Page 31 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

“Candi, you all know how to dink,” protested Endy.

Candi’s lips twitched. “There’s dinking,” she said, “and then there’sdinking.”

Endy’s forehead puckered, and her eyebrows drew together over her sunglasses. “I’m really not sure what’s going on here, but I’m not going to argue with you. Dinks it is,” she replied.

She held her paddle waist high. “As you all know, the dink is a finesse shot. We try to hit up and get it to land just over the net in your opponent’s non-volley zone.”

Endy hit the pickleball gently over the net, crosscourt to Earlene, who dinked it across to Candi, who dinked it crosscourt to Nora, who dinked it across to Endy, who dinked it back crosscourt to Earlene, who dinked it across to Candi, who dinked it crosscourt to Nora.

The four players easily hit dinks back and forth between them in the pattern without pausing.

Finally, Candi, still hitting the ball in a gentle arc over the net, said nonchalantly, “Endy, the girls and I have noticed you spending time with a very handsome young man, and we’re a bit curious.”

Nora giggled and nodded.

Earlene returned the ball to Candi. “All that messy dark brown hair. Yum yum.”

“Oh my god,” Endy exclaimed as she caught the ball in her hand, stopping the lesson. She put her hands on her hips. “Did you ladies seriously book a lesson with me just so you can find out about my love life?”

“Us? Noooo,” replied Candi.

“Maybe,” said Earlene at the same time.

Nora just giggled and nodded.

“You know how much you mean to all of us. We’re always looking after your best interests,” said Candi. “So please don’t be mad at some old biddies.”

Endy’s heart melted, and she smiled warmly at the trio. “I could never be mad at you three,” she said as a loud cheer came from the pickleball courts behind them. “So, you have me for another half hour. What do you want to know?”

Earlene grabbed hold of Endy’s hand and pulled her toward a picnic table under the awning. She retrieved an insulated cooler from underneath, flipped the top open, and pulled out a pitcher of orange juice and a bottle of champagne.

“Mimosas! We have just enough to last us a half hour,” Earlene said, tucking her oversized Dri-FIT T-shirt into her Bermuda shorts.

Nora smiled and nodded.

“You gals are irresistible,” Endy said as she reached around and pulled them into a group hug. “I’m incredibly lucky to have you looking after my best interests, but I have a long day ahead of me, so I’ll stick with water.”

“Fine, be that way,” said Earlene. “But start spilling the beans. Tell us everything. How did you meet? How long have you been dating?”

“More importantly … how is he in the sack?” asked Nora.

Endy choked and sputtered on the water she was drinking.

“Your young man reminds me of one of the players from Greece who traveled in for the Indian Wells tournament,” said Nora in a high, breathy voice. “What was the name of that one?” She tapped a finger against her lips. “He was a fabulous lover. Could go all night.”

Earlene huffed. “Nora, you never needed to know their names.”

Nora giggled and nodded.

Endy hid a smile behind her hand. “I’ll just share with you that I met him here at the club. I guess he’s just visiting. He’s a fantastic tennis player—”

“Tennis,” said Candi with a grimace. She pulled the visor from her head and ruffled her gray hair.

“We’ve only gone out a couple of times,” continued Endy. “And his name is Sebastian.”

“We know,” Candi said, and all the ladies smiled.

Earlene put her hands over her heart. “It’s still very early in your relationship—”

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