Starring Me (33 page)
“It’s not Jonathon.” Bull looked at Kara in the rearview mirror.
“Then who?”
“And ruin the suspense? No way. Not this guy. Just enjoy the ride.”
“It is beautiful.” Kara looked out the window. Bull had pulled off on a dirt road leading right through an orange grove. “The trees are so pretty. But what does this have to do with the show? Is the studio out here?”
“Nope.”
“Is the star out here?”
“Maybe.”
“Come on, Bull.” Kara leaned forward. “We’re buddies, right? You can tell me.”
Kara’s pleas were silenced as Bull turned a corner and Kara saw the house.
“Now
this
is what I’ve been looking for.” She surveyed the multilevel home, just like the ones in pictures of Florida she had looked up on the Internet. The exterior was white with red shutters and a quaint red door. The front porch wrapped all around the house. Each window had a box of flowers in front of it, and the front porch had white swings facing each other. “Is this for sale? Ma would love this house.”
“Nope, sorry. That’s not why you’re here.” Bull put the SUV in park, stepped out of the vehicle, and opened her door.
The front door of the house opened and a very excited Addy came running out.
“Kara!” Addy hugged her friend and Kara returned the embrace halfheartedly. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“Of course, but why are you here? I’m supposed to meet the costar. And Bull said it wasn’t Jonathon. So why else would you and Bull be here?”
“Jonathon’s here too.” Addy wrapped her arm through Kara’s and led her to the backyard.
“But why?”
“I can’t believe you haven’t figured it out.” Addy looked at Kara. “Me and Jonathon, you and . . .”
“Don’t toy with me.” Kara pulled away from her friend. The possibility that Chad Beacon could actually be the boy she’d be working with caused her heart to race. “If you’re joking and some less-than-Greek-god boy is waiting for me, I don’t know if I could forgive you.”
“He’s waiting for you in the orange groves.”
“Is it Chad? Please say it’s Chad.”
“I’m not saying anything.”
“You’re not saying it’s not Chad,” Kara said, her heart racing even faster. “If it wasn’t, you’d tell me, right?”
“Maybe there’s another guy just as great as Chad who you don’t know but Jonathon and I do.”
“Addy, I don’t like this side of you.” Kara looked at the groves but could only see trees. No boy who may or may not be Chad Beacon peeking through the leaves.
Jonathon stepped out of the groves.
“It
is
you.” Kara’s heart dropped.
Jonathon smiled and walked toward Kara. “Are you disappointed?”
“No, of course not.” Kara tried to sound convincing.
“You’re excited to be in a show with me?” Jonathon kept walking.
“Sure I am.” Kara glanced at Addy, who was shooting Jonathon a disapproving look.
“Too bad, then.” Jonathon reached Addy and placed an arm around her shoulders. “Because I’m just working behind the scenes.”
This time it was Addy’s turn to look surprised. “What? ”
“Tell you in a minute.” Jonathon held Addy tighter. “Right now, Miss McKormick, you have someone waiting for you. Second row of trees, about forty paces back.”
Kara looked at Addy and Jonathon, who were looking at each other.
“Second row of trees, huh?” Kara found the second row and began walking. “Forty paces. What is this, some kind of treasure hunt?”
“You could say that,” a very familiar voice said.
Chad Beacon stepped out from behind a tree. He walked up to Kara and looked at her, his hazel eyes dancing. “I was really hoping you were the one.”
Kara swallowed hard. The Greek god was looking at her. And she wasn’t turning to stone.
I might melt into a puddle, though
. “Me too. I thought it was Jonathon.”
“He and Addy have had way too much fun planning this. He had me thinking Addy was the costar.”
“You’re not disappointed?” Kara asked, glancing from Chad’s eyes to his tan face in time to see his perfect smile.
“Are you kidding? I haven’t been able to get you off my mind since that day at the White House.”
“Really?” Kara inhaled Chad’s cologne and willed herself to remain standing. “’Cause I’ve barely given you a second thought.”
“Oh yeah?” Chad pulled a leaf from a branch above his head. “That’s not what Jonathon said.”
“Jonathon is a politician’s son.” Kara folded her arms, enjoying the game. “Don’t you know anything? Politicians lie.”
“Too bad, then, ’cause you’re stuck with me.”
“Only if the show does well,” Kara said. “We have to have chemistry. That might be tough.”
“I’m willing to work on it if you are.” Chad walked toward Kara and placed his arms around her neck.
Kara wrapped her arms around Chad’s waist, and it felt natural. Perfect. Meant to be. “It won’t be easy, working with you every day.”
“Your family hanging around my family.”
“Jonathon and Addy will probably be there too.” Kara smiled.
