Michael Armentrout and Kyle Haddad-Fonda, who do amazing work at the Nicholas Sparks Foundation. Thanks so much.
Tracey Lorentzen, who is always willing to lend a helping hand in the way that I most need it, when I most need it. I don’t know what I would have done without you.
Sara Fernstrom, formerly of UTA, and David Herrin, my oracle at UTA, have unique talents and abilities, and I’ve benefited much from their expertise.
Dwight Carlblom and David Wang, who run the Epiphany School of Global Studies, are terrific educators. I am so appreciative.
Michael “Stick” Smith, a friend, who has always been there to listen and offer support. The next few years should be interesting and fun, don’t you think?
Jeff Van Wie, who has been a friend since we roomed together in college. Thanks for always being there for me.
Micah Sparks, my brother, is the best brother a guy could have. We’ll make a point to do more traveling together this year, okay?
David Buchalter, who help arranges my speeches, is consistently outstanding. Thanks for everything.
Eric Collins, who has helped in ways that I can’t even express. The same goes for Jill Compton. Thanks.
Pete Knapp and Danny Hertz, who always did whatever they could to help. Thanks, guys!
Other friends, with whom I always enjoy speaking, the kind of friends who make life worthwhile: Todd and Kari Wagner, David Geffen, Anjanette Schmeltzer, Chelsea Kane, Slade Smiley, Jim Tyler, Pat Armentrout, Drew and Brittany Brees, Scott Eastwood, and Britt Robertson.
THE CHOICE
Dive in to a chapter from
Nicholas Sparks’
international bestseller
A major Hollywood film coming in Spring 2016.
Indulge in the book before you see the movie…
Available now in paperback and ebook.
One
May 1996
“Tell me again why I agreed to help you with this.” Matt, red-faced and grunting, continued to push the spa toward the recently cut square at the far edge of the deck. His feet slipped, and he could feel sweat pouring from his forehead into the corners of his eyes, making them sting. It was hot, way too hot for early May. Too damn hot for this, that’s for sure. Even Travis’s dog, Moby, was hiding in the shade and panting, his tongue hanging out.
Travis Parker, who was pushing the massive box alongside him, managed to shrug. “Because you thought it would be fun,” he said. He lowered his shoulder and shoved; the spa – which must have weighed four hundred pounds – moved another couple of inches. At this rate, the spa should be in place, oh… sometime next week.
“This is ridiculous,” Matt said, heaving his weight into the box, thinking that what they really needed was a team of mules. His back was killing him. For a moment, he visualized his ears blowing off the sides of his head from the strain, shooting in both directions like the bottle rockets he and Travis used to launch as kids.
“You’ve already said that.”
“And it isn’t fun,” Matt grunted.
“You said that, too.”
“And it isn’t going to be easy to install.”
“Sure it is,” Travis said. He stood and pointed to the lettering on the box. “See? It says right here, ‘Easy to Install.’” From his spot beneath the shady tree, Moby – a purebred boxer – barked as if in agreement, and Travis smiled, looking way too pleased with himself.
Matt scowled, trying to catch his breath. He hated that look. Well, not always. Most of the time he enjoyed his friend’s boundless enthusiasm. But not today. Definitely not today.