Sweaty Palms & Party Fails

Maya's palms were sweating so much she could practically water plants with them. Which was ridiculous, because she was just standing in Jake's backyard, holding a red solo cup like it contained the secrets to the universe instead of lukewarm soda.

"You good?" Jake asked, flashing that perfect smile that made half the sophomore class simultaneously swoon and spiral.

"Yeah, totally! Just... admiring your mom's garden. Very... green." Smooth, Maya. Really smooth.

She'd spent three hours getting ready tonight. Three. Hours. And now here she was, trapped in conversation with the guy she'd been lowkey obsessed with since September, feeling like a goldfish out of water — gulping for air that wasn't there.

"Want some spinach dip?" Jake gestured toward a bowl on the picnic table. "My aunt made it. It's actually fire."

Maya's stomach did a nervous little flip. "Sure, why not?" Because obviously, the solution to her social anxiety was eating dip with spinach in it. Spinach. The vegetable that famously loved to lodge itself in people's teeth like a clingy ex.

She scooped some onto a chip, took a bite, and then felt it. That telltale leafy wedge between her front teeth. Of course. Because the universe had personally decided tonight would be the night Maya embarrassed herself beyond recovery.

"You have a little—" Jake started laughing, not meanly, but still. Laughter.

Maya's face burned. "I'm gonna grab napkins," she mumbled, speed-walking toward the house like it contained oxygen.

But karma wasn't done yet. Jake's dog Barnaby — a golden retriever with zero boundaries and maximum enthusiasm — came barreling out of nowhere, jumping on her with the joyful chaos of a creature who'd never met a stranger. Maya's red cup went flying. Soda splashed everywhere.

"Barnaby! Down!" Jake ran over, pulling his dog off her. "I am so sorry. He's basically a bear sometimes, I swear."

Maya looked down at her stained shirt. Looked at Jake, who was actually concerned, not laughing at her anymore. Looked at Barnaby, who was now wagging his tail like he'd just made a new best friend.

And then she started laughing. Like, actually laughing. Because what else could she do? She had spinach in her teeth, soda on her shirt, and a dog who'd just declared her his favorite person ever.

"Your aunt's dip is actually really good," she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Despite everything."

Jake grinned. "Yeah? Well, if you survive this, maybe I can get you the recipe."

Maya's palms were still sweating. But maybe, just maybe, that wasn't the worst thing in the world.