Page 39

H e 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.”

“You liked the idea of me … of me being a professional tennis player. But look at me now. I’m not even a hint of that idea.”

“Because you changed everything when you decided not to turn professional,” Sloane said as she folded her arms and sat back.

“I didn’t just up and decide to not turn pro,” snapped Sebastian. “I was broken —physically, mentally, emotionally.” He jumped up from the bench. “And you abandoned me.”

“Abandoned?” repeated Sloane, looking away. “That’s a bit melodramatic.”

Sebastian’s eyes flashed and he raked his fingers through his hair. “Oh my god, Sloane. You didn’t want me then. Just like you don’t want me now.”

“That’s not true.”

“It absolutely is true. And what else is true is that I don’t want to be with you either.” Sebastian let out a harsh breath. “You need to realize that nothing’s going to happen between us again.”

“But it can if we—”

“ No, it can’t. And you’ve got to fucking stop calling and texting me.” Sebastian stood over Sloane, his shoulders tense.

Sloane bit her upper lip and cast her eyes down, her long lashes brushing the top of her cheeks. Her shoulders slumped, as if she’d wilted. “I know,” she said softly, her posturing dissolved.

She shook her head and covered her lips with her hand.

A lone raven flew overhead, its large wings casting a shadow across them.

“I’m so sorry for what I did to you, Sebastian.

I did abandon you. With utterly no guilt on my part, I moved on.

It was terrible.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m terrible.”

He lowered back onto the bench and, with his hand, gently turned her head so they were staring into each other’s eyes. “Hey, hey. You are not terrible,” he said in a low voice. “It was years ago.”

Sloane nodded and searched Sebastian’s face. “Do you ever think,” she started, “everything would have been different for us if you had been able to turn pro?”

Sebastian leaned back on the bench, shaking his head.

“No. In fact, I’m just now realizing that I’m glad my knee got fucked up.

I’m glad I didn’t turn professional. And I’m glad you broke up with me,” said Sebastian.

“Even though it’s taken me a really long time, I can finally see what I do and don’t want. ”

“You’re glad I broke up with you?” replied Sloane. “That’s kind of harsh.”

“You know what I mean,” Sebastian said. “But for the first time in a long, long while, there are things in my life that are really important to me.”

Sloane paused a moment before asking, “Is one of those important things Endy?”

“Yeah, it’s Endy,” replied Sebastian, a line etched between his brows. “But she broke up with me, and I don’t know what I can do about it.”

“Do you love her?” Sloane asked quietly.

“You know me,” Sebastian replied with a wistful smile. “What do you think?”

“Then do what you do best … win. Win her back,” Sloane said, grabbing Sebastian’s hands and clenching them tight. “ Fight on, Sebastian.”