Poolside Sphinx

Maya's palms were sweating so much she could barely grip her phone. Across the pool, Kai leaned against the patio door like he owned the place, which technically he kinda did—his parents were loaded. The entire sophomore class had gathered for what everyone was calling the Party of the Century, even though it was barely June.

"You're staring again," said Jenna, shoving a plastic cup into her hand. "Drink this. It'll help."

Maya peered inside. Bright orange chunks floated in something fizzy. "What is it?"

"Papaya punch. My mom's secret recipe. It's literally fire."

Fire was exactly what Maya felt in her cheeks when she saw Kai coming over. His dark hair was still wet from swimming, droplets catching the sunset through the palm trees that lined his backyard. He moved like water itself—effortless, gravitational.

"Hey," he said, sliding onto the lounge chair beside her. "You haven't been in the pool."

Maya's brain short-circuited. All week she'd rehearsed casual responses to exactly this moment, and now she was coming up blank.

"I... I forgot my suit," she blurted, then immediately regretted it. She was wearing it under her cover-up. The lie was pathetic.

But Kai just smiled, this tiny crinkle of amusement in his dark eyes. "You know what my cousin calls you?"

Maya's stomach dropped. She had a cousin reputation? This couldn't be good.

"The Sphinx."

"The what?"

"Because you're always in the library during lunch, reading those giant mythology books. She says you're like a riddle nobody's figured out yet." He leaned closer. "She also says sphinxes eat people who can't answer their questions. So."

He was waiting.

Maya realized her palms had stopped sweating. The knot in her chest was loosening, replaced by something warm and fizzy, like the papaya punch she'd been sipping.

"Okay," she said, surprising herself with how steady her voice sounded. "What's the riddle?"

Kai's grin widened. "I'll tell you later. First, you're getting in that pool."

He stood, extending a hand. His palm was warm against hers, calloused from skateboarding, and suddenly Maya wasn't nervous anymore. She was just... ready.

"Race you," she said, and took off running toward the water. Behind her, she could hear Jenna whooping, could feel Kai's footsteps matching hers, could practically taste the sweet papaya aftertaste of a perfect summer night just beginning.