The Fox's Last Laugh

Chloe stood by the pool edge, clutching her Diet Coke like a lifeline. The July heat pressed against her skin, but she wasn't going **swimming**. Not with these people. Not after what happened last year at Maya's birthday pool party.

Across the deck, Jace lounged on a lounge chair like he owned the place. He was talking to Sarah, his hand practically glued to her **palm**. Chloe's stomach did that awful twisty thing it always did when she watched them together. Low-key cringe.

"You okay?" Mia appeared beside her, offering a sympathetic smile.

"Literally never been better," Chloe lied, then sighed. "Okay, no. Jace is being all touchy with Sarah and I'm over here spiraling."

Mia rolled her eyes. "That boy is such a **fox**. Sweet talks everyone, then ghosts when things get real. You dodged a bullet, bestie."

"Yeah but like, the bullet hit my ego first?"

Suddenly Jace broke away from Sarah and strutted toward them. His expression had that mysterious quality, like he was some kind of **sphinx** guarding ancient secrets instead of a seventeen-year-old in swim trunks.

"Chloe," he said, "wanna play beer pong? Teams?"

Her heart hammered. This was it—the moment she'd been waiting for all summer. But then she saw it: a piece of **spinach** stuck between his front teeth. Small, green, absolutely tragic.

The universe had a twisted sense of humor.

"Actually," Chloe said, surprising herself with how steady her voice came out, "I'm good. Think I'll just vibe here."

Jace shrugged and walked away, leaving her watching his retreating back with that stupid green decoration still wedged in his smile. And somehow, that was better than any fairy tale ending. Real life was messy and ridiculous and honestly? That was the point.