Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(27)
The security team exchanged looks with the driver, almost imperceptible nods and shakes remained the extent of their conversation. Finally, the driver answered, “I don’t see what it would hurt so long as there are no incidents.”
“Excellent.” Jared’s spirits lifted slightly. Two hours with A.J. seemed better than one, he just hoped she would understand. He’d been dreaming up ways to explain his feelings and the ideas he came up with on how they could still see each other. Jared worked over the conversation in his head as the limo rolled through the streets toward the hospital. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t see the trouble until it was too late.
As they pulled up to the hospital’s main lot, the driver yelled back, “Change of plans,” and peeled off in the opposite direction. Jared looked out the back window to see media vans and fans with signs filled the parking lot and streamed off the sidewalk in both directions – all cheering for him.
“Wait! I have to go in there!” Jared pleaded. “Please, I have to.”
“I’m sure you can send them something nice when you are back in L.A.,” the driver answered sharply, “our orders are to keep you away from the media and that’s what we’re doing. The hospital has been compromised. You cannot go.”
“At least give me back my phone so I can let somebody know I won’t be there. I had an appointment today,” Jared lied smoothly.
“We will let Derek know,” the driver said firmly and put the window up cutting himself off from Jared and the two silent soldiers.
Surrendering his phone had been part of the deal to be able to say his good-byes. Now he bitterly regretted it as they pulled away from the hospital and headed straight for the airport. Jared wanted to see A.J. one more time before leaving, kiss her, hold her, trace the curve of her jawline, but he would call her as soon as he had his phone back and explain everything. She would understand, wouldn’t she?
**
“No, Jump. No phone until you are back at home.” Derek shook his head. “You shouldn’t have told Jessica Klein that your phone died. How can you be tweeting if your phone is dead and you don’t have a charger?”
“Um, I could have picked one up at the airport and charged it in the terminal?” Jared snapped, his agent really wasn’t picking up any points with him on this trip. “Seriously, Derek. I’m not a teenager, give me the damn phone.”
“Afraid not, Jump.” Derek stood firm. “You called me a douche and it hurt my feelings.”
“Are you trying to be funny? Cuz, you’re not. At all. I had an appointment today and it’s not going to look so hot if I just skipped it.” Jared persisted with his white lie.
Derek glared at him from across the plane. “I already handled that. Why don’t you have a drink and take a nap? I’m going to sit with Jim and try to smooth things over for you.”
“Who’s Jim?” Jared blinked at Derek.
“The head of PR for your team,” Derek growled. “Seriously, Jump. Get your shit together.” He spun on his patent leather heel and left Jared to mope in the back of the plane.
“I wasn’t that mean to him,” Jared mumbled to himself. He may have been harsh with the suit but the guy creeped him out. Why did he have to ask all of those questions about his injury and how it felt inside and the pain of rehab? What the hell? Who asked that kind of stuff?
The pilot broke over the speaker. “We are making our approach so please buckle in for the remainder of your trip.”
Jared buckled in and stared out the window at the familiar skyline. It had never seemed so lonely before. Now it felt like a prison. “Dead Man Walking,” he muttered to himself.
**
They touched down smoothly and Jared was almost immediately accosted by Derek and the PR guy. He hadn’t even unbuckled when the two men set on him.
“Smooth your hair, no, wait, shake it out. It’s going to create a stir that your hair is so short.” The PR guy prattled on. “You should have shaved, that burly look works for linemen but not you.” He called out frantically to the flight crew, “Got a razor around here? Shaving cream? Anything?”
“Tuck your shirt in, it will look better,” Derek advised.
“Guys, what’s the deal? I’m just going home, I can shave tonight and nobody’s there to care if my shirt’s tucked in or note.” Jared unbuckled and pushed past them toward the front of the plane but Derek stopped him.
“That’s not exactly true,” the PR guy sputtered. “We may have leaked your return.”
“WHAT!?” Jared bellowed. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Calm down, Jump. You know we have to spin all of this the right way. It’s big news.” Derek tried to soothe him but Jared felt his blood pressure rise.
“I will NOT calm down. This is bullshit Derek!” Jared wrenched his arm away from his agent. “This is fucking shit! I just want to go home. You ambushed me, forced me to leave before I was ready, and now I have to play nice with God knows what out there. You’re a fucking prick.” Jared spun on his heel, took a breath, and plastered on his golden boy smile as the screams of fans echoed through the cabin, audible now that the door was open. He descended the steps to be greeted by the entire L.A. cheerleading squad, a throng of fans, and, fortunately, a few of his teammates who embraced him and staved off the masses.