Page 58 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

Sebastian reached overhead and pressed the button on the garage door opener.

Barbara continued, “What about that young woman from the racquet club pro shop who was at the ER tonight—Endy Andrews? You two seemed to be spending quite a bit of time together.”

“Things with Endy are complicated right now, Bibi,” said Sebastian.

“I’m sorry to hear that. How so?”

“Well, having Sloane around isn’t doing us any favors, and well, frankly, neither is the complaint that you’ve submitted to the club’s board.”

Barbara stiffened in her seat.

Sebastian waited for the garage door to fully open, then inched the Range Rover inside. He switched off the engine.

“It’s over,” he said, a muscle in his jaw twitched. “She doesn’t want to see me anymore.”

He pressed the button on the remote again, and the heavy garage door lowered, shut tight.

37

He walked up behind her as she sat on the bench next to the pickleball court. The sun dipped behind the mountains, turning the blue sky a deep azure. Around them, air-conditioning units whirred as the afternoon heat continued baking the country club grounds.

“Hey.”

Sloane flinched, startled in her seat. “Sebastian! You know how much I hate when you sneak up on me,” she scolded, her full lips pulled in a frown.

“Sorry, Shorty, I forgot.”

“How could you have forgotten? Time and time again, all those years we were together, and I never got used to you coming up behind—”

“I said I was sorry,” interrupted Sebastian. “Jesus, Sloane, you don’t have to jump down my throat.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. The thrum of an airplane flying overhead filled the silence between them.

“The text you sent me earlier was very cryptic,” Sloane said, turning her head toward Sebastian. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

Sebastian lowered himself onto the bench next to Sloane. “I guess that I’ve been thinking a lot about us … and what’s been going on lately,” he replied.

“And …?”

“And like … I’m wondering what you’re even doing here.”

“Well, Sebastian, I had this brilliant idea for the junior tennis academy, and Joel offered to help me put it together. He’s been super supportive,” said Sloane, giving a half shrug. “Honestly, I didn’t even know you were going to be in Palm Springs, but …”

“But …?”

“But the day I arrived here at the country club, I saw you playing tennis on Stadium Court, and it reminded me of the first time I ever saw you.” She placed her hand flirtatiously in Sebastian’s lap. “You’re still super hot, Sebastian.”

Sebastian’s upper lip curled, irritation crossing his face. “C’mon, Sloane. You’re better than that.” He brushed her hand away.

“What’s wrong with what I said?” Sloane studied Sebastian through her thick eyelashes. “I mean, why shouldn’t we be together?”

Sebastian slowly blinked. “Well, basically, you left me and broke off our engagement.”

Sloane shook her head, her copper mane glinting in the afternoon sun. “I was wrong to have done that.”

“Were you, though? You must have had your reasons for not wanting to be with me anymore.”

“Sebastian, I had it all planned out. We were young and had our whole lives in front of us,” Sloane responded. “You were going to turn professional, and I’d travel with you to all your tournaments and help manage your career. Just like what your grandmother did for your grandfather.”

---