Summer Swept Away

My palms were literally dripping as I stood at the edge of the pool party, clutching my phone like a lifeline. Everyone was already in the water, laughing, while I was still stuck on the deck in my oversized swim trunks, overthinking everything.

Then Jake walked up, grinning. "Yo Marcus, finally. We're starting a padel match over there." He pointed to the court beyond the pool fence. "You in?"

"Uh..." I started, but then my eyes landed on her. Chloe. The way the sunlight caught her hair, dripping wet from the pool. My brain short-circuited.

"Marcus?" Jake waved a hand. "You good, bro?"

Suddenly, chaos erupted. Mrs. Henderson's prize bulldog—a chunky thing named Tank—came charging through the gate, somehow escaped from his yard. The dog made a beeline straight for the snack table, scattering chips everywhere.

"Tank! No!" Chloe yelled, laughing as she scrambled out of the pool, water streaming down her legs.

I didn't think. I just moved. Dived for the dog before he could reach the nacho cheese dip. Tackled him like I was playing football, which I'd never actually done. We both went sprawling across the deck, and I swear the entire party went dead silent.

Then Chloe was there, helping me up, her hand warm on my arm. "That was... actually kind of heroic?"

"Yeah, well," I managed, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might explode. "Someone had to save the nachos."

She laughed, and it sounded like actual music. "You're weird. But like, in a good way?"

Jake smirked from the padel court. "Alright, Bull. Now you've got to come play. That's the new nickname, by the way. Bull. For the way you charged that dog."

"Bull? Seriously?" I protested, but I was grinning.

"Seriously." Chloe handed me a towel. "Come on, Bull. Let's see what you got."

As I walked toward the court, palms still sweating but for a totally different reason now, I caught Jake's eye and he gave me a thumbs-up. Sometimes the most embarrassing moments become the best ones. Not that I'd ever admit that to Jake. The Nacho Rescue Incident would stay between me, Chloe, and a bulldog named Tank. Forever.