Sweaty Palms at the Net

Maya's iphone buzzed for the third time in her pocket, but she ignored it. Coach Reyes was already eyeing her from across the padel court, and the last thing she needed was another distraction—especially one from him.

"Focus, Maya!" called Chloe, her best friend and partner for the tournament. "You've been staring at the fence line for five minutes straight."

Right. The padel tournament. The one her dad had spent three weeks talking about at dinner, the one she'd secretly signed up for because Tyler—the cute junior who'd transferred from Spain—played every Saturday at the club.

"Sorry," Maya muttered, wiping her sweating palms on her shorts. Gross. Why did her body have to betray her like this?

Her phone buzzed again. Against her better judgment, she glanced down. Tyler's name flashed on the screen. Her heart did this embarrassing flutter thing, like a trapped bird against her ribs.

"YOU'RE PLAYING?!" the text read. "Didn't know you were into padel. That's... actually really cool."

Maya felt herself smiling. Then remembered where she was.

"Earth to Maya!" Chloe waved a racquet in her face. "Match starts in TWO minutes. You good?"

"Yeah," she said, shoving her phone deep into her bag. "Just... yeah."

The match was a blur. Her palms were so sweaty she could barely grip her racquet, and she missed at least three easy shots. But every time she flubbed, she'd glance at the sidelines and catch Tyler watching, actually watching, and somehow that made it worse and better at the same time.

They lost. But as they walked off the court, sweaty and exhausted, Tyler was waiting.

"You've got crazy reflexes," he said, falling into step beside her. "That save at the net? Insane."

Maya's palm was sweating again, but for once, she didn't wipe it on her shorts. "I totally messed up the final set though."

"Whatever. You're playing again next Saturday, right?" He grinned. "I could teach you this trick shot I've been working on."

Maya's phone buzzed in her pocket. Probably her mom wondering where she was. But she didn't check it. Some things were more important.

"Yeah," she said, and for the first time all day, her hands were steady. "I'd like that."