“Oh really? I thought you loved it.”

“I used to, but it’s just not fun for me now.”

“Well that’s okay. You don’t have to do it anymore.”

Another heavy sigh. “I already feel bad that I stopped playing piano and now this.”

“Well, you do know you’re only thirteen, right? You don’t have to know what you want to do for the rest of your life today.”

“Says the girl who has known she wanted to play soccer since she was six.”

“Seven.”

“Whatever. And Kai knows he wants to do something with sports medicine. And Tylah knows she wants to be a singer. And I just don’t know; things seem fun at first and then I lose interest.”

“So you haven’t found your thing yet. That’s okay. You have soooo much time. My friend Imani plays volleyball, and she’s really good at it but she says it’s just for fun. She doesn’t plan to do it forever. She might not even do it past high school.”

Her breath hitches and her eyes flutter. “Really?”

“Yeah and she’s not even sure what she wants to study in college, if she goes at all.”

“That’s good to know.” She starts picking her nails in her lap just as I pull into the Whataburger parking lot.

I shut off the car and turn to face her. “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Do you know how often I think about quitting soccer?”

She blinks for an extremely long time and shakes her head in confusion. “What? Why would you do that? You love soccer.”

“I do, but my dad is a lot. He sucks all the joy out of it, and there are days where I just dread stepping on that field.”

“Wow. I didn’t know that. I’m sorry. What helps you not quit?”

“Honestly?” She nods her head. “Your brother. He makes me remember why I love what I do.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Ugh. I guess that explains why you willingly put your mouth on him.”

I smack her arm. “Smartass. That’s part of it, yeah.”

She pretends to gag. “Well don’t tell me the rest. Gross.”

“Oh stop it. When you start putting your mouth on somebody, I’m gonna tease you relentlessly.”

She hides her mouth beneath the collar of her shirt and my jaw drops. “Oh my God, are you putting your mouth on people?!”

“Eeew, stop saying it like that.”

“You said it first.”

“Yeah, but it’s weird when you do it.”

“Stop evading the question.”

“I’m not kissing anybody! But there’s this boy in my class that doesn’t completely suck.”

“Ooooooh, a crush.”

“I didn’t say all that.”

“You didn’t have to.” I poke her cheek. “That smile you’re trying to hide says it all.”

She closes her eyes and dodges my finger. “Ugh, fine. I’ll tell you about it. But burgers first.”

“Deal.” She grabs the handle of her car door, but I grab her hand before she can step out. “Are you feeling any better about the art stuff?”