Page 88 of One Last Time

Noah managed to score a point. The next time, I hit the ball right into the middle of the net. Tyrone almost scored with some fancy trick shot, until the ball hit Dixon on the head and bounced right back over, so unexpectedly that none of them noticed until it was too late.

I was starting to enjoy myself, much to my surprise. Even with Lee and Ashton looking so buddy-buddy over there. I was still recovering from the stitch in my side after laughing so hard at Dixon getting hit by the ball, grinning and giggling, when the game restarted. Amanda caught my eye briefly and mimicked the startled look on Dixon’s face, making me snort all over again.

I had barely stopped laughing when I heard Lee yelling, “Yes, Levi! Nice one!”

They’d scored again. Levi did another victory lap, jumping into the air and punching his fists up.

Noah scoffed, picking up the ball. He muttered something—the only word of which I got wasarrogant.

I caught his arm.

“Is he always this bad?” Noah said.

“He’s just having fun.”

“Yeah, and he was just having fun on the go-kart track, too?” Noah shook his head. “This isn’t a game, Elle.”

“What are you—”

“Hey, lovebirds!” Ashton called over.

“Yeah, throw us the ball so we can serve already!” Jon shouted.

I stepped back, wondering what the hell Noah had meant by it not being a game. And wondering what the hell was with the glare he was giving Levi, and…

And why the hell was Levi glaring right back at him?

I stared between them in utter confusion. What had I missed? What had happened?

This was like race day all over again.

Levi had said something about a chat with Noah. Had Noah said something to him? Something…

I was still trying to figure out what the weird tension between them was all about when I realized that Tyrone had served and Noah had already scored, winning us the first set.

As the game continued, it was dominated by Noah and Levi, both of them darting around trying to get another hit in to score the next point. Amanda actually jumped onto Noah’s back at one point to intercept an increasingly vicious volley between him and Levi, redirecting the ball to Rachel. I was pretty sure I wasn’t the only one to breathe a sigh of relief—and Idefinitelywasn’t the only one confused about what the deal was with Levi and Noah, judging by the looks everyone kept shooting them.

Lee’s team won the second set, but as the third and final one drew to a close, we were neck and neck. Amanda stepped up to serve for the game. Jon smacked the ball back over the net and it came my way. Olly intervened, knocking it toward Noah, who jumped up to spike it hard, and Levi charged forward to block it—

The ball made a sickeningsmack!as it collided with Levi’s face.

I let out a shriek, hands flying to cover my own face, and I wasn’t the only one.

But Levi was still standing, and my team was celebrating. Lee flung himself backward into the sand with a melodramatic howl of despair over losing the game. A few people from the crowd looked concerned, but mostly people were just celebrating the end of the game and our win.

It had definitelylookedlike an accident—but Noah didn’t seem overly sorry about it.

I shot him a look while he was celebrating the win with our team, then ducked under the net to check on Levi. His nose was bloody but seemed to have already stopped bleeding. He wiped the back of his hand across his face, apparently oblivious to me as he glowered at Noah.

“Nice shot, asshole,” he called.

Noah turned, smirking—gloating—and stepped forward. “Now who’s the sore loser?”

“I’m just here for a good time.”

The laugh Noah gave in response was blunt and mirthless. His mouth twisted, tongue sticking out over his teeth as he shook his head. “A good time? Is that what you’re calling it?”

“I’m not the one out to hurt somebody. Just like on race day. You know, everyone told me what kind of guy you are, but I guess I really had to see it for myself.”