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

even when she went to the beach. At the prom last May, she’d
     changed three times: one outfit for dinner, another for the dance, and a third for the party afterward. She’d actually brought
     along a suitcase, and after pinning on her corsage and posing for photographs, he’d had to lug it to the car. Her mother hadn’t
     found it unusual that she packed as though she were heading off on vacation instead of a dance. But maybe that was part of
     the problem. Ashley had once taken him to glimpse inside her mom’s closet; the woman must have had a couple of hundred different
     pairs of shoes and a thousand different outfits. Her closet could have housed a Buick.
    “Don’t let me 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