“Yeah. It’s important to us.”
“Clearly.” She sat back and pulled one knee up to her chest. She wore a pink T-shirt and pale blue jeans. Anyone would’ve thought she looked very pretty. The judges were going to love her. She tried to catch a look at Zack’s phone. “What’s her name?”
Zack had told her before. “Reese.”
“Reese. Right.” Another pinched smile. “Lucky girl.”
Around them others were humming quietly, pacing the small floor or stone-still, eyes closed, focusing. “Hey, I need to get ready.” He stood and stepped away. “Sorry.”
“No, yeah. Go ahead. Me, too.” She leaned her head back and launched into a vocal exercise that jarred the entire room.
Zack moved to the window and stared at the busy street below.
“Zack Dylan?” A perky young assistant with a clipboard appeared at the door. They’d seen her before, but then, lots of people worked for the show.
Zack stood. “That’s me.”
She smiled at him. “This way.”
“Hey.” Zoey reached out and caught his hand as he walked by. “You’ll make it. I know you will.”
“Thanks. You, too.” He turned and followed the well-dressed assistant. If he and Zoey both made it through, he would have to be very careful. She was attractive and crazy about him. That was bound to be flattering, no matter how much he loved Reese. He wasn’t interested, but the girl was relentless.
Out in the hallway, the assistant turned to him. “She might be right.”
“Ma’am?” Zack walked alongside her, confused.
“That girl. She said you’d make it through.” The assistant gave him a quick once-over. “If you can sing, you’re in. They need to find two hot guys in Atlanta. From what I’ve seen, you’re the hottest.” She tossed her hair and looked straight ahead as they walked. “Just saying.”
“Thanks, I guess.” Zack laughed, surprised. He would’ve expected an employee of the show to be more professional. They rounded a corner and the assistant’s demeanor changed. She lost her smile and nodded at the show’s famous host, Kip Barker. “Zack Dylan, sir.”
“Thank you.” Kip held out his hand. “Zack. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you.” Zack was shaking the host’s hand when he caught a sly wink from the assistant as she headed back down the hallway. Zack kept his focus on Kip. “Is there anything I should know?”
“We’ll do a little interview out here, and then, well”—he shrugged—“you know the rest. Go in and sing your socks off.” Kip motioned to the cameraman and the guy came closer. Kip smiled at Zack. “Ready?”
Zack exhaled, searching for the calm he’d felt that morning in his hotel room. “Ready.”
Zack wasn’t worried about Kip Barker. The guy had been with the show from the beginning. He was a former baseball star from the Dominican Republic, half-Hispanic and half-Irish with an uncanny ability to put contestants at ease and connect with America.
Zack’s interview turned out to be one of the few exceptions.
“Your faith is important to you, so does that mean you were praying in the holding room?” Kip talked fast and almost always smiled.
“Yes.” Zack grinned. “One of the biggest days of my life. I’ve been praying all day.”
“All day. Right. So does that mean like . . .” Kip dropped to one knee, planted his elbow on the other knee and bowed his head. Just as quickly he looked back up at Zack. “Sort of like this? Tebowing in the back room? ’Cause I’ve always wanted to see someone Tebow in person.”
Zack laughed, which was the expected response. “Tebow’s a great guy, but I pray my own way.”
“Why don’t you show us? Can you show us, Zack? Like a demonstration?” Kip was back on his feet, his likable smile aimed at the camera. “Maybe you’ve got the Zack Dylan drop. Flat on your face.” He spread his arms like an umpire making a safe call.
Again Zack laughed. “Nothing that crazy.”
Kip gave him a friendly shove in the arm. “Just teasing you, Zack. It’s okay. So who’d you bring to the audition? Good-looking guy like you? Girlfriend or wife? Both?” He laughed at his own joke.
“Not married.” The guy was bugging Zack. “Here by myself, actually.”
“That’ll be great news to the ladies out there. So are you nervous?”
Zack hadn’t meant to leave Reese out of the equation, but the questions were coming too fast. The interview ended and Kip settled into his usual chill personality. “Sorry about the Tebow comment.” He chuckled, his microphone relaxed at his side. “No harm intended.”
“No worries. I get it.” Zack stuck his hands in his jeans. He thought about asking Kip if he believed in God, then changed his mind. No time for that kind of conversation. He would be singing in front of the judges in a few minutes. Kip excused himself and moved into a meeting with what looked like part of the production staff.
The female assistant was back. She gently touched Zack’s elbow. “It’s time.” She led him through the door to the audition room. “Break a leg,” she whispered.
“Thanks.” He looked at the panel of judges. They were all watching him, the cameras trained on his every move. Immediately Zack found his comfort zone. Like the athlete he’d been in high school, he walked confidently to a small X on the floor in front of the old wood table.
The moment felt surreal. This season’s judges looked back at him. Chandra Olson, Kelly Morgan, and Cullen Caldwell. Some of the most famous names in pop music right here in person. Kelly raised her eyebrows and muttered something under her breath to Cullen.
“Hey.” Cullen turned to Zack. “She says you look like her boyfriend.” He laughed as he looked down at his notes and back at Zack. “Just so there’re no secrets between us.”
Kelly grinned like a high school girl caught crushing on the guy in her biology class. She gave Cullen a lighthearted punch. “Thanks a lot.”
“No problem.” Cullen chuckled and shook his head at the camera. “What I put up with.”
Chandra’s eyes were kind and deep. “You’re Zack Dylan?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Zack squared his shoulders.
“Okay, Zack.” Kelly rebounded. “Where’re you from?”
“Nowhere near New York.” Cullen patted Kelly’s shoulder, a smirk on his face. “Settle down, you little Sheila. Give the bloke a listen.”
“Yes, tell us about yourself, Zack.” Chandra leaned forward, the only one who was serious.
“Okay.” He chuckled, going along with the situation as best he could. “I’m a worship leader from Danville, Kentucky. My family owns a horse farm and one day I’d like the chance to raise a Kentucky Derby champion.”
“Your great-grandfather did that, correct?” Cullen reined himself in.
“He did. Yes, sir.”
“Well, good on you, Zack. You look a little like a young Elvis Presley. Anyone ever tell you that?” Cullen stroked his chin, surveying Zack.
“Once in a while.” Zack shrugged, his smile in place.
“Better-looking than Elvis.” Kelly seemed to speak under her breath but her words remained loud enough for the camera to catch. She seemed to gather herself. “Okay, Zack. Let’s be serious here. What’re you going to sing for us?”
“?‘Dream Like New York’ by Tyrone Wells.”
“Mmmm.” Cullen nodded. “Nice song. Strong artist.” He waved a pencil in Zack’s direction. “All right, mate. Let’s hear it.”
Between his earlier audition and this one Zack had practiced almost constantly. The song was one of his
