Grace Alive: a Christian Romance by Natasha House Page A

stocked
shelves.
    “Hi, Zoe, ready for another day?”
    “Yeah, should be fun.” I sounded depressed
even to my own ears.
    “You okay? You seem like you’re having a
rough day.”
    Rough life more like it. Yeah, my dad is
making me marry some nasty guy. It was great!
    “I’m good. Just went to bed late last night.”
I slid behind the counter, and she headed toward the back to pull
some freight out. She left in an hour or so, and I’d have the place
to myself for the night.
    “Have fun!” she called over her shoulder.
Yeah, loads of fun. I couldn’t get all the crap out of my head that
was going on with my family. The one thing that kept me from going
insane was thinking about Branson. It was so weird. The logical
side of me was like screaming at me that I was an idiot, while
something else in my heart was shouting hallelujah. It was the
weirdest battle I’d ever gone through. The hours dragged by as I
straightened up the store. I made a couple rounds, helped a few
people, and finally nine o’clock rolled around. One more hour! Then
what? Ah! I was hanging out with Branson tomorrow! The thought hit
me like fresh air. I managed a smile.
    The door dinged, and a couple girls from
church came in. One girl named Tori, who is really a big huge snob,
came right up to me.
    “Hi, Zoe, I heard you and Jacob went out last
night. How’d that go?” I could read the jealousy in her eyes. God,
please.
    “It was amazing,” I sarcastically said. I
don’t think she caught it though.
    “You have it so lucky, Zoe Reed. God has
really blessed you with such a great man. Jacob is so amazing.”
    She could totally have him!
    “Tori, this little courtship is not my
idea.”
    “But Jacob said your dad said God told him
you two were meant to be together!” She looked at her two friends
who were just soaking all the information in. Crap. I didn’t want
them to think ill of my dad.
    “Yeah, God did. I just haven’t had
confirmation in my own heart. I’m sure it will come,” I said and
tried to look like I was sorting something on the counter so they’d
go away. Tori didn’t really take the hint.
    “Maybe you’re just in sin, and God’s not
talking to you right now.”
    I wanted to slap her! My gosh! How dare she?
Little miss let me show my boobs to half the church! I clenched my
jaw together my face turning red. Maybe I wasn’t the perfect
Christian all the time, but I’d heard how many guys Tori had slept
with, and it was more than I could count on two hands. She claimed
that was “before” she got born again, but there were still rumors
floating around. It’s probably why Jacob wanted nothing to do with
her.
    “Maybe if you’d kept yourself pure he’d look
at you twice,” I shot back at her, and instantly regretted my
words. I was just mad today. Everything was heating me up. Her two
friends looked shocked, and Tori’s jaw dropped open.
    “You’re cruel, Zoe Reed. I swear if you
weren’t the pastor’s daughter…” Her lip trembled as her two friends
ushered her out of the craft store. Oops. Ah! Why did I say that? I
really hated the way I spewed crap sometimes. Jesus, please
forgive me! I didn’t mean to be so mean to her! I just get so sick
of her and her friends. They think they are so much better than
everyone else in the church. They can have Jacob Whitmen! I don’t
want him!
    I looked up at the clock and started cleaning
up for the night. It was almost ten. Finally after cleaning up and
shutting everything off, I punched out and locked up the store. I
got into my car and just sat there for awhile. At my church people
were always pointing the finger, judging, and casting blame on
everyone. If people saw Branson with me I would get heaped with
judgment up to my eyeballs. I couldn’t let anyone see him, but this
city really wasn’t that big. I’m sure someone knew him, and a lot
of people knew who I was. How was I going to keep my friendship or
relationship or whatever this was a secret? Already