Saltwater and Static

Maya's palms were sweating — actually sweating — as she stood in front of the mechanical bull at Jake's beach party. Everyone was watching. Even the people playing beer pong had stopped to stare.

"You got this, Maya!" Chloe yelled, way too loud. Maya's best friend had been pushing her toward this moment all week, ever since she'd admitted she had a thing for Jake. "Just channel your inner rodeo queen!"

"I'm gonna die," Maya muttered, climbing onto the fake bull. The operator, some college guy with sun-bleached hair, winked. "Hold on tight, sweetheart."

The bull lurched. Maya gripped the handle so hard her knuckles turned white. First it swung left, then right, then started spinning. She lasted eight seconds — eight whole seconds — before flying off and landing directly in front of Jake.

"Nice form," Jake said, grinning. And then — lightning. Not actual weather, but that sudden electricity in her chest, like when your phone connects to a charger but inside your ribcage. He reached out to help her up. Their hands brushed.

"Yeah, well," Maya said, standing and wiping sand from her jeans, "I gave it a shot."

"You definitely did," Jake said. "Wanna get some air?"

They walked toward the water, away from the thumping bass and overlapping conversations. The ocean reflected moonlight like broken glass.

"So," Jake said, "truth time — did Chloe dare you to ride that bull, or was that all you?"

Maya laughed. "Chloe's been on my case about being more... spontaneous. She says I overthink everything. Which, yeah, I do. But tonight?" She kicked at the wet sand. "Tonight I just wanted to see if I could actually do something without obsessing over how it would look."

"Well," Jake said, "you definitely made an impression." He smiled, and the butterflies in Maya's stomach did that thing where they migrate to her throat. "For what it's worth? I think you're pretty brave."

The water lapped at their shoes. Somewhere behind them, someone whooped as another person launched off the mechanical bull.

"Maybe," Maya said, "maybe next time I'll last nine seconds."

Jake's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then back at her. "Or maybe we could just... skip the bull next time? Go for a walk instead?"

Maya's palms weren't sweating anymore. "I'd like that."