Page 57 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

“Ah,” smiled Barbara. “Even better.”

Endy moved away from the row of chairs and dug her keys out of her pocket. She looked from Gary to Dean.

“I guess I’ll take off since you’re here now,” she said.

Dean reached out and enveloped Endy in a hug. “Thank you for getting Gary to the ER, and for always looking after all of us. You’re one in a million, Endy.”

“Just part of the job,” she replied. “See you two back at the club tomorrow.”

A door opened and a nurse with a clipboard stepped out. “Sebastian Hall? Your doctor will see you now.” As Sebastian struggled to his feet, his eyes locked with Endy’s.

I miss you,he mouthed. She blinked quickly, then shook her head.

“Goodbye, Sebastian,” she said softly before turning away for the exit.

36

Sebastian smoothly pulled the Range Rover onto Bob Hope Drive. The evening traffic was light, with just an occasional Tesla or Porsche passing them.

“I should be driving,” said Barbara. “You’re the patient with the injured knee.”

Sebastian slid a glance to his right. “It’s getting dark, Bibi. You know that I don’t like you driving at night.”

“I don’t like it either.” She frowned. “Miserable cataracts.”

“I appreciate you coming with me to this appointment and insisting on the orthopedic specialist. But I had a feeling my knee wasn’t too badly injured.”

“Better safe than sorry,” replied Barbara. “And as the doctor said, if you continue to reinjure that knee, it might put an end to your tennis playing.”

Sebastian changed lanes and nodded without replying. Barbara turned in her seat to look at Sebastian.

“Did you hear what I said?” she asked, crossing her hands in her lap.

“I did.”

She reached her hand out to the dash and adjusted the air vent, allowing Sebastian time to continue with an answer. But with Sebastian’s two-word response, Barbara knew not to rush him. He’d continue this conversation in his own time.

They stopped for a red light, and Sebastian placed his hand over Barbara’s. A brightly lit billboard loomed overhead.

NEED TO SELL? OR WANT TO BUY?

1-800-BUY-SETH

Seth “Seal the Deal” Aldridge Real Estate

“You know, Bibi, I’m really liking living here in the desert,” Sebastian said, looking up at the billboard. “In fact, I’ve been looking at properties.” He drove forward as the traffic light switched to green.

Barbara placed her free hand on her chest, a horrified look on her face. “Please tell me you are not working with a random real estate agent that you found from a roadside billboard.”

Sebastian laughed. “No, no. Sloane has a friend from USC who has a successful real estate office in Palm Springs. She introduced us, and he’s been taking me around to look.”

Relieved, Barbara said, “And has Sloane been accompanying you to tour these properties?”

Sebastian shook his head. “No, this is just for me—I haven’t invited her along.”

He turned onto the road for Whisper Hills. “There’s a lot I like about being here. I’m close to you, the weather is fantastic, it’s way more chill than being in a big city. I feel like this could be a longer stop for me, maybe somewhere I can put some roots down finally.” The Range Rover drove past the security guard booth, and the ornate metal gates scraped as they slowly pulled open. As they approached Barbara’s home, landscape lights beamed up, illuminating the trunks of palm trees lining the road and dotting the immaculate borders of shrubs and flowers. Sebastian turned into the driveway of the Tennyson property.

“Well, I certainly love having you here,” said Barbara as she squeezed Sebastian’s hand. “But you’ll need more than just some old woman to keep you company.”

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