The Summer I Learned to Fly

The **water** in the community pool was exactly four degrees too cold, but Maya didn't care. She was too busy trying not to make eye contact with anyone while simultaneously scanning the area for Sam's older brother, who definitely wasn't worth the stomach flip she felt every time she thought about him. Which was, like, constantly. Ugh.

"You're being weird," Chloe whispered from the adjacent lounge chair, not looking up from her phone. "Also, your dad's here."

Maya's stomach dropped. Her dad was currently in phase three of his midlife crisis, which meant he'd signed them both up for **padel** lessons because reading about it on some tech forum convinced him it was the next big thing. He was already decked out in full matching gear — headband, knee sleeves, and a determined expression that usually preceded something humiliating.

"We're leaving in ten," her dad announced, marching toward her in coordination shorts that should be illegal on anyone over thirty. "The **pyramid** of success starts with fundamentals, Maya. We're going to master the basics today."

"The pyramid of success?" Chloe mouthed, silently dying.

Maya considered faking her own death. Instead, she grabbed her towel and resigned herself to an afternoon of her dad saying things like "dig deep" and "leave it all on the court."

But then she saw Sam's brother standing by the snack bar. And suddenly, **running** away from her dignity seemed less important than potentially saying five actual words to him without her voice cracking. Something shifted — maybe it was the chlorine or the fact that she'd literally rather face any embarrassment than stay in her comfort zone another summer.

"Sure," Maya heard herself say. "Let's do this."

"That's the spirit!" Her dad beamed. "Now, there's this technique I read about called the Bull Rush —"

"No."

"Maya, the **bull** represents charging through obstacles. It's very metaphorical."

"Dad. Please stop. I'm begging you."

Chloe was laughing so hard she actually fell off her chair. And somehow, between her dad's awful coaching, her friend's public betrayal, and her own desperate crush, Maya realized something: being uncool wasn't the end of the world. It was barely even the middle of it.

She grabbed her racquet. "Fine. Show me the Bull."

Her dad's face lit up like she'd just handed him the world. And okay, maybe — just maybe — this summer wouldn't be so terrible after all. Not if she stopped trying to be someone she wasn't and just started being someone who was brave enough to try. Even at **padel**. Even with her dad. Even with Sam's brother watching from way too close.

Game on.