Palm Sweat & Pool Lights

Maya's palms were sweating. Like, actually dripping. She wiped them on her denim shorts for the third time, staring at the backyard pool where Tyler—actual Tyler, varsity jacket Tyler—was currently holding court with his friends. The water reflected the string lights overhead, making ripples that looked like liquid gold.

"You're being so weird about this," said Chloe, popping up beside her. Chloe, who had somehow already talked to three different guys tonight and looked completely unbothered. "Just go over there. It's not that deep."

"Easy for you to say," Maya muttered. "You didn't spill soda on your shirt earlier and have to wear this emergency tank top from my car's trunk."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Girl, it's giving 'I'm overthinking it.'"

Before Maya could defend her very valid anxiety, something rustled in the bushes behind them. Both girls jumped. A literal fox, copper-orange and impossibly fluffy, trotted out like it owned the place. It paused, looked at them with what appeared to be judgment, then snatched a discarded hot dog bun and bolted.

"Did that just—" Maya started.

"That fox ate more carbs than I've had all week," Chloe said, pulling out her phone to document the crime.

The commotion made Tyler look over. Of course. He caught Maya's eye and actually smiled, then started walking toward them. Maya's heart did something embarrassing and athletic.

"Hey," he said, stopping just inside her personal space. Up close, he smelled like chlorine and expensive cologne. "I saw you guys watching the fox. He's kind of a regular here. My neighbor calls him Ferdinand."

"Ferdinand," Maya repeated, because her brain had apparently stopped working. "That's... dignified."

Tyler laughed. It was a good laugh. "Right? So anyway, I was gonna get food from the place down the street. You want to come?" He gestured vaguely. "Both of you, obviously. Unless you're busy watching for more wildlife."

Chloe was already backing away with a knowing look. "Nah, I'm good. Maya here was just saying she's hungry."

"I was not," Maya hissed, but Chloe was already disappearing into the crowd.

Tyler looked at her, really looked at her, and Maya realized her palms were sweating again. But maybe that was okay. Maybe sweating palms were just what happened when you were starting to happen to yourself.

"So?" he asked. "Food?"

Maya looked at the pool, the ripples still catching light. At the spot where Ferdinand the fox had made his exit. At Tyler, waiting for her answer like it actually mattered.

"Yeah," she said. "Let's go."