The Big Dink: A grumpy sunshine, enemies to lovers, slow burn sports romance

They say the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his paddle…

Alecia Monroe is bubbly, competitive, and has a flair for big ideas. Griffin—her charming, sporty office crush—loves three things. Spreadsheets, Pilot Precise V5 pens, and pickleball. So when the cute blond in the office next to his suggests a weekly company pickleball night, Alecia does what any rational woman would do.

She lies about knowing how to play.

A few private lessons at a club across town should be enough to bluff her way through. She played tennis in high school—how hard can it be?

But her plan unravels when her sweet instructor gets injured, and his replacement is Calder. He’s grumpy, sarcastic, condescending, and clearly not a fan of beginners. Or maybe just not a fan of her.

Then Calder shows up at the office pickleball night and exposes every weak spot in her game in front of all her colleagues.