The Riddle of Summer

Maya's palms were sweating. Again. She wiped them on her denim shorts and checked her phone—still no text from Tyler. The pool party at the Reynolds' estate was in full swing, and she was hiding behind a massive stone fountain that looked like a miniature sphinx, its riddle-like smirk mocking her social anxiety.

"Maya! There you are!" Chloe materialized, holding two spiked sodas. "Tyler's by the padel court. You coming?"

Maya's stomach did that thing it always did when Tyler was mentioned. Like, a full gymnastics routine. "I don't know how to play padel."

"Neither does half the people here. It's basically tennis but easier." Chloe shoved a drink toward her. "Also, Jordan's going, and I need you as my wingwoman."

Before Maya could formulate a coherent excuse, she was being dragged across the manicured lawn, past palm trees that swayed like they were dancing to music only they could hear. The padel court was glowing with string lights, and there he was—Tyler, laughing at something some girl in a bikini was saying.

The girl was gorgeous, obviously. Because the universe had a personal vendetta against Maya's romantic life.

"Hey!" Tyler spotted them. "We need one more for mixed doubles. You in?"

Maya's brain short-circuited. "I—uh—"

"She's in!" Chloe announced, pushing her forward.

The next hour was a blur of running, swinging, and trying not to make a complete fool of herself. Tyler was on her team, which was both a blessing and a curse. Every time she missed a ball, he'd say, "Nice try!" with that smile that made her forget what language she spoke.

At one point, Maya found herself at the net, face-to-face with Tyler. His hair was damp with sweat, and there was something in his eyes that made her hyper-aware of her own existence.

"You're actually really good," he said.

"I'm terrible," she laughed. "But thanks for lying."

"I don't lie about padel. It's sacred." He grinned, and for a second, everything else faded away—the party, the gorgeous bikini girl, the sphinx fountain still smirking back at the house.

Later, as they sat on the edge of the court drinking lukewarm soda, Tyler's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then back at Maya.

"Hey," he said casually. "Some of us are hitting the beach tomorrow. You should come."

Maya's palms started sweating again. But this time, she didn't wipe them on her shorts. "Yeah," she said, and it came out steadier than she felt. "I think I'd like that."

The sphinx's riddle, it turned out, wasn't so impossible after all.