“Thank you for letting me join you. It was really fun.”
And for the first time since I’d begun my insane journey to learn pickleball to impress the guy to write the words, I realized that, yeah, I was having a damn good time at it.
And not only that, but I wasdecent! Me, the world champion sidelines sitter was good at a sport!
I turned to gather my things and leave and froze when I saw a man and dog sitting in the shade of the lone tree.
“Owen?How long have you been there?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Owen beamed at me as he walked over, letting Marti drag him to me. “I’ve been here long enough to see you obliterate that last game! Holy shit, you cooked out there.”
I wasn’t sure how things would feel with Owen post-make-out, but my shockingly good performance on the court was a great redirect. I knelt down to pet a very excited Marti, who rolled onto her back for belly rubs.
“Yes, she did,” Howard answered for me on his way by. “You’re the coach, I presume?”
“I am.” He reached out his hand. “Owen.”
“Howard Daley.” He squinted at Owen. “Have we met before?”
He was bucket hatted and in his usual T-shirt and elastic waist shorts, which I’d figured out was his pickleball persona. If Howard knew him, it had to be from that environment.
Owen shrugged. “I teach over at Chelsea Pickleball Academy?”
“Hmm.” Howard frowned. “Never been there, but you look very familiar to me.”
“I have one of those faces, I guess.” Owen grinned at him.
But he didn’t actually. To me, Owen was one of a kind. Sure,on paper he was just an everyday cute guy who camouflaged his attractiveness in sloppy clothes, but the wattage of his smile and warmth in his eyes made you feelseen.
“And who’s this?” Howard asked, pointing at Marti.
“Miss Martina Dogratilova,” Owen said proudly.
“Ah, tennis! Maybe that’s where I know you from?” Howard said. “I used to play quite a bit before the old bones started giving out. Hence my new obsession.” He held up his paddle.
Owen nodded. “I played tennis in college, but it’s been alongtime.”
He shifted, and I could tell he was getting uncomfortable with the light interrogation.
Howard turned to me. “Brooke, please come back. Like I said, I’m here all the time.” He leaned closer to me and glanced toward where Team Tan was packing up. “But they’re not.”
I laughed. “Got it. Thanks for the invitation. I’d love to.”
We waved our goodbyes, and Owen, Marti, and I set off together.
“Why were you late?” I asked, hoping that I didn’t sound accusatory. “I was sort of counting on you being here.”
The corner of Owen’s mouth curled up. “Exactly.”
“Huh?”
“I wanted you to do this on your own, without your crutch.”
I paused. “Hold on, you no-showed on purpose?”
He spread his hands in front of him. “I’m right here; I didn’t no-show. I was just a little late.”
