Page 55 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

Dr. Markowitz approached them and with one look said, “Could be the rotator cuff. Anybody have a bag of ice?”

“No, no, this hurts worse than what ice can do for it,” complained Gary. “I might faint.”

Endy put her arm around Gary’s waist and held him tight as Steven supported Gary’s dangling arm. “And I’m pretty sure I’m going to need something stronger than an Advil.” They led Gary to a bench, where he gingerly sat down.

“Someone call Dean to come get Gary and bring him to Eisenhower,” instructed Steven.

“What time is it? Dean is at his climate change conference event tonight and won’t get out until after eight o’clock.” Gary whimpered. “Oh, the pain.”

“Don’t worry, Gary, I’ll bring you,” volunteered Endy. “Maria can finish up with Picklers while I go get my car.” Endy pulled out her phone and texted Maria, letting her know what had happened. “Can someone help Gary to the parking lot? I’ll be there in two minutes.”

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They checked in to the emergency room at Eisenhower Hospital, Gary groaning at each step.

“Have I told you how much it hurts?” asked Gary dramatically, his hand to his chest.

“You may have mentioned it once or twice,” said Endy, trying not to smile at his theatrics. “Looks like there are more seats in the back of the waiting room. Let’s go sit there while we wait for a doctor to see you.” Gary leaned on Endy as they walked back, but as they passed a row of seats, an elegant older woman stood up.

“Mrs. Tennyson?” said Endy, slowing her steps. “What are you doing here?”

“Endy?” Sebastian sat in the chair next to Barbara, his leg outstretched across another chair, his knee covered with a bag of ice.

“Oh no, Sebastian! What happened?” Endy bit her lip and concern filled her face.

Gary lowered himself into a chair across from them. “I’m no doctor, but it looks like he hurt his knee.”

“Brilliant deduction. Are yousureyou’re not a doctor?” asked Barbara acerbically. She and Gary stared at each other, both with pursed lips.

Sebastian burst out laughing, breaking the frosty tension, and Endy couldn’t help but join in.

“Paco told me that you had a very minor injury, so why are you here at the ER?”

“I did tweak my knee yesterday playing mixed with …” Sebastian paused and glanced at Endy, “… with a group. But it wasn’t too bad, and I’d planned on resting it until Saturday.”

“But then today,” continued Barbara, “he decided to climb a ladder to change a light bulb in my twenty-foot ceiling.”

“You did not fall off a ladder at that height!”

“No,” replied Sebastian sheepishly. “I tripped carrying it out of the garage.”

“I told him he should have left it to the handyman.”

“Well, Bibi, how hard could it be?”

Barbara pursed her lips again and pointedly looked at his elevated leg, the ice dripping around his knee. Sebastian glanced at Gary, who stayed silent but nodded once, agreeing with Barbara.

Endy sat in the empty chair next to Sebastian, resisting the urge to hold his hand and tuck back the lock of hair hanging in his eyes. He was so very handsome, and the electricity they shared was still humming, even as they sat in a hospital emergency room.

“Gary Lombardi,” said a nurse, walking into the waiting room. “Gary Lombardi, the doctor will see you now.”

Gary started getting up, but stopped and said to Sebastian, “You were already here when we arrived. Why am I being seen before you?” He turned to the nurse to protest.

Barbara stepped toward Gary. “He’s waiting for our orthopedic specialist.” She stretched out her hand. “I will accompany you with your consultation.”

“Orthopedic specialist? I have a rotator cuff injury! I need to see an orthopedic specialist,” fussed Gary.

“No, dear,” replied Barbara. “What you need is an Extra Strength Tylenol.” She held out her hand again. “The two young ones can wait together for Sebastian’s doctor.”

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