Page 56 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

The swish of the sliding glass doors opening into the emergency room seemed extra loud as Endy sat next to Sebastian in awkward silence. The crepe soles of nurses’ shoes squelched across the terrazzo tile floor and machines’ shrill beeping could be heard from behind the closed exam room doors. Sebastian shifted in his seat, adjusting the ice bag on his knee.

“You haven’t answered any of my calls or texts,” he softly said.

“No,” replied Endy, looking away.

Sebastian’s cell phone buzzed, and a notification showed on his screen.

at ur house

where r u

Endy glanced at the name SHORTY above the messages and then gave a resigned shake of her head. It was never going to stop. Sloane and Sebastian were a package deal, doubles partners forever.

The emergency room doors slid open again, a draft of warm air ruffling Sebastian’s hair. He pushed a strand off his forehead. “Endy, can we at least talk about it? Why can’t we try again?”

“Why?” Endy stood from her chair and nodded at Sebastian’s phone. “The answer’s on your phone.”

“Sloane? We arenottogether, I promise,” replied Sebastian. “We don’t even see each other that much.”

“Yeah sure, and how’s that going?” Endy said and crossed her arms. “Sebastian, I’ve had my heart crushed once before, and I refuse to get Bennetted ever again.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means thatIget to be the one …Iget chosen. Not some ex-girlfriend who comes traipsing back.”

“Please trust me,” Sebastian pleaded, “I’m not going back to Sloane. How can I change your mind?”

“As long as Sloane is in your life, you can’t.”

Sebastian covered his eyes with his hand and groaned, then took a deep shuddering breath.

Endy stiffened and then reached out to Sebastian’s knee. “Are you in pain, Sebastian?” Endy asked, concerned. “Should I get a nurse?”

Sebastian just shook his head. “No, it’s nothing a nurse can help me with.”

When Gary and Barbara returned to the seats where Endy and Sebastian sat, Gary looked remarkably less pained.

“This woman is incredibly knowledgeable about shoulder injuries,” he said, fawning over Barbara.

“It’s not the first time I’ve been in an ER with a man who has injured his shoulder,” Barbara replied with a small smile.

“You’re moving so well,” remarked Endy. “Did the doctor do some kind of electric pulse therapy or something? I mean, it seems like you’re not even in pain anymore.”

Gary nodded and slid a glance to Barbara. “The doctor told me it was just a tiny bit pinched, and I’d be fine in a week.”

“And they gave him an Extra Strength Tylenol,” said Barbara with a nod. She clasped her hands in front of her. “Ah, and who might this handsome gentleman be?” She looked over Gary’s shoulder to see someone rushing through the waiting room headed in their direction.

“Hon, I got here as fast as I could,” said Dean, reaching out to Gary and kissing him lightly on the lips. “How are you? Is it bad?”

“I’m actually fine, but thank you for coming so quickly. I was lucky to find these guys here. And when I told Barbara what you were doing tonight, she was very interested and invited us to her house for dinner sometime.”

Barbara reached out and shook Dean’s hand. “Yes, I would be thrilled to have such a respected researcher at one of my dinners. You’ll be a big draw.”

Dean raised his eyebrows and smiled, nodding toward Barbara.

“And tell me,” Barbara said, her eyes locked on Dean’s. “Are you also a pickleball player?”

Surprised by the question, Dean tilted his head. “Actually, no. I play tennis.”

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