The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks Read Free Book Online Page B

stop you. I’d hate for you to be out a dollar.”
    Will turned away, and after zeroing in on the rim, he sent the ball arcing toward the basket. It bounced off the rim and backboard before dropping in. That was one. Two more and he’d actually win a prize.
    As the ball rolled back, the carnival worker sneaked a glance at Ashley. Ashley, meanwhile, hadn’t seemed to have even noticed the worker’s presence.
    When the ball rolled down the net and back to Will, he picked it up again and glanced at the carnival worker. “Has anyone won today?”
    “Of course. Lots of winners every day.” He continued to stare at Ashley as he answered. No surprise there. Everyone always noticed Ashley. She was like a flashing neon sign for anyone with an ounce of testosterone.
    Ashley took another step forward, pirouetted, and leaned against the booth. She smiled at Will again. Ashley had never been one for subtlety. After being crowned homecoming queen, she’d worn the tiara all night.
    “You played well today,” she said. “And your serve has gotten a lot better.”
    “Thanks,” Will answered.
    “I think you’re almost as good as Scott.”
    “No way,” he said. Scott had been playing volleyball since he was six; Will had taken up the game only after his freshman year. “I’m quick and I can jump, but I don’t have the complete game Scott does.”
    “I’m just telling you what I saw.”
    Focusing on the rim, Will exhaled, trying to relax before shooting the ball. It was the same thing his coach had always told him to do at the free-throw line, not that it ever seemed to improve his percentage. This time, though, the ball swished through the net. Two for two.
    “What are you going to do with the stuffed animal if you win?” she asked.
    “I don’t know. Do you want it?”
    “Only if you want me to have it.”
    He knew she wanted him to offer it to her as opposed to asking him for it. After two years together, there were few things he didn’t know about her. Will grabbed the ball, exhaled again, and took his final shot. This one, however, was a touch too hard, and the ball bounced off the back rim.
    “That was close,” the worker said. “You should try again.”
    “I know when I’m beat.”
    “Tell you what. I’ll take a dollar off. Two dollars for three shots.”
    “That’s all right.”
    “Two dollars and I’ll let both of you take three shots.” He grabbed the ball, offering it to Ashley. “I’d love to see you give it a try.”
    Ashley stared at the ball, making it obvious she’d never even contemplated such an idea. Which she probably hadn’t.
    “I don’t think so,” Will said. “But thanks for the offer.” He turned toward Ashley. “Do you know if Scott is still around?”
    “He’s at the table with Cassie. Or at least that’s where they were when I went to find you. I think he likes her.”
    Will headed in that direction, Ashley right beside him.
    “So we were talking,” Ashley said, sounding almost casual, “and Scott and Cassie thought it might be fun to head over to my place. My parents are in Raleigh for some event with the governor, so we’d have the place to ourselves.”
    Will had known this was coming. “I don’t think so,” he said.
    “Why not? It’s not like anything exciting is happening around here.”
    “I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    “Is it because we broke up? It’s not like I want us to get back together.”
    Which was why you came to the tournament, he thought. And got dressed up tonight. And came to find me. And suggested going to your place, since your parents aren’t home.
    But he didn’t say those things. He wasn’t in the mood to argue, nor did he want to make things any harder than they already were. She wasn’t a bad person; she just wasn’t for him.
    “I’ve got to be at work early tomorrow morning, and I spent all day playing volleyball in the sun,” he offered instead. “I just want to go to sleep.”
    She grabbed his arm,