Palm Readings at Sunset

My palms were sweating so bad I could barely hold my phone. 📱 The group chat was blowing up - Sofia's beach bonfire party was tonight and everyone was going. Including Jake.

'You're literally overthinking this again,' Fox said, flopping onto my bed. Fox, aka my best friend since kindergarten, whose real name was actually Sophia but got the nickname in 4th grade when she talked her way out of detention three times in one week. She dyed her hair orange last month because, quote, 'basic brunettes are out.' Her phone case was a fox print, obviously.

'I'm not overthinking,' I protested, wiping my palms on my jeans for the hundredth time. 'I'm just... prepared.'

'You're prepared to embarrass yourself,' Fox teased. 'It's Jake, not the SATs. Just talk to him like a normal person.' She grabbed my hand. 'Look, your palms are still sweaty. That's literally a sign you need to chill.'

The party was everything I expected and dreaded. Sofia's backyard bonfire, the ocean waves crashing nearby, people playing music too loudly. I spotted Jake almost immediately - he was wearing that orange hoodie I loved, the one that made his eyes look golden in the right light.

I spent twenty minutes pretending to be fascinated by Sofia's younger brother's fort building skills before I finally got cornered.

'So, I hear you're good at reading palms,' Jake said, suddenly beside me. 'Fox told me.'

My brain short-circuited. 'She WHAT.'

Fox, who was absolutely NOT a palm reader, had apparently told everyone I had 'totally predicted' her breakup with Mark two weeks ago. (I had just told her he was being trash, which anyone could have predicted.)

'Yeah, she said you're like, actually accurate,' Jake continued, oblivious to my mental crisis. 'Can you read mine?' He held out his hand.

The orange glow from the bonfire made everything feel dreamlike and unreal. I took his hand, trying to remember anything from that time I'd googled palm reading when I was bored.

'Your life line is... really long,' I improvised. 'So you'll live forever, probably.'

Jake laughed. 'That's reassuring.' His hand was warm, and I suddenly realized I wasn't sweating anymore. 'What else?'

'Your heart line...' I traced it with my finger. 'It's complicated.'

He looked at me, really looked at me, and I felt like maybe this wasn't going to be a disaster after all. 'Complicated how?'

'Like, maybe there's someone special already. Or coming soon.' I said it before I could overthink it.

Jake squeezed my hand. 'Yeah, maybe there is.'

Fox caught my eye from across the fire and gave me a thumbs up. I couldn't believe she'd set this up, but I also couldn't believe it was actually working.

Later, as we watched the orange sunset fade into purple twilight, Jake didn't let go of my hand. And for once, my palms were perfectly dry.