Fifteen Minutes

  The response whispered at her from all sides, in a way that could only be divine. Reese breathed in deep again. She couldn’t change the situation. The video had told the story. Zack was caught up in some sort of relationship with Zoey Davis. Whatever their story, they were absolutely connected.

  The next move was hers.

  As this truth settled in around the edges of her soul, Reese felt her world right itself. Her body ached from the impact of the video, but she would get through this. Somehow she would get through it. With that in mind, she had no question about what to do next. She pulled her cell phone from the pocket of her shorts and called up Zack’s number. His profile appeared with a photo taken in May, at the beginning of summer. Reese and Zack in swimsuits and shorts, sitting on the edge of a dock at Cumberland Lake. They’d gone with the high school kids from church for a day of boating and tubing, and during lunch they’d found a quiet place to talk.

  “I’m going to marry you, Reese Weatherly.” He had looked deep into her heart. “As soon as my family figures things out with the farm, it’ll be you and me. Forever.”

  She had smiled and they talked about having a big wedding or a small gathering with just family and a few friends. Church hall reception or catered dinner and a dance in a ballroom. But here beneath the August night sky, that day felt like a million years ago. Like it never happened at all. Zack had become someone she no longer knew. At the beginning of his Fifteen Minutes run—when their biggest problem was a lack of communication—she had refused to feel anything but happy for him. Somehow things would work out. Sure the tweets from Zoey bugged her. But she never saw the girl getting in the way of what she shared with Zack. The connection with their grandparents, their shared faith and love of horses, the magic of how it felt to be in his arms . . .

  Enough. She gripped the fence until she felt the wood splintering against her fingers. The call had to be made. She couldn’t wait another minute. She stared at the screen of her cell phone and tapped his number. Then she looked back at the sky and waited. She’d called him only a handful of times since he left, and never once had he answered. The producers made them keep their phones off—that’s what Zack had said. They were busy. Every minute booked.

  Once, twice, three times it rang, keeping beat with her broken heart. She didn’t want to leave a voice mail, but she had no choice. “Zack . . . it’s me.” She kept her tone neutral. “Can you call me? We need to talk.”

  She clicked the end button and realized she hadn’t breathed. A quick breath and she tucked her phone back in her pocket. There. She had done it. Whatever real or manufactured drama was playing out on Fifteen Minutes, Reese was no longer going to be part of it.

  The last thing she wanted to do was drive home and watch Fifteen Minutes, but she couldn’t stop herself. Her parents were out, so she drove home to an empty house and turned on the TV. The light from the screen pierced the darkness.

  She had captured the show on DVR, and now she forwarded it past Zack’s performance to the end of the show and the segment with him and Zoey. Reese slid to the floor and pulled her tanned legs up close to her chin. Her long dark hair hung over her knees as she watched the reality of her life play out for all of America.

  The segment ended as the teaser had promised it would. With the two kissing. Zack really kissed her. Reese held up the remote and cut the power. The screen went dark and the room followed. There were no tears on her face and none in her eyes. Just the cold, consuming shock. Because for all the ways she had pictured life with Zack, for all the happy moments they had shared and the ones she had absolutely seen coming . . . the engagement, the future, their life together, there was one thing she hadn’t imagined.

  That it might end like this.

  chapter 23

  The high was like some crazy drug, different than anything Zack had experienced in his life. That’s all he could think as he stepped off stage with the other nineteen remaining contestants after the first live show. Carnegie Hall was packed with screaming fans, and when Zack sang the Dierks Bentley song he’d practiced all week the audience stayed on its feet and screamed the entire time. After weeks of buildup, the show had definitely delivered.

  Zack couldn’t wait to talk to Reese, see how she felt about his performance and ask how she was doing. He hadn’t been on a computer in days, and he hadn’t talked to Reese in that much time at least. A few texts but nothing more. Their distance was beginning to worry him and tonight he felt desperate to hear her voice.

  When the show ended, the group of contestants moved to a small room backstage. Zack tried to catch his breath. Adrenaline flooded his body, making his heart race and sustaining the feeling he’d had onstage. Backstage Zack’s group hugged and talked and laughed all at once. Congratulations flew from one singer to another. The judges had made sweeping comments about how theirs was easily the best group.

  Zack wondered if Reese had watched the show with his family the way she had planned. He had no cell service in Carnegie Hall and it could be hours before he would have a chance to call her. Like always, there was no time to rest. In the next few minutes William Gaines was supposed to meet them with an update.

  “That was unreal.” Zoey worked her way to the spot beside him, as breathless as he was. Without hesitating she threw her arms around his neck and stayed that way, swaying in the kind of hug usually reserved for long-lost lovers. “You were amazing, Zack,” she whispered, her eyes wide with clear admiration. She stepped back, her face bright and full of life as she looked at him. “I swear, you’re gonna win the whole thing.”

  “Not me . . . you.” He put his hands casually on her shoulders. After all they’d been through on the show, Zoey meant a lot to him. But there had been no more clandestine hallway moments, no temptations like there had been the night they kissed. When this was all over, his heart would belong to Reese.

  “I felt shaky on the belting notes.”

  “Not at all. Did you see the judges?” He grinned at her. “You started singing that Kelly Clarkson song and they were on their feet before the first chorus.”

  One of the married guys—also a finalist—overheard their conversation. He walked up. “It’ll come down to you two. No one else is close.” He nodded at the rest of the group. “We all know it.”

  Zack wasn’t sure, but the guy’s words only added to the headiness. “Thanks, man. Seriously.”

  “It’s true.” The guy gave Zack a hearty fist pump. “One day I can tell my kids I sang on the same stage as you.”

  The possibility existed, Zack could see that now. But he believed it existed more for Zoey. Tonight for the first time Zack could see Zoey winning. Her voice was as pure as Carrie Underwood’s and as strong as Chandra Olson’s. All wrapped up inside a blond, blue-eyed high school cheerleader. The perfect all-American girl. Viewers were going to love her.

  William Gaines entered the room with two assistant producers, and in a flurry of motion he took the spot at the front of the room. The contestants fell silent. “Well done, people. That was one of the greatest live shows since we started ten years ago.” Gaines beamed, making eye contact around the room. “Now.” He clapped a few times, clearly in a hurry. “We have a very tight schedule.”

  The list was daunting. Wardrobe needed everyone immediately for a fitting. They would wear three different outfits for tomorrow’s kickoff show and no one could leave until the decisions were made. Production had brought in a few pairs of pricey jeans for Zack. He could hardly wait to sort through them.

  “While that’s happening,” Gaines continued, “you will return to this room one at a time for your exit interviews. Remember, ten of you will go home tomorrow.”

  A strange feeling came over Zack. He desperately didn’t want to go home. Just a few months ago if he’d been cut he easily could’ve climbed in his truck and driven back to Kentucky. No regrets. But now . . . now that he had come this far he wanted to keep winning, keep singing in front of that audience with cameras aimed at him from every
part of the venue.

  The next two hours passed in a blur, with production assistants whisking them from wardrobe to the interview room until everyone finished taping. Only then did Zack turn on his phone and see the missed call from Reese. His heart soared. He couldn’t wait to talk to her, couldn’t wait to hear what she thought of his performance. Other than short teasers on the Fifteen Minutes website, she hadn’t seen him compete until tonight.

  Zack picked most of what he needed for his three outfits for the kickoff show and then filmed his exit interview. His emotions were raw; so much had happened that day already. As he talked about leaving the show, putting the adventure behind him, he felt his eyes grow damp. He chuckled and shook his head. “No one ever wants the ride to end.”

