Orange Palm Summer

My palms were sweating before the first serve. Like, actually dripping. Jay texted he'd be late—again—and here I was standing alone at the padel court like a total loser while some sixth graders dominated the next court over.

'You waiting for someone?' A guy in an orange jersey asked, bouncing a ball between his racket and the ground like it was the easiest thing in the world.

'My friend.' I practically spat the word. 'Supposed to be here. Supposed to be.'

He raised an eyebrow. 'Want to hit around while you wait? I'm Marco.'

I hesitated. My insta-game was nonexistent, and letting a random guy witness my struggles felt like social suicide. But something about his easy grin made me say okay.

Turns out? Marco was patient. Like, weirdly patient. He corrected my grip without making me feel stupid, showed me how to angle the racket so the ball would actually clear the net. My palms stopped sweating. I started laughing at my own misses instead of dying inside.

Then Jay showed up with an iced coffee for himself and nothing for me, already scrolling through his phone.

'Yo, who's this?' Jay asked, barely looking up.

'Marco,' I said, hitting a perfect shot down the line. 'We were just playing.'

Jay squinted. 'Wait, aren't you that junior who's ranked in padel?'

Marco shrugged, but his ears turned the same shade as his jersey.

'Why're you playing with her?' Jay asked, and the way he said it—with this tiny scoff—made something click in my chest.

'She's got natural form,' Marco said simply. Then he tossed me an orange from his bag. 'See you same time tomorrow?'

I caught it one-handed. The fruit was warm from the sun.

Jay was already walking away. 'Come on, let's go. I'm bored.'

I looked at the orange in my palm, then at Marco, then at Jay's retreating back.

'Actually,' I said, peeling the orange, 'I think I'm gonna stay.'

The first bite was tart and bright and exactly what summer should taste like.

Jay turned around, confused. 'Since when do you like padel?'

'Since today,' I said, and Marco grinned like he knew exactly what I meant.