Page 35 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

“Right, can’t wait to talk more about that with you and Daniel this afternoon. Do you have a name for it yet? Or are you just going with Junior Tennis Academy?”

“Coming up with the funding was easy compared to coming up with a name.” She rolled her eyes, her thick eyelashes fanned out. “We already have financial backing for a full five years but are still working on what to call it.”

Sloane walked toward a clothing rack and pulled out a white-and-navy Lacoste tennis sweater. “This is super cute.” She turned over the price tag. “And only $220, huh.” She looked at Maria, who had not moved. “Can you hold this for me, and I’ll come pay for it when I’m done playing? Just put it under my name, Sloane.”

Maria swallowed and nodded. “I know.”

Joel grinned. “Put it under her other name,Shorty.”

Sloane lifted an eyebrow. “You’re not allowed to call me that,” she said. “Only one person has that privilege, and I just about marr—”

The pro shop phone rang shrilly, and Joel walked behind the front desk. “When you guys are done hitting, come back up here and I can drive us in the cart over to Daniel’s office,” he said before picking up the receiver.

“Sounds good,” Sloane replied, shifting her tennis bag on her shoulder. “Is Sebastian already on the court?”

“Uh-huh, he’s on Stadium Court,” Joel said with a pointed glance at Endy, who was still hidden behind Maria. “He’s waiting for you.”

Sloane slipped her sunglasses back on. “Best not to keep Sebastian Hall waiting,” she replied with a soft laugh.

“Oh please,” said Joel. “You used to keep him waiting all the time.”

“That was before,” breathed Sloane. A sly grin played at her full lips. “Thistime, I’m going to make sure he can have me whenever he wants.”

From behind Maria, still hidden from view, Endy watched Sloane and Joel. She raised her hand to her mouth and gnawed at her thumbnail. Who was this stunning friend of Joel’s? They seemed very familiar with one another, like old friends, and from how she’d greeted Joel in the typical USC way, Endy could only guess they knew each other from college.

And why did her name sound so familiar?

Suddenly, Endy’s heart missed a beat when she realized that this was the Sloane that Joel had mentioned before.

The Sloane that Sebastian had been engaged to.

Endy felt a dull ache in her stomach as she moved to the clothing racks in front of the pro shop windows that overlooked Stadium Court. Her hands were busy moving the hangers, but her eyes followed Sloane.

Sloane had walked—no, glided—onto the court and air-kissed the other two players. But for Sebastian, she had wrapped her arms around his neck and given him a thousand-watt smile as she ran her hands through his hair. The same hair that Endy had been grabbing at five this morning—for the third time. Endy coughed and rolled her neck, hearing a crunching sound from her tight muscles.

Obviously very comfortable with Sloane, Sebastian rested his hand on her waist as they talked with their heads leaned in close, their shared tallness perfectly perfect.

They looked exquisite together. Even when they walked to their positions on court, they stepped in time. And the easy swing of their racquets while they warmed up was poetry in motion. It was evident that Sloane and Sebastian had spent a lot of time together as a doubles pair—and as a couple.

Also, what was Sloane referring to when Joel had asked her about a junior tennis academy and meeting with Daniel? Did Endy hear correctly that they had full funding for five years? How could it be that easy when Endy couldn’t even come up with the $25,000 she needed for Picklers?

Maria cautiously approached Endy, and they stood together watching Sloane warming up her serve. “Cover the front desk for me. I’ll go out and slash her tires.”

“It’s okay, Maria,” lied Endy. “She’ll probably be gone tomorrow.” She took a deep breath and forced herself to move away from the window.

22

Who could have guessed that someone who was an assistant director at a racquet club would be so incredibly busy?thought Sebastian. But he couldn’t deny that Endy’s days—and evenings—were packed full.

The day after their waterfall adventure, Sebastian really thought he’d have his hours filled with everything Endy. But after he’d vowed to himself to spend as much time with her as possible, it turned out to be easier said than done. Between her full-time job and taking care of Picklers four afternoons a week, it was pretty hard to slide into Endy’s calendar. But a few days later, Sebastian had an idea.

“Hey, you guys,” he called, waving as he jogged across the grassy area around the pickleball court.

Standing across the net from Paul Rothman, Endy waved, the morning sunshine casting a glow around her. She wore an aqua-blue Adidas tennis dress that hugged her slender body and just skimmed the bottom of her hips. Her dark hair hung like silk down her back, just the way Sebastian liked it.

She pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and a smile lit up her face, causing Sebastian to grin like a fool.

“Don’t tell me that you’ve forsaken tennis to join us for the pickleball clinic,” exclaimed Paul with a twinkle in his eye.

---