  When the interview wrapped, he felt sick to his stomach. All the way back to the wardrobe room, he assured himself that they wouldn’t cut him. Not this round. He could already feel himself singing again next week, moved by their applause and shining for God. Because that’s what all this was about. He’d make the cut, right? God knew he needed to stay on the show to save the farm and help his sister. Zack stared at his phone. He also needed to talk to Reese. As he reached wardrobe, he hesitated and then slipped into the men’s room down the hall. He took the last stall and locked the door. Leaning against it, he quickly turned on his phone. The screen came to life slowly. Come on . . . work! He stared at the dark screen, willing it to come to life. As soon as it did, he called her. Today more than ever he felt out of touch with her and his family, everything about his life back home. He hadn’t led worship or been to church in two months.

  On the fourth ring the call went to voice mail. “Hey, it’s me.” He could hear the urgency in his whisper.

  In the distance he heard William Gaines’s voice over what seemed to be a megaphone. “Buses are here! Everyone finish what you’re doing. We leave in three minutes.”

  Zack groaned. “Baby, I’m sorry. I can’t talk. I promise I’ll call you as soon as we have a break.” He didn’t know what else to say. His words felt stiff and unnatural. Even leaving a message for her felt different now. He heard Gaines’s voice again. “Sorry . . . gotta go. Love you.”

  Using cell phones was against the rules except during breaks. Zack turned his off and hurried back to wardrobe where Gaines was directing contestants toward the exit. “If you haven’t picked your wardrobe for tomorrow, you’ll have to find time in the morning.” He spotted Zack. “You finished in here?”

  “Yes, sir, almost. Did the interview. I’ll get my shoes figured out tomorrow.”

  “Good.” Gaines would’ve made a successful drill sergeant. “Get on the bus. Seats are assigned.”

  Zack’s place by the window next to Zoey didn’t surprise him. Clearly the producers were fans of what they perceived to be happening between the two of them. As long as Reese knew the truth.

  “They’re filming a music video tonight—a promo piece or something.” Zoey leaned in close to him. “You know what I hated?”

  “What?” He was aware of her knees against his legs. The seats had barely any legroom.

  She settled her shoulder into the seat back and faced him. “Filming the exit video.” Her eyes held his for a long moment. “I don’t want this to end.”

  He smiled and felt himself relax. “Me, either.” He could be himself around her, so he closed his eyes and for a few heartbeats he stayed that way. They hadn’t stopped moving since hours before the show.

  Gaines stood at the front of the bus as it pulled away. He rattled off their itinerary for the night. They would be bused to a media party at a club on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to a celebration at Cullen Caldwell’s house and finally to a photo shoot at the Hard Rock Cafe. No surprise that the whole thing would be videotaped.

  At every stop, the Fifteen Minutes producers had bodyguards and roped-off pathways. Somehow people had found out their itinerary and hordes of fans greeted them wherever they went. Again the feeling was heady for Zack. Like he’d become someone else. Or like it was all some crazy dream. A couple of girls outside the Hard Rock were in such a frenzy over seeing him that they started shaking and crying, screaming his name. Gaines came up alongside Zack. “They love you, man. It’s a whole new life.”

  Zack could picture being greeted this way everywhere he went. For years, maybe. Reese would be there, too, in time. And when he was finished with the show, when no one could tell him what to do, he would get back to talking about his faith. He grinned at Gaines. “I could get used to it. Definitely.” The crowd was too loud to say anything else.

  By the time they returned to the hotel it was after midnight. The group moved to a private lobby, where the contestants could hang out away from the public eye. Zoey took his hand and tried to lead him to a quiet corner. “Let’s talk.” Her eyes spoke to him in a personal way, as if he’d known her forever. “Come on. So much happened today.”

  “I can’t.” Zack eased his hand free. He smiled at her, but he could only think about Reese, how much he had to tell her. “I need to call her.”

  Zoey nodded, her eyes sad. “Reese?”

  “Yes.” He gave her a puzzled look. Why would that surprise Zoey? “She and I, we haven’t had a real conversation in a week.”

  “Hmm. Okay.” She hesitated, her eyes holding tight to his. “If you can’t reach her, call me. I’m not tired.”

