete had given her a long, knowing look. How the tables had turned since Telluride, when Kiera had been the one giving knowing looks and leaving early.

The mood had shifted into something slightly awkward and reserved, but the last day of a trip was always difficult for various reasons, with Danica trying to convince everyone to be at the airport four hours early and Maggie attempting to put makeup on around her bandage. They’d gone to brunch, then carpooled to the airport in the rental car. The terminal was small enough that they could all sit together before their flights, though none of them were very energized after the three day trip. After Danica had made sure Maggie took a decongestant and ibuprofen to help with her nose swelling, they'd parted ways to board their own flight.

Now, Danica stretched her legs as best she could in the cramped row, sighing as she shifted against the headrest. “I wish this plane had First Class."

"Okay, bougie girl. I let you fly First Class three times and now you're too good for Comfort Plus?" Pete sighed dramatically and shook her head.

"You only have yourself to blame," Danica joked, before glancing sideways at Kiera.

Kiera said nothing, too distracted and disconnected to pay attention, and reached for her water bottle to take a slow sip.

"You doing okay? This weekend was weird, right?" Danica asked. "What was with Izzy leaving so suddenly?"

“I’m fine.” Kiera hadn't told anyone about the kiss, and she wasn't sure if Izzy had told Pete. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and pushed her glasses up her nose, fidgeting.