“Something like that.”

He considers me for a moment but doesn’t ask about what made me mad. I’m grateful. “You’ve got some power in that foot of yours.”

“Thanks. I’m practicing for team tryouts.”

“With that kick, I’m sure you’ll make the team.” I don’t know why but his compliment makes my neck feel hot.

“You like soccer?”

“I like all sports, yeah. But I think soccer might just be my favorite now.”

“All sports, huh?”

“Yep. You don’t believe me?”

I shrug. “I mean all sports is a bold statement. Do you know how many sports there are?”

Another chuckle. I’ll get that full belly laugh soon enough. “Okay, try me.”

I drop the ball to the ground, crack my knuckles, and narrow my eyes at him. “Okay, well I guess I can assume you like the obvious ones—soccer, basketball, football, baseball.”

“Yep, yep, yep, and yep.”

“Hockey?”

“Yep.”

“Swimming?”

“I mostly pay attention to it during the Olympics but yeah.”

“Archery?”

“Archery is badass.” He lifts his eyebrow, testing to see if I’ll challenge him. I won’t. I have no way to verify if he’s telling the truth right now, but I just want to keep him talking a little longer.

“Tennis?”

“Serena Williams is my favorite player.”

“Serena Williams is everyone’s favorite player.” I rest my hands on my hips.

“Yeah but she’s really mine. I saw her play for the first time when I was seven with my dad. We watch her play together all the time now.”

“Golf?”

His eyes crinkle in the corners, and he flattens his lips into a thin line before he responds, “Yep.”

I point my index finger in his face. “Liar!”

And right there, I get the belly laugh I’ve been craving. “You got me. The one sport I don’t like.”

“Mm-hmm, I’m sure there are others, but it’s okay; my point’s been proven.”

His curls bounce as he shakes his head in disbelief, eyes still shining with laughter. “You just move in?” He glances behind me to my house.

“Yeah, last week. From Houston.”

“Makes sense. We stayed at my Po Po’s house last week so I missed you.”

“Your Po Po?”

“My grandmom.” My eyes light up at his response. He calls his grandmom Po Po. That’s so cute.

“Ahh. That’s a cute nickname.”

“It’s Chinese.”

My brows furrow. “Are you Chinese?”

“Half. I’m half Black, half Chinese.”

“Cool.” He seems to like my response.

“Well, welcome to the neighborhood. I’m Kai.” He holds his hand out, and I internally laugh at the manners on this kid before grabbing his hand and shaking it.

“I’m Olivia.”

The smile he rewards me with after I share my name blinds me. Wow, his teeth are unbelievably white.

“So what made you guys move?”

I roll my eyes then rub them to cover it up so he doesn’t think my irritation is aimed at him. “If you ask my dad, he’ll tell you it’s because there’s a coach at the high school in this area he wants me to work with. But since high school is two years away for me, I say it’s because he was tired of living in the house where my mom abandoned us.”