“Probably.”
“And I’m sure the network will make us do stuff together.”
Chad stepped forward, his face just inches from Kara’s. “We might have to act like we like each other. You know, for the good of the show.”
“I’m willing to do that.” Kara gazed into Chad’s eyes. “For the show.”
Chad took a step back, his hands on Kara’s shoulders. “Did I say I hoped it would be you?”
“I think so.” Kara smiled, her hands still on Chad’s waist. “But you can say it again.”
“I really hoped it would be you.”
“God sure did some work to get me here.”
“I was praying for you, you know. A lot.” Chad picked up a piece of Kara’s hair and held it in his hands. “I’m probably the reason you’re here.”
“So I voted you into
America’s Next Star
and you prayed me into heaven.”
Chad laughed and turned to walk back, his hand reaching for Kara’s. “I definitely win.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Kara loved the feel of Chad’s fingers in hers. “If you hadn’t won
America’s Next Star
, then you wouldn’t be on this show. So, technically, it was all me.”
“Oh really?”
“Well, it was all God. Then me.”
“Then me?”
“Maybe you after Addy.”
“So I’m third on this list?”
“Third sounds good.” Kara squeezed his hand. “I don’t want you getting a big head. You know how those big stars can get.”
“Sure of themselves? Always thinking they’re right? ”
“Exactly.” Kara nudged her shoulder into Chad’s arm. “I’ll protect you from that.”
“Thanks. Glad to know you have my back.”
“I definitely do.”
1. This story is loosely based on the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24. What similarities did you see between that story and
Starring Me
?
2. Chad’s parents were accused of being “overprotective.” Do you agree with that assessment? Would you like to have parents like the Beacons? Why or why not?
3. Kara wanted, more than anything, to be an actress. Do you know someone who wants to be an actor/actress? Is that person like Kara?
4. Chad has never dated because he believes the purpose of dating is to get married. Early in the story, however, Kara argues that it’s important to date lots of guys so you know which is your type. With whom do you agree? Why?
5. Kara was kind to Flora right from the start. Why do you think that is?
6. Did you suspect Jillian wasn’t really a Christian? If so, why?
7. Chad and his family served the Miller family by helping them relocate. Addy took Kara to help at a homeless shelter. Have you and your friends or family ever been involved in any service projects? What were they? How did you benefit from helping others?
8. Chad struggled with being famous because he couldn’t go many places without being noticed or mobbed. How would you feel if you were in his shoes?
9. Kara got serious about God when she realized her father might die. Have you ever been in a tough situation that forced you to think more seriously about what happens after we die? Have you had the opportunity to talk to someone in a situation like that?
10. How do you think the story would have ended if the doctor hadn’t recommended the McKormicks move to Orlando?
I
could not have finished this book without my amazing in-laws. That’s right,
amazing
and
in-laws
in the same sentence. It happens. And I’m so grateful it happened to me! Like Chad, I prayed for my future spouse since I was thirteen, and boy, did God answer. Not only did I get a terrific, incredibly handsome husband, but he came with a terrific family as well. Twice a year, the whole gang comes down here to Tampa. It’s kind of like the McKormick clan—lots of noise, lots of fun, and lots of food. This year, when the gang was down for spring break, I handed my kids off to their grandparents/aunts/uncles and waved good-bye. I had a deadline coming up and a lot of blank pages to fill. My in-laws, in true McGee fashion, kept my kids so entertained, they had no idea Mom was holed up in her room, immersed in Kara and Chad’s story. The kids had a blast, and I was able to meet my deadline.
As always, a huge “shout-out” goes to my students at Citrus Park Christian School. The only thing I hate about my job is that every single year, students graduate and say good-bye. The good ones, though, always come back to visit (hint, hint).
This book wouldn’t be in your hands without the immensely talented Thomas Nelson fiction team. From editing to marketing to the fabulous cover, these men and women are godly, professional, and lots of fun. I am honored to be part of this amazing team.
Julee Schwarzburg takes my mess of words and cleans them up, always with tact, grace, and smiley faces. Her input is invaluable.
My husband, Dave, and my three kids, Emma, Ellie, and Thomas, are the greatest gifts on earth. I thank God every day for the privilege of getting to go through life with them.
But as great as all these people are—and they are great—the real reason I write, that I live and breathe and do anything, is because of Jesus Christ. My prayer for you, my reader, is that you grow to know him better, to experience his love and grace and power in your life, and to know that our story is HIS story and that everything he writes is perfect.
K
RISTA
M
C
G
EE
writes for teens, teaches teens, and, more often than not, acts like a teen. Along with her husband and three kids, Krista has lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain.