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“Kiera?” Izzy’s voice was hesitant. “I was just calling you back, I was at the gym?—”

Kiera’s exhaled heavily. She had planned — at least, she had tried to plan — what to say. But now, standing there, looking at Izzy, she didn’t need any of it.

“I love you.”

Izzy gasped, lips parting, but Kiera kept going before she could say a word.

“I love you,” Kiera said again, stepping closer. “I should have said it sooner. I should haveknownsooner, but I was scared. I kept trying to hold back, to be careful; but Izzy, I don’t want to be careful anymore. I don’t want to waste another second pretending that I don’t want this —you— more than I’ve wanted anything in my life.”

Izzy stood frozen for a moment, blinking in surprise. “I love you, too.” Then, she moved. She crossed the space between them in a single breath, hands reaching to hold Kiera’s face, and kissed her.

Kiera gasped, the intensity of the kiss stealing every ounce of air from her lungs. It was desperate, consuming, like they had both been starving for this moment.

Izzy kissed her like she was claiming her, like she had been waiting for this exact second to crash into Kiera and never let go. Now that nothing was left unsaid, neither of them knew how to slow down.

By the time they finally pulled apart, breathless and clinging to each other, Izzy whispered, “You love me?”

“I love you.” Kiera was confident, excited, giddy. She kissed Izzy again, murmuring against her lips. “I love you.”

Izzy smiled against her lips. “I love you, too. And, um, I’m sorry, I’m really sweaty. Can I shower before we do anything else?”

Kiera laughed, pressing her forehead against Izzy’s. “Yeah. But you’re not showering alone.”

Izzy’s hands tightened on her waist. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go.”

Kiera kissed her again as they stumbled into the hotel room together, a tangle of hands and mouths and love. Life might not get simpler, but she wasn’t scared of that anymore. Not with Izzy beside her.

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

Kiera

The late springsun bathed Mission Beach in warm golden light, the scent of salt and coconut sunscreen in the air. Waves rolled lazily toward the shore, foaming white before melting back into the vast blue. Kiera lay on a beach towel, reading, digging her toes into the soft sand, listening to the distant sound of laughter and the rhythmic crash of the ocean.

Beside her, Quinn was hard at work on her sandcastle, tongue poking out in concentration as she carefully packed another turret into place. Quinn looked to her mom for encouragement as her sandcastle continued to lean precariously.

Further out in the water, Izzy bobbed in the shallows, Eliza on a bright yellow foam surfboard beside her. Kiera watched as Izzy adjusted Eliza’s stance, gesturing animatedlyas she explained something, her body language brimming with confidence. Eliza, in contrast, was barely containing her nerves, her little arms flailing to keep her balance even before a wave approached. Kiera smiled to herself, looking around at all her favorite girls.

Izzy gave Eliza a final nod before stepping back, letting the small wave push her forward. For a second, Eliza stood, wobbling triumphantly — before immediately toppling over into the water.

Kiera winced, but when Eliza surfaced, she was already laughing, flicking water at Izzy.

"She’s really bad at surfing,” Quinn remarked beside her, deadpan.

Kiera stifled a laugh. “She’s trying, and that’s what matters.”

“Yeah, she’s trying really hard,” Quinn added, turning back to her castle. “Like how Izzy tries really hard at everything, like when she puts broccoli in the mac and cheese.”

Kiera let out a quiet laugh.

The past year had been a whirlwind, a mixture of quiet moments and milestones, of laughter, exploring their relationship and spending more and more time together. Izzy had fully immersed herself in Second Star, taking a leadership role alongside Pete, helping to launch new mentorship programs that had already started changing kids’ lives.

Kiera had found her footing too — after a year of paying her dues teaching life science classes, she’d be starting chemistry classes in the fall, and would add a physics course in the spring.

Watching the girls and Izzy get to know one another, to get comfortable with each other, had been the best part of the last year. The girls adored Izzy, begged for her to stay longer every time she had to leave.

Kiera had thought she would struggle with letting someone in, but with Izzy, after they’d confessed what they wanted, it had been easy.