Palm Reading at Paradise Cove

Maya stood by the resort pool, clutching her oversized sun **hat** like a shield. Her mom had dragged the whole family to Paradise Cove for "quality time" — which really meant Maya would spend three days dying of awkwardness while her cousins posted aesthetic Instagram stories she wasn't in.

Then she saw him.

Leo from AP Chem. The one she'd been lowkey stalking on socials since freshman year. He was HERE. At HER family reunion resort. What were the odds?

Maya's heart started **running** a marathon against her ribs. She was wearing her grandma's one-piece, hair frizzy from humidity, while Leo stood there looking like a TikTok thirst trap in his swim trunks.

"Come on, let's get our palms read," her cousin Jasmine wheedled, grabbing Maya's wrist. "Maybe they'll predict you'll finally talk to him instead of just staring."

"Shut up," Maya hissed, but let herself be dragged toward the fortune teller setup near the beach.

The palm reader was a woman with silver-streaked hair and hands that felt like paper. She traced the lines on Maya's **palm**, humming thoughtfully.

"You're searching for something," the woman said finally. "Something sweet. But you're afraid to reach for it because you think everyone's watching."

Heat flooded Maya's cheeks. She yanked her hand back. "Okay, that's creepy accurate but also no thanks."

"Five bucks," Jasmine called after her. "She said you'd meet someone — "

"I'm out."

Maya speed-walked toward the fruit stand, needing air. A papaya. She'd never even tried papaya, but suddenly it was the only thing that could save her dignity.

"Good choice,"

Maya jumped. Leo stood behind her, holding two coconut waters.

"They're actually really good here," he said, gesturing to the **papaya** display. "My dad's the resort manager. I'm Leo, by the way."

"Maya," she managed, feeling like her entire brain had short-circuited.

"You here for a family thing too?"

"Yeah. My mom's idea of bonding."

He laughed. "Same. My cousins are obsessed with posting stories but doing actual stuff? Not so much."

They ended up sitting on the beach, talking about everything from their weird families to how much they both hated group projects. The sun set, painting everything pink and gold. Maya took off her hat.

"You know," Leo said, "I've been meaning to talk to you all year. You always sit in the back of AP Chem with those cool sketchbooks."

Maya's heart did something complicated. "You noticed?"

"Duh," he said, like it was obvious. "I was too nervous to say anything."

She laughed. "You? Nervous?"

"Around you? Definitely."

Her phone buzzed — family dinner in ten minutes.

"I have to go," she said, standing up. "But... find me tomorrow?"

"Count on it."

Maya walked back to the resort, hat in hand, feeling like something inside her had shifted. Like she was finally the main character in her own story instead of watching from the sidelines.

And maybe palm readers weren't total frauds after all.

Because this summer? It was going to be sweet.