The Padel Court Summer

Maya's first summer job at the country club wasn't exactly the glow-up she'd pictured on Instagram. Mostly she dragged the squeegee across the padel courts after entitled adults finished playing, trying not to look like she'd rather be literally anywhere else.

That is, until the Fox showed up.

Not a literal fox—although that would've been more interesting. No, this Fox was Riley, the new player with hair that caught the sunlight like spun sugar and a backhand that made Maya's stomach do things she refused to acknowledge. Riley always showed up at the worst times, too. Like when Maya was drenched in sweat, her chlorine-green polo clinging to her back, or when she'd just spilled water down her front like an absolute toddler.

"You missed a spot," Riley said one afternoon, gesturing to a puddle near the baseline.

Maya's face burned. "It's called hydration. The court gets thirsty."

Riley laughed, and Maya tried to remember how to breathe.

The real problem started when Rusty, the club manager's ancient golden retriever, decided Riley was his new favorite person. Rusty had zero boundaries and even less dignity. Mid-match, he'd trot onto the padel court and collapse dramatically at Riley's feet, demanding belly rubs.

"He's never liked anyone this much," Maya muttered, emptying the water bottle into Rusty's bowl.

"Maybe he has good taste," Riley said, with a smile that made Maya's knees forget their job.

On the last day of summer, Riley found Maya behind the equipment shed, pretending to organize tennis balls while actually having a silent panic about September and high school and everything changing again.

"Hey," Riley said. "Want to play padel? Just us. No Rusty, no audience."

Maya nodded, unable to trust her voice.

They played until the sun dipped below the fence, until Maya's hands stopped shaking, until she forgot to be nervous and just remembered how to hit the ball. Afterward, they sat on the bench and shared lukewarm water from the fountain, legs touching, not speaking.

"See you next summer?" Riley asked.

"Yeah," Maya said, and for once, she didn't stumble over the word.

Rusty barked agreement from somewhere beyond the fence, and Maya laughed—not at herself, for once, but at the perfect, ridiculous mess of it all.