by Lacey Legend
“Are you sure you’re clear to go?” Amanda asked as they climbed into Matt’s SUV.
“You heard Whitey,” Jared pointed out. “Besides, I’m exhausted. Jet lag and all that shit.”
“Oh, I hope you’re not too tired, Jump,” Kyra teased, clearly drunk and having trouble sitting up.
“I really am, Kyra,” Jared assured her, “I just want to curl up in bed since I have to be at the practice field early.”
Kyra pouted. “But I wanna have some fun, Jump.”
“Sorry, I just don’t think I’m up for it tonight,” Jared apologized.
“I’m not ready to go home,” Kyra leaned over and whispered in his ear, “at least not my home.”
“I’m really not up for it,” Jared told her again.
“What the hell, Jump?” Kyra exclaimed, a little too loud.
“I’m jet lagged, Kyra,” Jared soothed, “I just flew back today, seriously, it’s nothing against you, I’m just tired.”
“This was supposed to be my night,” Kyra’s complaint slurred and her head bobbed a little as she tried to stay awake.
“And it was, Kyra.” Jared tucked a hair behind her ear. “I had a great time with you.”
“Yeah you did,” Kyra mumbled as they pulled away. She passed out before they reached her house so Jared carried her in and put her to bed – fully clothed.
“That was interesting,” Matt said as Jared settled back in the SUV.
“It was another ambush,” Jared grumbled. “This is ridiculous. I can’t believe coach was in on it.”
“He may not have had a choice,” Amanda countered. “Nobody really did. The Panthers have a lot of money invested in you, Jared. This is a business above all else, you know that.”
“I know. Believe me, I know.” Jared looked out the window, watching L.A. speed past as they drove to his house. “I liked it in the Midwest. I thought it would be hell but it was nice. Quiet.”
“I see,” Amanda said. “And was there, by chance, a woman?”
Jared startled. Damn. “What makes you ask that?”
“You’re different,” Amanda replied simply. “You’ve been different since you landed. Normally, you wouldn’t have thought twice about Kyra or any other women at that party.”
“So? I’m tired. Jet lag, remember?” Jared tried to cover.
“Right.” Amanda chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that.”
“Would it be so bad if there were a woman,” Jared asked, “hypothetically speaking?”
“If this hypothetical woman is okay with you having a blonde cheerleader draped all over you and practically sucking your face off in the middle of a high profile party, then no, probably not a problem at all,” Amanda said.
Shit. How would he explain all of this to A.J? He needed a phone to be able to do that and it would take some work to make that happen. Jared fell quiet and brooded the rest of the drive home. Amanda and Matt respected his silence and chatted quietly in the front seat. He thanked them but didn’t invite them in when he got home.
“Jared,” Amanda called after him from the window of the SUV. He only half turned toward her, “just call her and explain. If she loves you, she’ll understand.”
She put the window up and they pulled away leaving Jared alone, again. He climbed the steps to his front door and let himself in.
A package awaited him on the round glass table in the middle of his foyer. The attached note from his housekeeper told him it was dropped off just before she left for the evening. Jared ripped the package open and his cell phone fell into his hand. He tried to turn it on but it really was dead. Dammit.
Jared sprinted to his bedroom and tore his bags apart until he found his charging cord – the one he actually hadn’t lost – and plugged the phone in. Nothing happened. He’d have to take it in to the dealer tomorrow after practice and figure out what was up. Jared peeled off his clothes and crawled into bed, the sheets smelled clean but not quite right.
He missed A.J. The sheets at his rental smelled like her and he wanted that back. Sweet and spicy, and her skin was so soft, silkier than his sheets. Jared thought of her, pictured her face hovering over his, the feel of her breasts pressed against his chest and the warmth of her body on his. He got hard just dreaming of her. Jared reached down to touch himself, imagining her hands on his shaft as he massaged.
He imagined her mouth on his, the feel of her tongue, how she tasted. Jared stroked his shaft with images of A.J. in his mind, her bright, brown eyes, the way she bit her lip when she was close to climax, the smell of her sex and how she writhed beneath him when he went down on her. He cried her name as he came hard and fast to the memory of A.J. riding him, her skin covered in a thin sheen of sweat.
**
A.J.’s phone buzzed. She checked the screen, Ally again.
“You should just call him,” Jaida said quietly.
“He left, Jaida. He said good-bye to Rick and the guys at the rec center but not me.” A.J. tried not to sound wounded but emotion colored her words. How could he just leave?
“You don’t know what happened,” Jaida reminded her.
“Always the optimist, Sis,” A.J. teased. She felt like a fool. She’d actually believed he was different. The first time in years that she let somebody in and it turned out to be a huge mistake. He’d even met Jaida and she’d liked him, too.
