Riddles at the Net

Maya's golden retriever, Buster, nudged her hand with that wet-nose insistence that meant either he was hungry or he'd detected her anxiety spike. Probably both.

"You've got this, May," Leo said, tossing her the padel racket. It was their third match since she'd joined the club, and her arms still felt like jelly.

The outdoor court baked in the August heat. Across the net, Cameron— varsity baseball captain, last season's home run king, and the guy Maya had been lowkey crushing on since freshman orientation— stretched his arms over his head. His muscles rippled. Of course they did.

"Your serve," he called, grinning.

Maya's first serve hit the net. Her second went wide. Heat rose to her cheeks.

"Rough patch?" Cameron volleyed back, all easy confidence.

"Just warming up," Maya lied, though her hands were sweating through her grip.

They'd started talking at that party last weekend—him actually noticing her, asking about her art, leaning in close when the music got too loud. She'd floated home on cloud nine, replaying every moment. Now here she was, embarrassing herself in front of him.

Buster let out a bark from the sidelines.

The game tightened. Maya found her rhythm, Cameron upping his game with every point. They were locked at deuce when he suddenly asked, "Hey, what's the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?"

Maya missed the ball entirely. It bounced past her. "What?"

"A riddle." Cameron's eyes held hers. "Classic sphinx stuff."

She blinked. Was he... was he flirting with riddles now?

"Man," she said. "I give up."

"It's a human," he said softly. "We crawl when we're babies, walk upright, then use canes when we're old."

Maya's stomach did that weird flip. "That's actually kinda deep coming from Mr. Baseball Bull himself."

Cameron laughed— genuinely laughed. "Fair. I've been called worse."

"Play on?"

"Nah." He walked to the net. "I was thinking... maybe we finish this game tomorrow? Same time?"

Maya's heart hammered. Buster trotted over and sat beside her like a furry wingman.

"Yeah," she said, grinning. "I'd like that."

Later that night, Maya sketched in her notebook: a sphinx wearing a baseball cap, a padel racket as its scepter. Some riddles didn't need answers— just someone worth asking them with.