Page 48 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

“When you say youjust can’t,what does that actually mean? You and me—we’re good, right?” Sebastian asked, his jaw tense. “Right?”

Endy looked down at the floor. “Oh, Sebastian, it’s obviously not working out with us.” She thought of how things were before Sloane had arrived.

“You think it’s not working out with us?” Sebastian repeated, staring at Endy, his light eyes intense. “Why would you think that?”

“Well it’s pretty clear that Sloane wants back in your life—and, I mean, look at her. You guys are perfect together.”

Sebastian raked his fingers through his hair. “Forget about Sloane,” he said.

“Forget about Sloane? How is that even possible? She calls you constantly. She texts you constantly. Anywhere I go, you two are together.” Endy threw up her hands. “How can I forget about Sloane when you’re with her more than you’re with me?”

“But Sloane means nothing to me,” argued Sebastian.

The phone on the kitchen counter started buzzing again, the screen lit up with SHORTY across the top. Endy looked from the phone to Sebastian.

“Oh, really … does she know that?”

“Endy …”

Endy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You should probably leave,” she said and walked toward her bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her.

31

Over lunch at the clubhouse’s patio café, Endy twirled the long-handled spoon in her iced tea, her salad next to her untouched. Around them, golfers leaned back in their rattan dining chairs, ankles crossed, drinking Stella Artois straight from the bottle.

Her phone vibrated and Endy glanced down at an incoming text, the third one from Sebastian since she’d told him to leave her house the night before. She sighed and her shoulders slumped.

“Que pasa, mi amiga?”Maria asked, placing her hand gently on Endy’s arm.

“Another text from Sebastian,” said Endy, shaking her head.

“Well, have you actually talked to him since last night?” asked Maria.

“No, not really,” replied Endy. “I did reply to his first text this morning, though.”

Maria raised her eyebrows. “And …?”

“And told him that we should call it quits.”

“Endy, you broke up with Sebastian through a text?” exclaimed Maria. “That’s super harsh.”

“It’s a thing,” reasoned Endy, looking chagrined. “Plus, I honestly don’t think I could do it in person.” She leaned her elbow on the table and brought her fist under her chin. “Oh, Maria … don’t you feel like everything is just an absolute mess right now?”

“I mean, sure, you’re going through a tiny rough patch.”

Endy blew out. “That’s an understatement.”

“Okay, but we can figure things out. We have each other, bestie. For the past six years, that’s what we’ve done together, and it’s been pretty damn good. What’s to say these next couple of years won’t be even better?”

Endy reluctantly nodded, still looking thoughtful.

“You know what my little cousin Camila says?” asked Maria.

“Tell me.”

“She says, ‘Don’t be sad, Maria, turn that frown upside down.’”

Endy squinted across the table. “You’re making that up.”

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