had to find their own way. Back to waiting tables or leading worship at their local church.
The judges each had a vote. She had no idea what Cullen and Kelly were going to do with theirs.
But she was absolutely sure how she would cast hers.
ZACK HAD BLOWN it. He knew as soon as he woke up that morning. Like always lately, he jumped on Twitter before he was fully awake. At first he thought someone was playing a joke, or maybe someone had hacked his account.
It took two minutes to figure out that wasn’t the problem.
He hadn’t checked last night, too exhausted from the drama with Chandra and then Zoey. Now he scanned back through his @s and realized the truth. The comments had turned sour right after his performance aired on the East Coast and they continued that way through the night and into the morning.
One after another they shouted at him, reminding him of the person he’d become. He read as many as he could stand.
What happened to @ZackDylan? I thought he was a Christian? #hypocrite
Figures. Everyone changes when they get famous. Even @ZackDylan. #toogoodtobetrue
Really? @ZackDylan singing a song about getting drunk on a beach? What a joke!
Not every tweet was negative. But the positive ones seemed focused on the wrong thing.
If you’re gonna show us your arms @Zack Dylan, take off the shirt. Give us what we want! #hotbody
Don’t you just know @ZackDylan is spending hours rehearsing with @songleader? Zoey Davis you’re a lucky girl. #jealous
He felt sick to his stomach. Some of the tweets were crass—more so than ever since he’d made it on the show. Zack winced as he read the next tweet on his feed.
Come find me @ZackDylan. The spot next to me in bed is all yours.
A few were so vulgar, with cussing and descriptive suggestions, that Zack skimmed over them. Others expressed outrage.
Anyone who votes for @ZackDylan after that performance doesn’t remember who he was at the beginning. #changed
Disappointed in you @ZackDylan. Who are you, anyway?
After ten minutes, Zack exited out of his account. He had known he was making a mistake last night even before he took the stage. Chandra’s warning, and then the whole twenty push-ups thing. Finding out about Zoey and the promise of fame from the producers had been the last straw.
Now he wondered if he’d get sent home. A thrill of anticipation ran through him. It would be the happiest exit moment the show had ever seen. Not that he could celebrate yet. He had damaged his reputation and his witness and no doubt embarrassed his family. And what about Reese? Wherever she was, packing for Europe, she must think him the most insensitive jerk alive. He had so much damage to undo. If that were even possible.
Zack stood and filled his lungs.
The change hadn’t happened all at once, of course. But it had absolutely happened. He had started the show defined by his faith. The Christian guy in love with his girlfriend back home. Not anymore. Now the world saw him as some hunky heartthrob dating his fellow contestant.
Defeat threatened to consume him.
A picture of Christ’s outstretched arms filled his soul. The Lord was here. He hadn’t abandoned Zack and He never would. His grace was sufficient, even now. God had been with him all along. Using Chandra and Zoey and even Twitter to show Zack what would happen if the madness didn’t stop. Because that’s how the Lord was. He never forced Himself on anyone. Rather, He simply remained, leaving signs and clues so His people might find their way back.
Where He would always wait with open arms.
Zack picked up his phone and gathered his nerve. Before he could report for breakfast and a packed day of rehearsals and interviews, he had to take care of something more important. He clicked his phone a few times and did what he hadn’t done in far too long.
He called home.
MINUTES BEFORE THEY were set to take the stage for the kickoff show, Zack was praying in the empty hallway behind the stage when Zoey found him. She looked beautiful, ready to move ahead. The way she’d been promised.
“Hey . . .” She approached him slowly. The two of them hadn’t talked since she ran out of Gaines’s dressing room. “Can I say something?”
“Sure.” He was no longer angry with her. None of this was her fault. Why wouldn’t she take the producers’ deal? Besides, he was well aware of her feelings for him. She couldn’t fake that, even for a spot in the final.
She came up beside him and pressed her shoulder to the wall, facing him. “I’m sorry. About last night. The kiss.”
Her apology surprised him. He figured she’d be sorry for her deal with the producers. “Thank you.” He nodded and slid his hands in his pockets.
“I mean it. The whole time I never respected the fact that . . . that you had a girlfriend.”
He could feel the walls rise around his heart. He shrugged. “You had your reasons.”
“No.” She shook her head, her eyes damp. “Never mind the producers. What we have between us—what we had—it was real.”
He smiled, though his eyes felt flat. “Sure.” He took a deep breath. “We better go. Call’s in a minute.”
She looked awkward, like she wanted to hug him. But it was too late for that. “I’m just sorry. That’s all.”
“Thanks.” He gave her a long look. As he did he remembered his own prayer from earlier. “Forgiven.”
She hesitated. “You never taught me how to pray. Remember? You said you were going to.”
“Yeah, well . . . I might be the wrong guy for that.”
“You’re not.” She held her ground. “You’re everything good and right and true, Zack Dylan. I messed it all up for you, but it was never your fault.”
“It was.” He allowed a sad, quiet laugh. “I didn’t fight for what I believed in. That was all my fault. My faith should’ve been stronger.”
“You’ll find your way out of this. I believe that.” Her expression said she knew she’d lost, that nothing between them would ever be what it had been. Still, she seemed compelled to finish her thought. “When you do, when you land on your feet on the other side, somewhere in Kentucky, there’s going to be one very lucky girl waiting.”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. All he could do was try. Reese hadn’t responded to a single text. “Come on.” He motioned to her and they walked together to the stage door. “It’s showtime.” Even as they walked toward the crowds and lights and cameras, Zack could only hope one thing.
That he was taking this walk for the last time.
chapter
28
The hour-long show was nearly over. They’d performed several group numbers and hung around onstage while new features were aired on each of the remaining six contestants. Kip Barker was in fine form, using dramatic sweeping statements to keep viewers glued to their seats. “What will happen when we take a look at the
