Since leaving the vegetable stand turned restaurant on their way to meet Jeremiah, Chloe’s testimony pestered him, took up residence in his thoughts.
He’d never considered the Big Guy an option before. As a scientist, he observed unexplained elements of the universe and conceded to the idea of a grand design. A Creator.
But a personal Savior—did he need a Savior?—seemed preposterous. In college, his roommate turned Christianese into a drinking game. Just tune into any Christian radio or TV station and take a drink every time some slick preacher said, “Praise God.”
If a man wanted to get drunk fast—
Yet Chloe spoke with a passion, a truth he’d not seen or heard. In her time of need, Chloe’s desperation led her to God. Jesse’s brought him to Hollywood.
“You okay?” she said, taking the turn toward Chris’s place.
“Fine. Just thinking.”
“About Chris?” she said.
“Yeah, about Chris.” Why not? The truth felt too weird.
“He’s quit. I know it.”
“How do you know it?” Jesse looked over at her.
“Because this is my life. My first big break. Something is bound to go wrong.”
“Where’s the woman of faith I heard back at the Styrofoam-plate place?”
She tried not to smile. “She’s scared.”
“Doesn’t God assure you everything will work out?”
“You know what’s really annoying?” Chloe said. “When people who don’t know God tell people who do what He’s like. What He should do and say. How we should believe and behave.”
Jesse surrendered, hands up. “Fine, then be scared.”
“Sorry.” She sighed. “I’m just nervous.” Chloe slowed at the security gate, entering the code Jer had texted.
“Look, maybe it’s nothing. You really think Chris would walk out? Why? Things are going well despite the rain delays. He’s great as Hamilton, and you two... the chemistry is perfect.”
“Do you ever wonder if life will just never go your way? If you don’t have the ‘it factor’?” Chloe drove slowly, examining the house numbers, heading toward the lake houses.
“There’s no such thing as an ‘it factor.’”
“How long have you been in Hollywood? There is most certainly an ‘it factor.’” She turned down the long driveway of a two-story brick home with giant windows, curving down and around, the lake cutting into the grounds.
She parked next to a dark-tinted limo and cut the engine.
A limo? Was Chris on his way to the airport? Jesse’s pre-Christmas call with Jeremiah surfaced. Maybe the new studio head had flown out to check on the project. Wouldn’t be unheard of.
“Don’t like the looks of that.” Chloe pointed to the limo, popping open her door.
“Probably nothing.” Sure. It was just the new studio head giving the project another green light. Jesse took hold of Chloe’s arm. “Hey, wait a sec. You’re right, I can’t tell you about your faith or God. But the girl at the restaurant who told me how He saved her was onto something. I felt it. You almost had me believing. Chloe, be confident in what you know, what you believe. If you gave your life to God, then trust Him. What a gift to know you’re not in this world alone.”
“You... always surprise me.” She angled toward him, kissinghis cheek. Her eyes met his, and the kiss became more real, lips to lips and heart to heart.
Jesse slipped his hand down her back. He wanted more. He wanted her in his arms—
Chloe broke away, fingers pressed to her lips. “Jesse... I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t apologize on my account.” He eased his arm around her waist.
