Operation Pool Party

Maya's phone buzzed with Jordan's text: "POOL PARTY. DONT BE WEIRD."

As if.

The problem wasn't the swimming part. Maya was actually decent in the water. The problem was everything else—the exposed skin, the social minefield of who sat where, and the fact that Carter (who she'd been lowkey crushing on for months) would be there, looking like a literal greek god while she felt like a potato in a swimsuit.

"You got this," Jordan said, meeting her at the gate. "Just... don't do that thing where you overthink everything and then accidentally say something unhinged."

"I NEVER do that."

"You literally did it yesterday."

The backyard was already packed. Someone had blasted a Spotify playlist that was 40% too loud. The pool shimmered like something from a movie, and sure enough, Carter was there, laughing at something by the snack table.

Maya's stomach did that thing it always did when he was around—like it was trying to exit her body.

"I'm gonna need a minute," she mumbled, veering toward the food station.

"Yo, try the spinach dip," someone called out. "It's actually fire."

Maya loaded up a chip, still mentally rehearsing what she'd say to Carter. Hi. Hey. What's up. All terrible options. She turned around and—

SPLASH.

Her dip, her chip, her dignity—all in the water. A glob of spinach floated mockingly on the surface.

The noise level dipped. Carter looked over.

"Nice form," he said, grinning.

Maya's face burned. "I was just... testing the pH balance."

"With spinach?"

"It's a whole thing."

"For real." He swam over. "I'm Carter, by the way."

"Maya."

"Yeah, I know. Jordan's told me about you." His eyes twinkled. "Said you were cool."

Jordan's what now?

Across the pool, Jordan caught her eye and gave this tiny thumbs-up. Realization hit Maya like a truck: Jordan hadn't invited her to overcome her fear of pool parties. Jordan had been playing wingman the entire time, a social spy gathering intel on Carter's interest level.

The spinach incident? Actually kind of perfect.

"So," Carter said, leaning against the pool edge. "Want to show me your actual swimming? Or are we doing more food chemistry experiments?"

Maya laughed, some of the tension finally loosening. "Show me your laps first, pretty boy."

"You're on."

And just like that, the water didn't seem so scary anymore.