Sweaty Palms & Spinach Teeth

Maya's palms were sweating so much she could practically water plants with them. Which would've been useful, considering the drought California was in, but definitely not useful for standing in front of Ethan at Sarah's pool party.

"So," Ethan said, leaning against the palm tree that was honestly doing way too much work being aesthetic. "You doing anything fun this summer?"

Maya's brain short-circuited. This was it. The moment she'd been dreaming about since Ethan had transferred to their school in January. He was actually talking to her. HER. The girl who once gave a presentation with a massive piece of spinach stuck in her front teeth for forty-five minutes because nobody had the heart to tell her.

"Uh, yeah!" Maya squeaked. "I'm doing... things. Cool things. Very cool."

Cool things? What was she, a character from a bad Netflix show? Her face burned hotter than the Phoenix sun that had everyone else jumping in the pool.

Ethan laughed, and okay, that was definitely not the reaction she was going for. "That's mysterious. I like mysterious."

He stepped closer, and Maya's heart did that thing where it forgot how to beat properly. His hair was still wet from the water, droplets sliding down his neck, and this was so unfair. Why did teenage boys have to be this confusingly hot sometimes?

"What about you?" she managed, proud of herself for forming actual sentences. "Any big plans?"

"Actually," Ethan said, "I was hoping to—"

"HEY MAYA!" Sarah's voice cut through whatever moment was happening. "Your mom's here! Something about your grandma's birthday dinner!"

The spinach incident flashed through Maya's mind. Her family. Restaurants. Public humiliation. It was all connected.

"I have to go," Maya blurted, already backing away. "But I'll see you at school! In September! That's... that's when school starts!"

She could feel Ethan's eyes on her as she practically sprinted to her mom's car, cheeks blazing, palms still sweating, heart pounding.

"Wait!" Ethan called after her.

Maya turned around. He was standing there, shirtless, confident, perfect. And he was smiling.

"I never got your number," he said. "For the cool things."

Maya's grin was so wide it almost hurt. "Savage," she whispered to herself, walking backward now. "I'll text you."

As she climbed into her mom's car, Maya pressed her hands against her cheeks. They were still damp with sweat, her palms still nervous, but something about the way Ethan had looked at her... like she was actually someone worth knowing.

Maybe spinach incidents and sweaty palms didn't matter as much as she thought. Maybe growing up meant learning that the most embarrassing moments could still lead to the best ones.

And maybe, just maybe, she'd finally get to have her summer romance after all.