Page 3 of Kickoff

Oh, I loved how cocky she got. Was my new neighbor as competitive as I was? Right now, I wished that was the case because it would make things more interesting. I was so ready to kick her ass and show off my skills. I was Mason Pierce. I never lost. And now, I even had an endgame.

“Fine, you win,” Melinda conceded a while later, tossing the basketball back at me, bending forward, her palms on her knees, catching her breath.

“Can I decide my prize now?” I asked, breathless, but unable to stop the grin taking over my face. Winning had been harder than I thought it’d be. Melinda Shepard didn’t go down without a fight. She’d put her whole heart into our game until the last second. “You were not kidding. You are good at this.”

“Told you.” Her breathing slowed, and she sat on the lawn, stretching her legs before her. “We had a deal. Tell me what you want. Candies? Popsicles? Iced tea? I can even bake you banana bread.”

I dropped next to her, twisting blades of grass around my finger. “Do you have plans tonight?”

She seemed to hesitate for a second. “Huh…no. Mom said nothing about our having plans. She’s too busy unpacking.”

“Then we’ll have dinner and watch a movie in my backyard together.”

“Backyard?”

“Yes. Dad has an old projector we use sometimes to screen movies in the garden on a white sheet. It’s Saturday night, so you’re allowed to watch a movie, no? Isn’t that what you said earlier?”

“I guess. Mom said our family nights would start again next week because moving is the top priority before school starts.”

“Perfect. Do you like pizza?”

Her face flushed. “Duh, yes. Do you know anyone who doesn’t like pizza because I don’t.”

“No. That would be silly.” I chuckled. “Mom makes the best homemade pizza.”

“Huh…Mason… Are you sure it’s okay with your parents if I come over later?”

I nodded. “Yep. Mom says my friends are always welcome at our house.”

“I’ll ask my parents first, okay? They are super protective of me. Like a lot. My best friend Jolie, back in New Jersey, said it was a bit too much sometimes.”

“Wow, you moved from New Jersey? It’s like far far away”

She bobbed her head. “Super far. Three-day drive to be exact.” She moved to her feet. “Nice game, by the way.”

I stood and dusted myself off. “Can I walk you home?”

“You wanna walk me home? I live right next door.”

“I’m a gentleman. And we can ask your mom together.”

We walked side by side without a word. It felt weird to go to a girl’s house. I never really had a girl as a friend before. Mr. Shepard opened the door when we climbed up the front porch steps. “Hi again,” he said when he noticed me. “Mel, I’m glad you made a friend on your first day.”

I stood next to her and held out a hand as I’d seen my father do many times. “Sir, my name is Mason Pierce. I live next door. Can Melinda come over to have dinner at my place tonight? We’ll have a picnic in my backyard and swim and watch a movie.”

Mr. Shepard studied me with a serious expression. “Will my daughter be home before nine, Mr. Pierce?”

“Yes, sir. I have an eight-thirty curfew.”

Mr. Shepard nodded. “I see. Will you keep her safe?”

“Always. I’ll watch over her. So, can she come?”

Mr. Shepard brought his attention to his daughter. “Mel, do you wanna go?”

She nodded fast. “I would love to, Daddy.”

“Okay.” He looked at me. “It’s settled then.” He turned around, picked up a notepad from one of the boxes stacked in the foyer and a pen from his pocket, and scribbled something before handing me the piece of paper. “Please ask your parents to call me to confirm, okay? This is our number.”