Spinach Lips and Palm Readings

Maya's palms were sweating so much she could practically water plants with them. Which was ironic, considering she was currently at Chloe's "farm-to-table" birthday party, surrounded by actual plants.

"You gonna eat that spinach wrap, or just stare at it lovingly?" Chloe asked, laughing as she nudged Maya's shoulder.

Maya's stomach did backflips. Not because of the spinach—though, yeah, that definitely wasn't helping—but because Jordan was across the room, looking unfairly cute in that oversized hoodie she secretly loved.

"I'm good," Maya managed, trying to play it cool. Failing, obviously.

Chloe's cat, Mochi, chose that exact moment to jump onto the snack table and knock over a bowl of guacamole. Chaos erupted. Someone shrieked. Maya should have been embarrassed, but instead she found herself laughing so hard she snorted. Which was when Jordan looked over and smiled.

Game on.

Maya grabbed a spinach wrap—why did she do that?—and marched over, her heart pounding like she'd just downed three energy drinks.

"Hey," Jordan said, grinning. "You got some—"

Oh no.

Maya's hand flew to her mouth. Spinach. Of course. She had spinach in her teeth. This was it. Her social life was over. She should just move to Antarctica and become a research scientist studying penguins.

But then Jordan started laughing too. Not mean laughing. Like, actually laughing.

"Dude, I had spinach stuck in my braces for literally all of seventh grade," Jordan said. "My nickname was Spinach Lips until high school."

"Seriously?"

"Cross my heart." Jordan held up their palm. "Here, give me your hand."

Maya blinked. "What?"

"Palm reading. I'm basically a professional. Chloe learned it from a YouTube tutorial and taught me."

Maya hesitated, then extended her hand. Jordan's fingers were warm against hers, and something about the way their face scrunched up in mock concentration made Maya's chest feel weirdly light.

"Hmm," Jordan murmured, tracing lines on Maya's palm. "I see... a very cool person who's going to laugh at themself a lot and have amazing friends. Also, apparently, someone who will never eat spinach again."

Maya rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Shut up."

"I also see," Jordan continued, glancing up with suddenly serious eyes, "that this person should maybe give me their number?"

The party noise faded. Maya's palms stopped sweating. She grinned.

"I think your palm reading skills might actually be legit."