Poolside Confidential

Marcus adjusted his sunglasses, trying to look casual while basically failing at everything. Three weeks into summer and he was already the worst spy in history.

"Dude, you look like you're waiting for a drone strike," Jenny said, flopping onto the lounge chair beside him. She slapped his palm—an annoying habit she'd picked up somewhere—and he almost jumped.

"I'm not being obvious," he lied.

"You're literally staring at Tyler."

"I'm observing. There's a difference."

She snorted. "Whatever, James Bond. Just ask him if he's going to the party Saturday."

Easier said than done. Tyler was currently in the pool, shirtless, laughing at something Chloe said. Tyler and Chloe had been swimming together every day this week. Marcus and Jenny had been watching from the sidelines like creepy mannequins.

Social dynamics were exhausting.

"Okay, new plan," Marcus said. "I'm going over there."

"Finally."

"But not directly. That's desperate. I'm gonna swim some laps first. Look athletic. Cool. Unbothered."

Jenny raised an eyebrow. "You haven't swum since middle school PE."

"Details don't matter. Presence matters."

He stood up, walked to the pool's edge, and immediately remembered two critical facts: one, he didn't actually like swimming, and two, Tyler and Chloe were now leaving the water together, laughing about something that probably wasn't funny.

Marcus stood there like an idiot while Jenny doubled over, cackling.

"Smooth," she called out. "Really nailed the entrance."

Tyler glanced over. "Hey, Marcus! You coming in?"

Marcus's brain short-circuited. "Yeah! Totally! Just... stretching."

He proceeded to do the most awkward stretch in human history.

But then Tyler smiled—not polite-smiled, but actually smiled—and said, "Cool. We're gonna get food later. You should come."

Marcus's palm was sweating. His heart was doing something weird. "Yeah. Yeah, for sure."

"Awesome." Tyler paused. "Bring your friend, by the way. Jenny seems cool."

Marcus blinked. Jenny.

Jenny.

He looked back at his best friend, who was now staring at her phone like her life depended on it, her face suspiciously pink.

"Oh," Marcus said. "Oh."

Sometimes the best spy operations weren't the ones you planned for yourself. Sometimes they were the ones happening right beside you the whole time.