  “Zoey . . .” A momentary gust of desire came over him. He waited till it passed. “It’s late. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” Her shoulder lifted in a girlish shrug. She waved as he walked away and he could feel her eyes follow him.

  No matter how much he loved Reese, he had to be careful. Part of him wanted to stay back and hang out with Zoey. They’d been together all night, but there hadn’t been any time to talk. Not really. He forced himself to keep walking. Nothing good would come from hanging out with Zoey tonight. She looked stunning from the moment she took the stage, and she made him laugh in the midst of the madness. No, he couldn’t spend time with her. Not when he was still so high from his performance and hers. Yes, Zoey was a part of his life today. But Reese was his future. He needed to talk to her, hear her voice so he could find gravity again.

  My son, no temptation has seized you except what is common to man . . . I will always give you a way out.

  What was this? Scripture now? Zack kept walking toward his room. He didn’t need a way out, not when he wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was singing better than ever. It was okay to enjoy the ride, have a little fun in the process. God had let him make it this far; He would hardly want Zack to sit on the sidelines pining for home. That feeling came at night when he turned off the lights. But the days belonged to Fifteen Minutes, and yes, he was having a blast. Life was crazy, but it wouldn’t always be like this. He knew what he did and didn’t want. He turned on his phone in the elevator and the moment he closed his hotel room door behind him, he called her. “Be awake . . . come on, Reese.”

  He checked the time as the phone rang. His heart sank. Two-forty. Way past midnight and so much later than he had thought. Again her phone went to voice mail. Of course it did. Why in the world would she be awake at this hour? He pictured her, probably hopeful that he would call, keeping her phone nearby, maybe spending time with his parents and Grandpa Dan. But when one hour had led to another and his call had never come what was she supposed to do?

  Zack sighed and slumped over his knees. He had to be more intentional about calling her, had to find time regardless of their schedule. Otherwise this strange feeling would continue to plague him. Already too much silence had passed between them.

  He paced the length of his room. His whole body buzzed from the rush of the night. Like Zoey, he was hardly tired. Breakfast was set for ten tomorrow morning and then they were supposed to wear pajamas to a room with sofas and plush chairs, where they would watch last night’s show for the first time.

  Zack’s new roommate was Hank, a married guy. But even he had staye
d in the private lobby with most of the other contestants. The twenty of them had so much to talk about, so much that only the others in the competition could understand. They had become a family, a team whose existence pushed out everything and everyone who had been so important just a few months ago. Zack knew of a few marriages on the rocks, though not Hank’s, and two serious couples had broken up since the competition began.

  Reese and Zack were the success story, the ones who would survive.

  Sure, they were struggling to find time to talk. But when this was all over they would make their way back to good again. When Zoey was out of the picture. He stopped pacing and sat on the edge of the bed. And when there weren’t so many people scrutinizing him, when he wasn’t so busy, he would use all this for God. He definitely would.

  His mind was spinning. Had he prayed at all tonight? Since his performance? Lord, I couldn’t have done it without You. Thank You . . . really. But the prayer brought him no peace.

  He stood and paced again. What were the other contestants doing? And why wasn’t he with them? If Reese were here, she’d tell him to have fun. He’d made it this far, so why hide in his room? This roller coaster wouldn’t last forever, so for now he needed to be downstairs in the private lobby. With his Fifteen Minutes family.

  He slipped into a white T-shirt and sweats and made his way back to the lobby. Zoey was gone, but a dozen of the others were still there. He joined the circle. The gospel singer grinned at him. “So what’s going on with Zoey? People wanna know.”

  “Nothing.” He chuckled as he shook his head. “Really. It’s all made up. You know. TV can make it look a certain way.”

  “Doesn’t look made up.” One of the older girls grinned. “You two have crazy chemistry.”

  “Yeah, well, I love my girlfriend.”

  “So . . . your girlfriend flying out for any of the live shows?” His roommate clearly felt it was okay to prod. They were all close now, too. Any conversation was fair game. The guy raised one brow. “That could be interesting.”