“Alex, you like him.” Jaida threw it in her face, not teasing her, just a statement of fact. “And, he likes you. He really does. He wouldn’t have done all of those things for you if he didn’t.”
“Jaida,” A.J. warned. Her sister didn’t understand how the world worked. Maybe she’d been wrong to protect her so much after the accident. But Jaida’s kindness made her who she was. “Sometimes people can act one way when they are in a special situation but when they are taken out of that situation they go back to what they were before.”
“I don’t think that’s Jared,” Jaida said simply. “I think he loves you.”
“He hasn’t called,” A.J. reminded her.
“So, he had to go on a plane and you can’t have phones on planes,” Jaida countered.
“You’re getting really good at this,” A.J. complimented her, desperate to change the topic of conversation. “What do you want to do for dinner?”
“Call Jared,” Jaida shook her head, refusing to let it drop.
“No,” A.J. answered firmly. If he reached out maybe she would respond but right now, she just wanted to carry on with her life like Jared had never come into her life.
“You’re very stubborn, Alex,” Jaida pushed off the couch and glared at her sister, “and that’s not a compliment.”
Chapter9
“There’s something wrong with my phone, I need to go to the dealer to get it fixed,” Jared explained for the third time why he needed to leave after films, just for an hour or so.
“I’m sorry, Jump. We need you here.” The Offensive Coordinator, Bill Smith, shook his head apologetically. “We can send somebody to get it handled for you, though.”
“Really?” Jared asked. That could work.
“Yeah, there are a hundred assistants running around here, surely one of them can handle it, right?” Smith grinned. “I’ve always been fair with you, haven’t I, Jump?”
“Yeah, you have, sir,” Jared agreed. “If somebody could get my phone fixed, I would be really grateful.”
“You really weren’t lying about all that, were you?” Coach Smith asked.
“No, Coach. I really had problems with my phone. The new cord is probably at my rental as we speak.” Jared figured he was only half lying. “But now, I think I may need a whole new phone. I tried my back up cord and nothing happened.”
“That’s no good, kid.” Coach Smith shook his head. “Yeah, let’s get that handled. Hey, kid!” A young guy, maybe nineteen with too big ears and too small eyes jogged over. Coach Smith handed him Jared’s phone and the old cord, “Take this to Jump’s store and get it fixed for him, will ya?�
�
“Uh, ye-yes, sir.” The kid’s eyes bulged at the sight of Jump. “Wh-wh-which store?”
Jared pulled his information out of his pocket, the warranty stuff he’d remembered to grab, “the address is on there. Thanks, man. It’s under warranty so it should be easy to replace. I’ll need my contacts off there too.”
“Sure thing, Jump!” The kid bobbed his head eagerly and took off in the other direction.
“See?” Coach Smith beamed. “Problem solved!”
“Thanks, Coach.” Jared shook his hand firmly. “Now what did you need me to do?”
“We’ve got a press conference arranged to show the media that you are back in shape and ready to roll,” Coach Smith started. “You’re going to lift some weights and do a little sprinting and then jump for them, okay?”
Jared nodded. “Sure, that’s easy. I don’t know if my vertical is quite what it was, though.”
“You passed your old mark this morning. I think your vertical is actually a bit better,” Coach Smith said encouragingly.
“Better?” Jared asked. He had no idea, not that he’d measured. He’d actually been afraid to look when they had him jump that morning.
“Yeah, your sprint times are a touch faster, too,” Coach added as he led Jared toward the work out facility they used for media engagements. “I don’t know what you did while you were gone, but it worked, Jump.”
Jared considered confessing to Coach Smith but decided against it. Not now at least, not with the media just down the hall. “I had a great PT, Coach, and I worked really hard.”
“You should send that guy a medal,” Coach Smith added, “better yet, get him out here for a game.”
“That’s a good idea.” Jared smiled to himself. He planned to get A.J. out here for a game alright, maybe for good.
They approached the double doors. Coach Smith stopped. “Just go in there and do what you do best. Smile, assure them, and remember that it’s okay to show off today.”
“Got it, Coach.” Jared nodded and pushed open the swinging door. He stepped in to greet the handful of media brought in to witness the show. “Hey everybody! Good to see you.” He smiled easily, bolstered by the idea that he could out perform his pre-injury body.
“Hey, Jump!” They were unusually quiet for reporters.
“You guys are awfully quiet today,” Jared observed. “Afraid I can’t bring that wow factor to the game anymore?”
“Nah, that’s not it, Jump,” one of them called out.
Jared nodded to the trainers in the room. “I think I’ll go with the sprints first if that’s okay with all of you?” He made a show of stretching his legs a little even though he was already warmed up. There were a few murmurs from the crowd as they noted his scar, visible beneath the hem of his shorts. He ignored them and took his mark.
