Page 34 of Pickled
The shake of Goldie’s head was slight, but I caught it. “Did she say she didn’t want a relationship before or after you told her about your focus on hockey?”
I paused. What was Goldie getting at? “I can’t remember. I think it was at the same time.”
“You know that you can do both, right?” The empty bottle clinked as Ace set it on the table. “My game improved when Goldie and I got together.” Goldie smiled at Ace. If there was a “look of love,” she had just given it to him—and it warmed my heart. “Maybe you should try it.” Ace winked. “What are we doing for dinner? Pizza?” He reached for his phone.
“Hold on a minute.” Goldie rested her hand on Ace’s hand. “Gideon, do you like this woman?”
“I do.” It felt weird to admit it out loud. “Like I said, it doesn’t matter. I promised her it would be a one-night thing. I can’t break my word.”
Ace whistled. “Gentleman Giddy had a one-night stand? Say it isn’t so.”
We both cut our eyes at him, but Goldie spoke first. “Don’t be an idiot. Gideon. If you like her, go for it. It doesn’t matter if you ‘agreed.’” She used air quotes. “She’s probably trying to protect herself, just like you’re trying to protect your game.” She stroked CC. “Your life is coming together; wouldn’t it be nice to share it with someone?”
It would. “Dammit, Goldie.”
Goldie nudged my phone toward me. “A gentleman wouldn’t have made that ridiculous promise in the first place. Text her.”
I almost reached for the phone but stopped. “I don’t have her number.”
Her puzzled look returned. “How do you not have her number?”
“She’s my neighbor. I haven’t needed it.”
“Oh Lord.” Ace shook his head. “A one-night stand with the neighbor. Giddy. There are puck bunnies hopping all over this town, and you picked the one over there?” He pointed to the backyard, which was the wrong direction.
“First of all,” I growled, “she’s not a puck bunny.”
Ace’s face blanched. He knew when he’d crossed the line. “You know what I mean.”
“And secondly, she lives over there.” I pointed west. The sun had set, leaving cotton candy streaks in the sky.
“I have an idea.” Goldie tented her fingers in front of her scheming eyes.
“Something tells me I’m not going like this.”
Goldie pumped her eyebrows. “Maybe not, but we’re going to do it anyway.” She set CC on the ground and pulled me out of my chair. “Come on, Romeo. We’re going to go call on the neighbor the old-fashioned way.”
12
PIPER
Sweepingpalm trees stood in silhouette as pink and purple hues lined the horizon. The girls bobbed in the pool, perched on the backs of inflatable creatures, while Lisa and I drank some wine. “Look at that sky.” Lisa leaned back in her chair and pointed to the horizon.
“It’s beautiful.” A wave of gratitude washed over me. Maybe it was the Pinot Grigio, or maybe it was the day of playing on the courts with my daughter. Whatever it was, tears sprungin my eyes. How had I gotten so lucky? “Thank you for today.”
“A-ha.” Lisa grinned. “Admit it. Pickleball is better than tennis.”
“It’s fun, I’ll give you that. It’s also more of a workout than I expected.” The pink top I’d borrowed had turned to a deep magenta by the time we were done playing. “Once I got those confusing rules straight.”
“That’s the hardest part.” Lisa sipped her wine. “I still can’t believe you shot down the hot guy that asked for your number. When you’re ready to date, the pickleball club is where we will find a man for you. There are members that are surgeons, hedgefund guys, NHL players, and even a couple of guys that race Formula One.” She held up a finger as she listed off the types of members.
The only hockey player I knew was Gideon, and he had never once mentioned pickleball. “The guy that asked for my number, do you think that he’s a hockey player?”
“Mr. Cocky? One hundred percent, that guy is a hockey player. Did you see the size of him?”
I had definitely seen the size of him, but he was nowhere near as big as Gideon Bailey. He was cute, had shaggy brown hair, and I felt nothing when he smiled at me.
“If I was single…” She traced the bottom of the glass with her fingertips.
