Virtue For Venom, Faith in Action Series Book 3 … a look inside

Table of Contents

Prologue VI

1. Danny’s Kiss 1

2. A Night to Remember 8

3. Saturday Dive 12

4. Public High School 21

5. Skipping School 25

6. Student2Student 31

7. Cat Fight 35

8. Consequences 38

9. First Letters 43

10. Saturday Friends 48

11. Sunday Surfing 54

12. My Problem 58

13. Danny’s Problem 62

14. A Mental Health Day 70

15. Hitting The Gooks 78

16. Sara’s Advice Goes Viral 82

17. Tattoo 90

18. Ray Ray 95

19. Wednesday 100

20. Confession 104

21. Costa Rica Mission Planning 107

22. Friday at Last 110

23. Horrible Homework 118

24. Going Viral Again 123

25. Roommates 129

26. What Did You Say? 138

27. Lunchroom Lunacy 144

28. Finally Friday 150

29. The House to Myself 159

30. Does He Really Love Me? 164

31. Sad Sunday 167

32. Sick Monday 175

33. Hello Titan 184

34. Prison Day 192

35. Cabin Fever 202

36. Death Threat Thursday 208

37. This is Serious 216

38. Normal Moments 224

39. Getting Out 230

40. Hospital Daze 236

41. Finally Why 243

42. Wheels Up 248

43. Wedding Plans 252

44. Illumination 257

45. Monday Again 264

46. Shattered 271

47. Piecing My Life Back Together 279

48. Fast Forward 285

49. Pinterest Planning 289

50. Let’s Mani-Pedi 295

51. Costa Rica Mission Sign-ups 298

52. Time Flies 302

53. Beth 307

54. Piper’s Question 312

55. Answered Prayer 317

56. About the Author 327

Endnotes 328

Prologue

When exactly did I, Sara Addison, change? A few weeks ago, the Saturday before Halloween, I woke up as usual. My eyes still shut, I rolled off my bed and landed on my knees. My hands clasped, I prayed the Lord’s Prayer like I had every morning for as long as I could remember. That will never change.

I rubbed my eyes, then opened them, blinking against the brilliant sun streaming in through my see-through, sky-blue curtains. Fresh air wafted in and tickled my nose. The muted whisper of the wind sounded like secrets, promises of the amazing things to come. Goosebumps rose on my arms and legs. Tiny hairs stood on end. My heart beats faster and faster.

Something was different. But ... what? I stared at the ceiling, smiling. A silent shift began inside me. Uncontrolled, like a tectonic plate, my whole being slipped and shifted. Sudden and fresh wants, needs, desires, and passions rearranged themselves inside me. Powerful and intense, each fighting for first place. These hurricane-force winds of change, are so intense. Rapid whirling thoughts disappearing before fully forming.

I took a deep breath, saying yes to this thrilling moment! My world had tilted like a pinball machine, lights flashing and bells ringing, bouncing me between the bumpers of possibility. I grinned at the chaos unfolding before me, certain nothing would ever be the same again. Not a problem! Outside, I heard a breeze blowing the fallen leaves around the lawn.

Inside, my heart hammered. I took my time waking up. Rolling back onto my bed, I buried myself inside my soft, down comforter and laughed out loud. Life was good. So, so good! Time to step out, live outside the box for a while. Explore. Do me. Do life on my terms.

Reaching over, I felt for my phone on the nightstand. First up, triple hearts text to Danny Wainwright, the guy who made me giddy inside. I could pin down to the second, the main event triggering this internal earthquake. Danny’s kiss. That is when I discovered saying ‘yes’ to life opened new and exciting doors. And some nightmarish ones!

Danny’s Kiss

Stepping towards the edge of the high-dive springboard, I struggle to focus, the smell of chlorine thick in the air. I need to center myself on the precise task-at-hand, my last dive of the day.

The kiss hijacks my concentration. My first kiss ever. From Danny Wainwright. Such a special moment in time. From the beginning, my gut told me our easy friendship would go way deep. That’s exactly what has happened in the few months since the end of summer. His kiss made my tummy do a flip-flop. A completely new and surprising sensation. Closing my eyes, I relive the moment again and a smile slowly spreads across my face.

Danny always cracks me up with his silly jokes. When we’re together, I can do anything. When he looks at me in his sweet, intense way, my knees go weak. When we’re apart, I can’t wait until the next time we’ll be together again.

Last night, everybody said good night outside Melissa’s and my hotel room. Jose, my little brother, gave me a sweet hug and kiss for luck. After Jose and the rest of the family left for their rooms, Danny asked to give me a kiss for luck, too. The way he rubbed his finger behind his right ear made me wonder if he thought I might say no. So, I moved in closer, really close. The faint citrus scent of his cologne tickled my nose.

The kiss wasn’t a brotherly kiss but a quick, sweet, on the lips kiss. The first time I’ve felt someone else’s lips on mine. Dannys. Our first kiss ended too soon, leaving me startled by the quick intensity of my reaction. I touched my lips, then touched his. Wow! Wow again!

I’m powerless to stop replaying that kiss in slow-mo over and over, savoring the momentary special feeling. Touching my fingers to my lips, I open my eyes and look around. Can everyone read my mind? I know Danny is down there in the stands watching, along with Luke, Pedro, Jose, Frank, Mom, Dad, and the judges.

The judges! Concentrate! Shaking my head, I will my mind back to the present. Using my thumbs, I adjust the front straps of my swimsuit one last time. The familiar rapid, three-note whistle sound, the sound Luke always makes when I’m poised to dive, pierces the air. Breathing my usual brief prayer, ‘For Your glory, Father’­ I gain air before executing my forward flip, then a straight shot into the pool below.

The cool water jolts me back to reality. Surfacing, I turn to the scoreboard. A 9.0 lights it up. I take a deep, satisfying breath, hearing a roar go up from the Palm Beach County section of the bleachers. Pulling up my swim goggles, I follow the noise while scanning the crowd, looking for Mom and Dad. I grin, pointing to heaven with my forefinger. Those who know me know I’m giving all the glory to God. All is well in my world.

Danny stands next to Mom and Dad, giving me two thumbs up, a proud grin on his face. I laugh. This is his first year hanging out with the high school swim team. I’m so glad Luke invited Danny to be the BHS team equipment manager. We get to hang out after school, at practice.

The school math and chess clubs Danny belongs to are likely more subdued and in-your-head. Wait till he finds out this meet today is nothing compared to the wild time we’ll have at the Florida State Swim and Dive Meet in Orlando. It’s one gigantic party. Now he’ll be there too. I can’t wait to share it. The dates are coming up fast, in mid-November.

I wipe my face with my tattered lucky towel and wave it at Danny. My mind drifts back to the kiss. Is he thinking about it, too? My tummy does another flip-flop at the possibility. Weak-kneed again, I sink onto the team bench.

“Somebody has it bad.” My bestie Melissa nudges me.

“What?” I pull myself out of my daydream. Again.

You're sitting there with a big grin on your face, Sara. I'm convinced your dive isn't making you that happy.

Gazing into the shimmering pool, I lean in close and whisper, "Danny gave me a kiss for luck last night."

“Wow! How was it? Tell me!” She clutches my elbow and leans in for the deets.