Page 34 of The Great Dating Fake Off
Seemingly mollified, Ro points her paddle toward the court. The kiss must’ve worked. “We’ll see. Just please try with my family, okay? Especially my brother. Now, let’s take our aggression out on the court.”
I side-eye Sebastian. If Ro’s taking out her wedding week aggression on this game, we’re not only going to lose, but possibly risk bodily harm.
Enzo sprints past her to get in position. “Now, not to alarm anyone, but my fiancée and I take this game very seriously. And, Rossi? You may have beaten my ass in soccer, basketball, baseball—basically all the sports—when we were young, but pickleball is my game now.”
Sebastian just laughs. “To be fair, you always had me at video games.” His voice takes on a gruff edge as he turns my way. “You ready to show them how it’s done, Nora?”
I mirror his posture. “Let’s do this thing.”
…
My dream of winning the whole tournament lasted the length of three intense games.
Ro and Enzo won the first, we dominated the second, and they narrowly defeated us in the third, which means the match—and my erstwhile Olympic ambitions—are over.
But despite the loss, it was fun. Almost too fun. Enough that I forgot everything and laughed my butt off. Enzo and Sebastian are hilarious together. They quickly fell into an easy, comfortable rhythm, lobbing jokes back and forth much more gently than the wiffle ball.
I shake my fist at the future Mr. and Mrs. Mazzelli. “You guys are too good at this. I chalk it up to fiancé telepathy. That last play was pure witchcraft.”
Ro’s hair flops forward as she doubles over to catch her breath, both from exertion and laughter. “I gotta say, I never would have pegged you for a trash-talker, Nora. I’m impressed with what you did on that court.”
“The trash-talk was the only impressive thing I did on the court.”
“Hey, we did our best.” Sebastian lifts his hand and waits until I give him an air-five, which has quickly become our go-to celebration move. “And our best was to let the bride and groom win as an early wedding present.”
I’m punch-drunk on endorphins. That’s the only excuse for the giddy laugh that slips out of my mouth. “You were supposed to take that to the grave!”
He holds my eye as we grin at each other, the moment sticky like city air in summer.I clear my throat and shift my focus to the sky.
I’m supposed to be pining for Benji.
We wander closer to the net, gathering in a loose group. It’s cool to get the attention of the bride and groom at an event this size. They’re like mini-celebrities this week.
Enzo’s grin is good-natured. “Rossi, I expected better. Your game needs work if you want to go pro. We should play when we’re back home so I can teach you a thing or two.”
Ro shoots a look at her fiancé. “Please, Enzo. You’ve been playing only a few months.”
Enzo gives his chest a halfhearted gorilla pound. “And now I eat and breathe the sport.”
“Oh no, this is going to be like bowling all over again, isn’t it? You’re going to have shirts made.”
His shoulders slump at this. “Man, I miss the Gutter Boys.”
Ro extends her hand and wiggles her fingers until he takes it. “C’mon. Shall we find our next victims?”
He nods once, his expression very much you say jump, I say how high.
Ro aims her blindingly white grin at me. “Nora, my brother told you about my bachelorette outing tomorrow night, right?”
My eyes widen. “He did not.”
She lets out a frustrated groan. “Why is he the worst at acknowledging a schedule of events? Or maybe he’s just gatekeeping you, which is also something he’d do. Anyway, you have to come. It’s nothing fancy, we’re just escaping to a dingy bar in town where the locals get down. But I really want you to meet my maid of honor, Gia.”
“I’d love to! Thanks for thinking of me.”
A smile lights her up. “Fabulous. And Benjamino will join the boys for the bachelor party, right Enzo? That can be your chance to bond.”
Enzo shrugs. “Sure, if he wants to. I can’t promise it’ll be fun. Sergio was supposed to plan something but we both know he’s useless.”
