Green Between My Teeth

The problem with having a massive crush on someone while playing padel is that your brain decides to stop functioning. Like, completely.

"You good, Maya?" Jordan called from across the court, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Which was annoying because he looked effortless and I looked like I'd been swimming in a pool.

"Totally good!" I lied. My palms were sweating so much that my grip on the racquet kept slipping. Padéis supposed to be fun, a chill sport that normal people play on weekends, but apparently my nervous system didn't get the memo.

My cat, Luna, had decided to have a zoomie session at 3 AM, running full speed across my face and effectively waking me up for the day. So I was running on like two hours of sleep and three shots of espresso, which was definitely not my finest decision.

The ball came toward me. I swung. Missed completely. The racquet flew out of my sweaty hand and hit the fence with a sad CLUNK.

"Smooth," Jordan said, but he was smiling. Not even in a mean way, which somehow made it worse.

After the game, we sat on the bench outside the court, drinking electrolyte water that tasted vaguely of artificial blueberry. Jordan's mom showed up with snacks, being weirdly amazing like usual.

"You hungry? I've got wraps from that place downtown," she said, handing me one that smelled divine.

I took a massive bite. And then Jordan started laughing. Not a little chuckle either—full-on losing it.

"What?" I said around a mouthful of wrap. Which was my second mistake.

"Spinach," he said, still laughing. "You've got spinach—" He gestured at his own teeth. "Like, all up in there."

I froze. The spinachfrom my morning scramble, the one I'd eaten because it's "brain food" or whatever my mom keeps saying, was now decorating my teeth like green holiday lights.

"Why didn't you say something earlier?!" I groaned, covering my mouth.

"I thought it was part of the look!" Jordan grinned. "Really pulls together the whole 'I'm terrible at padel but I'm trying' vibe."

I started laughing too, because honestly, what else could I do? Sometimes the most mortifying moments are also the ones that break down all the walls you've built up.

"So," Jordan said, his voice quieter now. "Same time next week?"

"Only if you promise to tell me immediately if there's food in my teeth."

"Deal." He held out his hand for a fist bump. "No spinach required."

I bumped his fist, palm to palm, and for the first time all day, my hands were finally dry.