Page 42 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

Sebastian took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Before he stepped away, he reached his hand out and cupped Endy’s jaw, his thumb rubbing a gentle caress. “I’ll call you later,” he said, softly. And then he followed behind Barbara and Sloane and smoothly placed a hand in the small of each of their backs.

Pensive, Endy chewed at her thumbnail and slid a sideways look at the handsome trio as they walked away. Sloane was obviously very close and familiar with Barbara Tennyson—enough that they knew the same people, and enough that their outfits matched. And with her invitation for him to join her in Bali, it was also obvious that Sloane was determined to get back together with Sebastian.

The lights in the room flicked on and off, prompting people to move from the bar and head to their tables. The evening’s emcee tapped a microphone, testing the volume, then held up his hand waiting for the group to settle.

“Well that was—” said Paul, his fingertips tapping his mouth.

“Uncomfortable,” said Steven.

“Bitchy,” said Maria.

“—a stunning outfit that Sloane was wearing,” said Paul at the same time. The rest of the group stared at him. “I mean, look at how that shade of ivory compliments her coloring.” He glanced at Endy and shrugged. “Sorry!”

Endy drew in a deep breath and slowly shook her head. She picked up her full wine glass from the table and chugged. Because not only was that everything her friends had said—uncomfortable, bitchy, and a stunning outfit—but to Endy, that also felt like an indication of what her life could look like in the days ahead.

26

The next afternoon, Endy pulled the golf cart out of the pro shop parking lot. She needed to do her daily check on all the courts to make sure the water coolers were in working order and to look for any maintenance issues. But what she really needed was some quiet time to wrap her head around the fact that Trivia Night hadn’t brought in nearly as much money for Picklers as she’d hoped. She was starting to doubt herself, the confidence that she’d had earlier fading. Why had she told Joel that she’d be able to raise $25,000? It probably wasn’t going to happen, and not only would she look like a failure and a fool, but it would be the end of Picklers.

Rolling past Stadium Court, Endy spied Sebastian with a smaller figure holding a tennis racquet. A chubby smaller figure.

Endy drove the cart closer and got out just as the boy turned so she could see his face. Baffled, Endy called out to Sebastian as he jogged across the court toward her. “Hey, are you teaching tennis to Paco?”

“Yeah, isn’t it great? Remember that time I subbed in and played pickleball with the kids? Well, I noticed how natural Paco was with a paddle and just knew he’d be the same with a racquet. So I had him put my number in his phone and told him that I’d teach him for free.”

“But … tennis?” replied Endy. “Not pickleball?”

“Yeah, the new junior academy said they’d offer Paco a scholarship for next year.”

“Wait, what? Kids in the tennis academy have to pay?” sputtered Endy.

“Of course. It’s not pickleball where anyone can just do it. They’re so different. Tennis takes tons more time and skill,” Sebastian replied. He reached his hand out to Endy. “Hey, did you get my text?”

Endy put her hand to her forehead. “Sorry! I got it, but then Joel asked me about his next lesson, and then one of the club members needed a bag of ice, and then … and then I forgot to reply.”

“It’s okay,” Sebastian said, rubbing his chin. “So what do you think? Do you want to hang out after you get off work?”

“I can’t.” Endy’s lips pulled into a pout. “I have Picklers.”

“How about afterward? We could go grab—”

“As much as I’d love to, I just have so much to do today,” Endy said. “Can we take a rain check? Maybe this weekend?”

“Yeah, maybe,” replied Sebastian, reaching out for Endy’s hand again. “My friends who are visiting were thinking about going up to Joshua Tree for the weekend. Can I let you know if I’m in town?”

“For sure,” agreed Endy with a small smile. She wondered if Sloane was included in the group of friends that Sebastian would be with at Joshua Tree.

“Hey, loser,” shouted Paco from the baseline. “Are you gonna waste my time making googly eyes at Endy, or are we gonna play?”

Sebastian chuckled, finally grasping Endy’s hand. His thumb caressed her palm. “Stop back in an hour when I’m done so I can make googly eyes at you without an audience.” He leaned over and lightly kissed Endy. When he noticed her shiver, Sebastian pulled her closer, flashed her a sexy smile, and covered her mouth with his in a hot, hungry kiss. “An hour, okay?”

“Alright, loser.” She smiled, fanning at her face with an open palm. “Do you think maybe when I come back in an hour, I can get more of those?”

Sebastian chuckled, reached out his hand, and tugged twice on her ponytail. “Always more of those for you—anytime, anywhere.”

Endy drove the golf cart to the far end of the racquet club property. She stopped on top of a low mound and gazed over the lush green lawn of the championship golf course, watching the palm trees swaying in the desert breeze. Her lips still tingled from Sebastian’s kiss, and she thought back to the first time they’d kissed, over on the grass tennis courts. In the days since, they’d become closer, and it seemed to Endy that she was in a kind of dream world. She wondered how she could’ve possibly caught the eye of someone like Sebastian. Paul Rothman had assured her it was because of her compassion and warmth, but Endy knew those qualities couldn’t necessarily compete against things like beauty and success.

From the very top of a palm, a frond detached. Caught by the warm draft, it traveled on the wind, dipping and twisting away, before dropping and getting tangled in the bougainvillea bush below.

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