One of the trainers blew a whistle and Jared took off, breezed past the media and ignored the flashes. It was over in a heartbeat. The room broke out into applause and whoops of praise. Jared’s eyes flicked toward the time clock on the wall – 4.3, more than respectable and better than his previous best.
“How’d you do it, Jump?”
“What’s your secret?”
The media clamored for more information, exhilarated by his 40-yard dash. Coach Smith stepped in while Jared stretched a bit more. “Okay, give him a minute. Jump’s not done with his little expo. Would you like to see his vertical?”
Jared beamed when the crowd erupted into cheers. He stepped up to the platform, crouched and let loose. There was no need for a second attempt. Reporters rushed him, a cacophony of questions and compliments.
Coach Smith stepped in front of him to address the onslaught. “Give him room, he’ll be more than happy to answer your questions one at a time. Go ahead, Phil, you’re up first.”
“Jump, how did you do it?” Phil, from the Times, made for a strategic choice.
“I worked hard and I had a great physical therapist.” Jared made a point of making eye contact, he learned long ago that it was the best way to convince a reporter. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I was gone for a while.”
“Yeah, you were hidden away in the Midwest, why was that?” another voice chimed in, Gloria from the Sun, maybe?
“My family and my team thought it would be best to avoid distractions and focus on my recovery. As you can see,” Jared gestured toward the counters still showing his numbers, “it paid off.”
“There will be rumors that you used performance enhancing drugs, what do you say to those people?” Definitely, Gloria Castle from the Sun. She loved exposing dirty players and cherished the opportunity to leak gossip, even if it wasn’t true.
“You are welcome to pull my medical records,” Jared answered firmly, never losing his trademark grin. “I had weekly drug tests done just in case somebody cared to question my comeback.”
Undaunted, Gloria pressed, “Records can be doctored, can’t they?”
“Gloria, are you accusing me of using drugs?” Jared asked her pointedly. She faltered a little at being called out directly. “Because I can assure you that the last drugs I took were the ones they imposed on me during and immediately after surgery when I was unconscious.
“Anybody who feels the need to question me can seek answers with my medical team. I’ll even take a test now. I have never needed performance enhancers and I definitely don’t need them now. The simple truth is that I ate healthy, had a supportive physical therapist, and worked very hard. Let’s face it, I had a few months to do nothing but recover.”
“Are you saying it’s better in the Midwest, away from L.A.?” Gloria arched an eyebrow at him, determined to find a story where there was none.
“I’m beginning to think you don’t like me very much, Gloria,” Jared half-teased. He flashed his 1,000-watt smile at her. “I’m just saying that some time away gave me perspective. It was different there than it is here and sometimes we all need that. Don’t you go away for vacation? Do you like your vacation spots better than L.A.? Does it mean you don’t love this great city? I love L.A., love everything this great city has given me, but I love my family in the Midwest town where I rediscovered my passion for the game and found a way to battle back from what could have been a career-ending injury. How could I not appreciate what they did for me? Don’t try to make my gratitude into something it isn’t.”
Gloria seemed unconvinced but the rest of the reporters seemed wowed by his speech.
Coach Smith coughed and intervened. “Alright everybody, Jump needs to get a bite to eat before afternoon reps. You’re all welcome to catch some of the action on the practice fields.” He led Jared out of the room and back toward the cafeteria in silence.
“Sorry, Coach, didn’t mean to lose my temper in there,” Jared apologized. He knew better than to let Gloria get to him.
Coach Smith stopped and stared at him. “Jump, that was one of the best interviews I’ve ever heard you give. You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. I don’t know what happened while you were away but you’ve clearly changed. Let Gloria try to run you down after that performance, she’ll be run out of the business if she does.”
“Thanks, Coach.” Jared exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
“Now, go eat something, you’re still a little on the thin side.” Coach dismissed him with a grin.
**
“Jump! Hey, Jump!” The assistant caught up to Jared on his wait out to the parking lot. Red-faced and breathless, the kid handed over a phone. “They said it’s all set for you.”
“Thanks, kid.” Jared patted him on the back. “I owe you one.”
He stuffed the phone in his pocket and headed for the car, more than ready to get home and call A.J. With the media still milling around he didn’t want to risk it now. Jared adjusted his duffel and stepped out of the building into the dwindling light. The parking lot was mostly empty but for a few cars. Media vans still lined the fence and Jared could already hear his name being whispere
d. He should have made arrangements to get out another way, he’d had enough media for the day.
“You might as well face the music, man.” Xander caught up to him. “They’re not gonna let up anytime soon.”
“I know.” Jared stopped and surveyed the lot. “I’m tired and I just want to sprawl on my couch right now.”
“I bet.” Xander studied him for a minute. “You still wanna talk?”